AUTHOR: RENE COLADO LAINEZ

ILLUSTRATOR: JILL ARENA

DESCRIPTION: A young boy anticipates a hard time visiting his grandmother in Mexico since his Spanish and her English are very limited. He is in for a surprise when he arrives and accompanies his Grandmother to her fun filled Loteria stand.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Lainez’s fun filled account of a trip to Grandma’s house takes an interesting turn when a Mexican Bingo game becomes the focus of her grandson’s visit. The picture and word cards that are the basis of play give our characters a way to not only communicate but to obtain a greater understanding of and connection to each other. Areana’s rich colors and textures capture the mood and context of a Mexican community filled with laughter and love. The bilingual text makes this a great tool for language development and cultural understanding. You’ll be swept up in the joy of discovery and the power of simple game that helps bridge the gap between two worlds.

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