Six children are at the park, one group speaks only English and the other only Spanish, but soon they learn to communicate through playing, dancing, and singing. - (Baker & Taylor)
Six kids are ready to play: three speak English. Y tres hablan español [and three speak Spanish]. But all of them laugh alike and together! This clever playground adventure weaves together bilingual Spanish and English conversations, so two groups of children can express similar thoughts in their own languages.
A brand new barrier-breaking and friendship-affirming bilingual picture book from award-winning author Carmen T. Bernier-Grand (Diego: Bigger than Life). Three kids are playing at the park when three more arrive. The groups can't understand each other because one trio speaks only English and the other only Spanish. But they can express similar thoughts in their own languages. Aquí interactúan el inglés y el español. Can they find a way to play? Of course they can! By watching each other, both groups learn that they are more alike than different and end up discovering new words and making new friends in this adventure propelled by clever integrated Spanish dialogue. - (Random House, Inc.)
Kirkus Reviews
Two groups of friends, one that speaks English, the other speaking Spanish, encounter each other at the park and learn to communicate through the language of play. The two languages are reflected in a responsive dual text, though not an exact translation, that allows readers to engage with each group’s thinking and understanding. "We listen to the other kids, even though we don’t understand a word of Spanish. / Escuchamos a los tres ninos, aunque no sabemos ingles." The literal translations are: "Escuchamos a los otros ninos, a pesar de no entender una palabra de espanol. / We listen to the three children, even though we don’t know English." The two groupsâ€"both racially diverseâ€"cautiously observe each other and then each begins to learn the other’s games until they are counting, jumping rope, dancing, singing, and playing together. The cheery art using scanned textures and bold colors highlights the activity, setting it in a city park in the shadow of numerous skyscrapers. The simple, dual text works well to establish the concept that these children have much in common. But the wording of the English title, We Laugh Alike, is awkward in comparison to the Spanish version, which translates as Together We Laugh and jibes better with the spirit of the story. Nevertheless, the children are alike in their eagerness to befriend one another and laugh together. A sweet demonstration of how friendship can transcend language barriers. (glossary, author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus 2021 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved.
