Colombia
Picture Books
As Time Went By
By José Sanabria, Audrey Hall (Translator)
As Time Went By. José Sanabria. Translated by Audrey Hall. NorthSouth Books, 2016. Originally published as Con el paso del tiempo in Spanish by Comunic-Arte, in Argentina, in 2015, but actually first appeared as Wie die Zeit vergeht in German, in Switzerland, a translation by Gabriela Stöckli of the original Spanish text. ISBN 9780735842489. 48 p. (Ages 4-8). Picture book.
Readers learn about change and its effects on human lives as a ship sails through time. A 2017 Batchelder Honor Book. [jm]
The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent
By Irene Vasco, Lawrence Schimel (Translator), Juan Palomino (Illustrator)
The Young Teacher and the Great Serpent. Irene Vasco. Translated by Lawrence Schimel. Illustrated by Juan Palomino. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. Originally published as La joven maestra y la gran serpiente in Spanish by Editorial Juventud, Barcelona, in 2019. ISBN 9780802856173. 40 p. (Ages 5-9). Picture book.
As a teacher shares books with her students, they tell her the legends of a great serpent. On the Fundación Cuatrogatos Award list. The author is a prominent Columbian educator; she was recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education with its “Life and Work” distinction for her long career working with children and teens. [jm]
Chile
Picture Books
The Beach
By Sol Undurraga, Kit Mod (Translator)
The Beach. Sol Undurraga. Translated by Kit Maude. Tapioca Stories, 2022. Originally published as La playa in Spanish by Saposcat, Santiago, Chile, in 2019, but actually first appeared as La plage in French by l’Agrume, in Paris, France, in 2017, likely a translation of the original Spanish text. ISBN 9781734783940. 32 p. (Ages 6-9). Picture book.
Children can explore the different types of people who visit the beach and the different things they do there within a 24-hour period. They will also get to use their imagination about the types of creatures at the beach and activities that could happen there. Winner of the Opera Prima Award at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and the Green Island Award at the Nami International Picture Book Contest. The author-illustrator is from Chile and currently lives in Berlin. [jm]
9 Kilometers
By Claudio Aguilera, Lawrence Schimel (Translator), Gabriela Lyon (Illustrator)
9 Kilometers. Claudio Aguilera. Translated by Lawrence Schimel. Illustrated by Gabriela Lyon. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. Originally published as 9 kilómetros in Spanish by Ediciones Ekaré Sur, Santiago, Chile, in 2020. ISBN 9780802856005. 56 p. (Ages 5-9). Picture book.
A 10-year-old boy enjoys his 5.5 mile walk home from school through Chilean rain forests and mountains. A White Ravens selection and children’s category winner of the Chilean Ministry of Culture's Marta Brunet Award. [jm]
Middle Grade
Book of Questions
By Pablo Neruda, Sara Lissa Paulson (Translator), Paloma Valdivia (Illustrator)
Book of Questions: Selections/Libro de las preguntas: Selecciones. Pablo Neruda. Translated by Sara Lissa Paulson. Illustrated by Paloma Valdivia. Enchanted Lion Books, 2022. Originally published as Libro de las preguntas in Spanish by Editorial Losada, Buenos Aires, in 1974. ISBN 9781592703227. 80 p. (Ages 6 and up). Poetry.
A lavish, large-format bilingual abridged and illustrated version of Chilean Nobel Prize winner Neruda’s Book of Questions. Newly translated. Sweeping bold, stylized illustrations by Chilean illustrator Valdivia dramatize but do not answer rhetorical questions about the natural world, leaving plenty of room for exploration and wonder. Valdivia has been shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration. [ayg]
Argentina
Picture Books
Daytime Visions: An Alphabet
By Isol, Elisa Amato and Isol (Translators)
Daytime Visions: An Alphabet. Isol. Adapted into English by Isol and Elisa Amado. Enchanted Lion Books, 2016. Originally published as Abecedario a mano in Spanish by Fondo de Cultura Económica, México, in 2015. ISBN 9781592701957. 56 p. (Ages 3-8). Picture book.
An alphabet book in name only, this playful and intriguing book hints at stories implicit in the phrases and collage art that accompany each letter. Could be used as art and story prompts in the classroom as well as for pleasure reading. Isol is an internationally recognized illustrator from Buenos Aires, having won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and been twice shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustrators. [ayg]
Sheep Count Flowers
By Micaela Chirif, Arthur A. Levine (Translator), Amanda Mijangos (Illustrator)
Sheep Count Flowers. Micaela Chirif. Translated by Arthur A. Levine. Illustrated by Amanda Mijangos. Levine Querido, 2021. Originally published as Las Ovejas by Limonero, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2020. ISBN 9781646141197. 40 p. (Ages 4-7). Picture book.
If we count sheep, what do sheep count to get to sleep? This dream-like book speculates on the answer to that question and more about sheep. Peruvian author and poet Micaela Chirif's picture books have won the “A la Orilla del Viento” picture book competition from the Spanish-language publishing house Fondo de Cultura Económica. Three of her picture books were White Ravens selections. [jm]
Middle Grade
Jungle Tales
By Horacio Quiroga, Jeff Zorrilla (Translator), Bert van Wijk (Illustrator)
Jungle Tales. Horacio Quiroga. Translated by Jeff Zorrilla. Illustrated by Bert van Wijk. Brigham Distributing, 2013, c2012. Originally published as Cuentos de la Selva in Spanish, in Argentina, in 1918. ISBN 9780615708072. 87 p. (Ages 9-11). Fiction.
