Latin America
Argentina
Daytime Visions: An Alphabet
By Isol, Elisa Amato and Isol (Translators)
Daytime Visions: An Alphabet. Isol. Adapted into English by Isol and Elisa Amado. Enchanted Lion Books, 2016. Originally published as Abecedario a mano in Spanish by Fondo de Cultura Económica, México, in 2015. ISBN 9781592701957. 56 p. (Ages 3-8). Picture book.
An alphabet book in name only, this playful and intriguing book hints at stories implicit in the phrases and collage art that accompany each letter. Could be used as art and story prompts in the classroom as well as for pleasure reading. Isol is an internationally recognized illustrator from Buenos Aires, having won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and been twice shortlisted for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustrators. [ayg]
Jungle Tales
By Horacio Quiroga, Jeff Zorrilla (Translator), Bert van Wijk (Illustrator)
Jungle Tales. Horacio Quiroga. Translated by Jeff Zorrilla. Illustrated by Bert van Wijk. Brigham Distributing, 2013, c2012. Originally published as Cuentos de la Selva in Spanish, in Argentina, in 1918. ISBN 9780615708072. 87 p. (Ages 9-11). Fiction.
There are many translations of this classic collection of eight short stories well known to schoolchildren in Argentina: this one, a large-format paperback, marries an engaging tone with bright, stylized artwork by Dutch illustrator Bert van Wijk. The stories revolve around human-animal and animal-animal alliances and incursions. There is an original pourquoi story about how the flamingos got their red legs. And a story of great heroism and self-sacrifice in which a giant tortoise walks hundreds of kilometers to carry his sick friend, a man, from the jungle to safety in Buenos Aires. The illustrated glossary of jungle animals is an especially nice touch. [ayg]
Written and Drawn by Henrietta
By Ricardo Liniers
Written and Drawn by Henrietta. Ricardo Liniers. Translated by the author. TOON Books, 2015. Also available in Spanish as Escrito y dibujado por Enriqueta. ISBN 9781935179900. 64 p. (Ages 5-7). Early chapter book.
Armed with new colored pencils and her wild imagination, Henrietta writes a book. Cartoonist Liniers is famous for his daily comic strip, Macanudo, published in the Argentine newspaper, La Nación. He is the recipient of many awards and honors, including a Batchelder Honor for Written and Drawn by Henrietta. For more of his notable books, see this list. [jm]