Shapes & Patterns

April 1, 2021

PreS-K-With each of these new additions to the "Canticos Bilingual Firsts" series, young readers explore early concepts such as shapes/patterns, numbers, feelings, and opposites. Each element is featured in both English and Spanish, but not always equally. In Feelings and Opposites, the English terms are large and in color, whereas the terms in Spanish are in a smaller white font. In Numbers 1-100, both English and Spanish are introduced in the same color and font, but the numerals and their Spanish names are revealed when the flap is lifted. The flap element is also available in Feelings, but not the other two titles. The vocabulary in Shapes and Patterns is somewhat complex for babies-the intended audience-and more appropriate for preschoolers. Terms such as "herringbone," "harlequin," and "rhombus" will more successfully enrich a four-year-old's vocabulary. The lack of a pronunciation guide in either language can be offset by accessing material online. Apart from Feelings, at 26 pages, the other three run to more hefty dimensions, which may prove to be a problem for small hands. Jaramillo's brand is reinforced everywhere, from the familiar Disneyesque characters from her previous titles to the link on each cover to the franchise's site. VERDICT The dearth of bilingual educational material will nonetheless attract audiences to this series.-Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County P.L., Tucson, AZ

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