There are many translations of this classic collection of eight short stories well known to schoolchildren in Argentina: this one, a large-format paperback, marries an engaging tone with bright, stylized artwork by Dutch illustrator Bert van Wijk. The stories revolve around human-animal and animal-animal alliances and incursions. There is an original pourquoi story about how the flamingos got their red legs. And a story of great heroism and self-sacrifice in which a giant tortoise walks hundreds of kilometers to carry his sick friend, a man, from the jungle to safety in Buenos Aires. The illustrated glossary of jungle animals is an especially nice touch. [ayg]
Written and Drawn by Henrietta
By Ricardo Liniers
Written and Drawn by Henrietta. Ricardo Liniers. Translated by the author. TOON Books, 2015. Also available in Spanish as Escrito y dibujado por Enriqueta. ISBN 9781935179900. 64 p. (Ages 5-7). Early chapter book.
Armed with new colored pencils and her wild imagination, Henrietta writes a book. Cartoonist Liniers is famous for his daily comic strip, Macanudo, published in the Argentine newspaper, La Nación. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including a Batchelder Honor for Written and Drawn by Henrietta. For more of his notable books, see this list. [jm]
Mexico
Picture Books
Ways to Make Friends
By Jairo Buitrago, Elisa Amado (Translator), Mariana Ruiz Johnson (Illustrator)
Ways to Make Friends. Jairo Buitrago. Translated by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson. Greystone Kids, 2022. Originally published as Formas de hacer amigos in Spanish by Leetra Final, in Mexico City, in 2021. ISBN 9781771649759. 40 p. (Ages 4-7). Picture book.
Toad has lots of advice on how to make new friends. Some of it is great, some of it not so great. When all else fails, Toad finds out that learning about and befriending yourself can be a valuable way to spend your time as well. A 2023 USBBY Outstanding International Book. [jm]
Middle Grade
The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas
By María García Esperón, David Bowles (Translator), Amanda Mijangos (Illustrator)
The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas. María García Esperón. Translated by David Bowles. Illustrated by Amanda Mijangos. Levine Querido, 2021. Originally published as Diccionario de mitos de América by Ediciones El Naranjo, Mexico City, Mexico, in 2018. ISBN 9781646140152. 240 p. (Ages 8-14). Nonfiction.
An anthology of stories from native peoples which includes different cultures and nations from across both North and South America. A 2022 Batchelder Honor Book. [jm]
Brazil
Picture Books
You Can't be Too Careful!
By Roger Mello, Daniel Hahn (Translator)
You Can’t Be Too Careful! Roger Mello. Translated by Daniel Hahn. Elsewhere Editions, 2017. Originally published as Todo cuidado é pouco! in Portuguese by Companhia das Letras, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1999. ISBN 9780914671640. 36 p. (Ages 5-8). Picture book.
Serious questions are explored even as the reader learns how tiny actions can cause big change. A 2018 Batchelder Honor Book. Roger Mello has illustrated over 100 children's books and written more than twenty. More of his notable books can be found listed here [jm]
Middle Grade
My Sweet Orange Tree
By José Mauro de Vasconcelos, Alison Entrekin (Translator)
My Sweet Orange Tree. José Mauro de Vasconcelos. Translated by Alison Entrekin. Candlewick, 2019. Originally published as O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima in Portuguese by Editora Melhoramentos, in Brazil, in 1968. ISBN 9781536203288. 272 p. (Ages 12 and up). Fiction.
A Brazilian classic that has never been out of print, My Sweet Orange Tree features a precocious but naughty five year old whose hard-scrabble family beats him severely when he gets into trouble. Through his mischief-making he finally meets someone who shows him what it means to truly care for somebody. Though this book is commonly taught at the elementary school level in Brazil, it has been categorized as young adult in the United States because of its dark themes including poverty, violence, and death. A 2012 film adaptation won the 2014 Cinema Brazil Grand Prize in the children’s film category. [dj]
Venezuela
Middle Grade
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War
By Mónica Montañés, Lawrence Schimel, Eva Sánchez Gómez (Illustrator)
Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War. Mónica Montañés. Translated by Lawrence Schimel. Illustrated by Eva Sánchez Gómez. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Originally published as Los distintos by Ediciones Ekaré in Barcelona, Spain, in 2020. ISBN 9780802855985. 88 p. (Ages 9-14). Fiction.
Seven-year-old Socorro and nine-year-old Paco live in the aftermath of the civil war that raged across Spain between 1936-1939. Francisco Franco's persecution of anyone who once opposed him has caused their father to flee the country. Paco, Socorro, and their mother must "keep their heads down" until a letter comes from their father containing hope that they may soon reunite as a family in Venezuela. Appendices at the back of the book provide historical context. A Batchelder Honor Book and a USBBY Outstanding International Books selection. [jm]
El Salvador
Middle Grade
Guacamole: A Cooking Poem
By Jorge Argueta, Elisa Amado, Margarita Sada (Illustrator)
Guacamole: Un poema para cocinar /A Cooking Poem (Bilingual Cooking Poems). Jorge Argueta. Translated from the Spanish by Elisa Amado. Illustrated by Margarita Sada. Groundwood Books/Libros Tigrillo/House of Anansi Press, 2016, c2012. ISBN 9781554988884. 32 p. (Ages 5-8). Poetry.
A recipe/poem for guacamole that will get kids excited about cooking other foods too! This is the third book in the “Bilingual Cooking Poems” series, which currently numbers five. Recipient of the International Latino Book Award, Jorge Argueta has also won many more awards for his books, which have been placed on the Américas Award Commended List, the USBBY Outstanding International Books List, Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books, and the Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices. Though Argueta is a Pipil Nahua Indian and spent much of his life in El Salvador, he now lives in California. [jm]