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'Twas Nochebuena

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'Twas Nochebuena

Hardcover

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Hardcover
$17.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

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Overview

’Twas Nochebuena and all through our casa,

every creature was kneading tamale masa...

It’s Christmas Eve, and you’re invited to a Nochebuena celebration! Follow a family as they prepare to host a night filled with laughter, love, and Latino tradition. Make tasty tamales and hang colorful adornos (decorations) on the walls. Gather to sing festive canciones (songs) while sipping champurrado (hot chocolate). After the midnight feast has been served and the last gifts have been unwrapped, it’s time to cheer, “Feliz Navidad and to all a good night!”

Savor the magic of Nochebuena with a holiday tale you’ll want to read again and again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780670016341
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/16/2014
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	265,961
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Roseanne Greenfield Thong is the author of many multicultural-themed children’s books. She was born in Southern California but has lived in Guatemala, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. While in Guatemala and Mexico, she studied Spanish and ate many tamales. Roseanne now lives in Orange County where she teaches English composition.

Sara Palacios illustrated the Pura Belpré honor book Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match. She divides her time between San Francisco and Mexico City.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

PRAISE FOR 'TWAS NOCHEBUENA:

“A linguistic and visual treat. The lyrical blend of English and Spanish and vibrant action-packed illustrations make this ideal for read-alouds.” —Booklist

"Thong’s humorous verse follows Clement Moore’s strong rhythm without faltering—despite the metrical challenges of working in two languages at once. Palacios’s warm, earth-toned illustrations of a happy multigenerational family invite readers into the festivities, whether these tradiciones are familiar or new to them." —Horn Book

“This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This lively picture book offers a wonderful way to celebrate and learn about Latino Christmas traditions.” —School Library Journal

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

09/15/2014
Latin American holiday traditions and a host of Spanish words spark this zippy recast of Clement C. Moore’s Christmas poem. A girl invites readers into her family’s preparations for a boisterous Christmas Eve, a feast with all the favorite trimmings, and religious observations, too: “We clink our glass marbles and play lotería,/ while singing and laughing—qué maravilla!/ When out in the jardín I hear such a clatter,/ I spring from my silla to shout, ‘What’s the matter!’ ” Descriptions of the montones of tamales, turkey with mole sauce, and freshly fried “buñuelos with cinnamon sugar” have a mouth-watering effect, and Palacios’s mixed-media paintings of cheerful children, adults, and pets hum with an exuberance and anticipation that many readers will find familiar. A glossary is included. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Kendra Marcus, BookStop Literary Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

PRAISE FOR 'TWAS NOCHEBUENA:

“A linguistic and visual treat. The lyrical blend of English and Spanish and vibrant action-packed illustrations make this ideal for read-alouds.” —Booklist
"Thong’s humorous verse follows Clement Moore’s strong rhythm without faltering—despite the metrical challenges of working in two languages at once. Palacios’s warm, earth-toned illustrations of a happy multigenerational family invite readers into the festivities, whether these tradiciones are familiar or new to them." —Horn Book

“This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This lively picture book offers a wonderful way to celebrate and learn about Latino Christmas traditions.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

2014-08-12
A Latina child celebrates the Christmas season with her extended family in this warm, cheery story that incorporates Spanish vocabulary into the text. Using the familiar structure of "The Night Before Christmas," the unnamed little girl describes the preparations her family undertakes each December. The girl lives in a comfortable home with her parents, grandmother and three younger siblings, with extended family nearby. Some of the activities are common to Christmas celebrations across cultures, such as hanging decorations and putting up a tree. Others are Latino traditions, such as Las Posadas, in which celebrants parade from house to house, and breaking a piñata made from a jar. On Christmas Eve, the family enjoys games, special foods and a trip to midnight Mass, along with a fireworks display and a late dinner. Opening presents is the concluding event. Spanish words or phrases are included in each sentence and are generally clear from context. A complete glossary of Spanish words is appended, though there is no pronunciation guide. Vibrant illustrations create a cozy atmosphere with a palette of warm shades and a retro, 1960s vibe established through clothing styles and fabric patterns. This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews