El doble de amigos

Starred review from May 24, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-A vibrant story that celebrates bilingualism. What fun it is to know two languages! As they travel from beach to city, the characters communicate in English and Spanish, often in a call and response format. This sing-song text shares that knowing two languages means you can have twice as much fun, play twice the games, and have twice as many friends! This story depicts various sites to see in NYC and in Puerto Rico and also features the communities that live around them. This Spanglish narrative uses repetition and rhyme to engage all. The bright and tropical colors will entice readers of any age and spark joy in listeners. Audio and video versions, in which the author performs the text, are also provided via a link, making this a real treat for auditory learners. Amador created the lyrics and the music, and Latin American band Sol y Canto perform the recorded version. VERDICT A rollicking title that should be part of every school library and bilingual classroom.-Melanie Ortega

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