First 100 Words

Starred review from March 1, 2021

Baby-Toddler-Returning fans of the beloved "Canticos" board books will enjoy these additions, and new readers will discover why this series is award-winning. First 100 Words spotlights words for common and not-so-common animals and items that are found in places like the kitchen, at a party, or in the ocean. Familiar characters, such as the yellow chicks (pollitos) and the little elephant (elefantito), fashion outfits like a mermaid tail and have fun cooking and playing at the beach while readers explore words in English and Spanish. Each spread is vibrantly illustrated, depicting a cartoony scene relevant to the words featured. Letters A to Z also finds the characters exploring different places where they take part in activities, such as playing with toys, eating ice cream, and even visiting space. Each spread is dedicated to a single letter, with the English word and its Spanish translation on the left, and another Spanish word and its English translation on the right. Letters are large in size and easy to spot, which will make this a wonderful choice for babies and toddlers. Young readers and their parents will thoroughly enjoy spotting all the fun activities taking place in these titles, and the colorful and lively illustrations and clear text are sure to make these joyful favorites. VERDICT Highly recommended for all Spanish and bilingual board book collections for children.-Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houston

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2020
Familiar objects identified in both English and Spanish expand toddlers' and preschoolers' bilingual vocabularies. The first spread introduces eight characters, or personajes, mostly cartoon animals--a spider, an elephant, a bunny, a hen, three chicks (Nicky, Kiki, and Ricky), and Pin Pon, who looks human but is described as a "cardboard cutout/mu�eco de cart�n." Nicky wears glasses, and Kiki sports a pink hair bow; Pin Pon has brown skin and a Troll-like tuft of orange hair. These cheery caricatures interact within 11 common settings or themes: nature, transportation, school, sports, music, beach, ocean, party, home, kitchen, and bedroom. At least seven and up to 11 objects typically found in each environment are named in both languages. English is always first, with the Spanish translation in a smaller, italicized type. As with most first-word books, the number of objects is somewhat daunting. The youngest board-book consumers may not sit still for more than a couple page turns, but the bright art, recurring characters, and familiar objects make picking up the activity again later fairly likely. The dual-language labels placed in proximity to the illustrations make it clear what item is being described. There is no pronunciation guide for non-native speakers in either language. A fun way to practice naming objects in two languages. (Board book. 6 mos.-4)

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