My Friend, Mi Amigo
Kristin Tripathy, Author
Denise Turu, Illustrator
Authors as Heroes Publishing, Fiction, 2018
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes: Bilingual story, Play, Zoo, Friendship
Opening: Hola!…Huh? / Hello!…Eh?
Synopsis: Interacting with others who don’t speak the same language can sometimes be challenging. However, when an English-speaking boy encounters a Spanish-speaking boy at the zoo, nothing can stop them from having an engaging and playful time…not even a language barrier. After all, friendship speaks louder than words.
What I like about this book:
This is a clever bilingual book for both English- and Spanish-speaking children. Kristin Tripathy features two boys visiting the zoo. Each double-spread page shows the boys visiting animals at the zoo with bubble comments highlighting their conversation. When one boy says, “Look! A gray elephant.” The other responds “Como?” On the opposite page the Spanish-speaking boy says “Mira! Un elefante gris.” This makes translation easy for children.
This is a book about friendship and the creative way two boys overcome a language barrier so that they have a grand time exploring the zoo together. It has humor and a great theme. Denise Turu’s large, colorful and bold illustrations compliment the story. Visit the author at her website, Authors As Heroes. The book is also published in English and Hindi, which you will find by visiting the website.
Photos courtesy of Kristin Tripathy.
Resources: The book is a resource. Both English- and Spanish-speaking children will learn new vocabulary as it is simply presented in bubble comments. It definitely can be used in the classroom to teach both language and animals
Every Friday, authors and KidLit bloggers post a favorite picture book. To see a complete listing of all the Perfect Picture Books (PPB) with resources, please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
*The author provided me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I like the themes of language acquisition and finding friends who speak another language or otherwise differ from us. Great choice!
LikeLike
I love how kids are so adaptable. A language barrier wasn’t going to get in the way of these two boys visit to the zoo.
LikeLike
I like bilingual books like this. The illustrations are great too.
LikeLike
Yes, I have a soft spot for bilingual books. I like that it is also in Hindi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay for the power of friendship!
LikeLike
I agree. That’s what it’s all about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love bilingual books; brilliant (in more ways than one!).
LikeLike
I think they are important for children! My great niece is nearly three and is learning Spanish.
LikeLike
Beautiful book and review. Love that it provides the child to learn another language in a fun way.
LikeLike
Thank you Diane. I love how the language barrier doesn’t get in the way of the boys playing together.
LikeLike
Very excited to learn about this and I’ve reached out to the publishers to see if we can get both versions in our shop. We love having bilingual books, especially ones that demonstrate how people from different cultures / speaking different languages can become friends. Yesterday a woman came into our shop looking for a book about friendship for a kid who was wrestling with relationships and I would have loved to have had this one. The book I recommended, and she really liked, was Draw the Line by Kathryn Otoshi.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kathryn-otoshi/draw-the-line-otoshi/
LikeLike
It is a sweet story about friendship despite a language barrier.
LikeLike
The book looks adorable. Children learn fast and this looks like a good way to help them with the different languages. It would help adults to. I recently read a cute book where one page was written in English and the next page in Spanish so the reader could compare them. Neat.
LikeLike
Yes, it is a good way to introduce children to another language. There is comparison in this book. I have a young niece who takes Spanish lessons.
LikeLike
what a fun way to learn new words. And I love that it’s told in dialog balloons.
LikeLike
Thank you Sue. When it comes to play, there is no language barrier.
LikeLike