Marisol McDonald no combina - Monica Brown, Sara Palacios

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown, illus. por Sara Palacios

Marisol comes from two cultures.When people tell Marisol she doesn't match, she's knows that their wrong and tells them so.

"I play soccer with my cousin Tato and he says, "Marisol your skin is brown like , but your hair is the color of carrots. You don't match!"

"Actually, my hair is the color of fine," I say and kick the ball over Tato's head and into the goal"

Marisol is not afraid to match by mixing. Though after a comment by a friend, Marisol decides no more mixing. When Marisol goes to school that's all the same color, Palacio's captures so much emotion in her eyes. its easy to imagine Marisol's broken spirit.

Brown's text is lyrical and endearing, I was easily drawn in by Marisol. Palacio beautiful and colorful illustration, fit Brown's text perfectly This is a fun story about a very imaginative and outspoken girl who loves to match by mixing


Sara Paracios received a 2012 Pura Belpre honor award for Marisol McDonald no combina.

Waiting for the Biblioburro - Monica Brown, John Parra.

Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illus. by John Parra
Ana loves to read and owns one book that she reads again and again. Ana and her family live in a small village without a local library. One day a man and his burros brings a library to the village. The children rush to meet the man and his two donkey's. When the librarian leaves Ana can't wait for him to return. The text and illustrations allow the reader to feel Ana's excitement.

"When will he come back?" she asks her mother, who smiles and says, "Go read, Ana."
"When will he come back?" she asks her mother, who smiles and says, "Go draw, Ana."
"When will he come back?" she asks her mother, who smiles and says, "Go write, Ana."

This story is a wonderful inspired by Luis Soriano Bohorquez, the librarian who started the Biblioburro Foundation. It depicts how much joy Bohorquez's traveling library gives to readers living in remote areas.

Waiting for the Biblioburro is textually and visually very beautiful. I am a huge fan of Brown's and it was pleasure to lose myself in another one of her stories. Parra's artistic style is a perfect fit for this tale. Like the text the illustrations are fun, playful and imaginative. I loved the dignified look on the faces of the burros, as if they know they have an important job.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book support Luis Soriano Bohorquez's Biblioburro program.

An excerpt

A starred Kirkus Review

My Name is * Me llamo Celia - Moncia Brown, Rafael Lopez

My Name is * Me llamo Celia by Monica Brown illus. by Rafael Lopez
This is a beautiful bilingual biography of Celia Cruz the queen of salsa. Brown's rhythmic text and Lopez's colorful illustrations will entice readers to dance

Sugar! My voice is strong, smooth, and sweet. I will make you feel like dancing. Close your eyes and listen. My voice feels like feet skipping on cool wet sand, like running under a waterfall, like rolling down a hill. My climbs and rocks and dips and flips with the sounds of congas beating and trumpets blaring.

Boom boom boom! beat the congas.
Clap clap clap! go the hands
Shake shake shake! go the hips.

Released in 2004 it was an Americas Book Award winner and recieved a Pura Belpre honor for illustrations.

This year Rafael Lopez released postal stamps featuring Latin American music legends. Five in all incuding Celia Cruz. They are gorgeous.

I've linked this post to non fiction Monday. This weeks round up can be found at Ana's Nonfiction Blog

Pablo Neruda - Monica Brown - Julie Paschkis

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown illus. by Julie Paschkis
Beginning when Neruda was just a little boy with the given name Neftali. It shows the poet at different stages in his life in such a beautiful way that it's easy to get lost in his world.

Brown's text has a rhythm that would make any poet proud.

"Pablo loved the stones of Chile. He wrote about stones by waves onto the beach and stones polished by sand and salt."

Paschkis beautiful illustrations pop and adding more life to the story. I am a fan of Brown and Paschkis, so I was very happy to see how well their styles blend. Words in English and Spanish are sprinkled within the art. It's a goregous collaboration between artist and illustrator.

If there was greater back matter I would've loved this biography even more. An author's note and resources are included.

A starred Kirkus Review
A book preview

I've linked this post to Non fiction Monday. This week's round up can be found at Amy O'Quinn's

Side by Side/ Lado Lado by Monica Brown - Joe Cepeda

Side by Side/ Lado a Lado by Monica Brown illus by Joe Cepeda

This is the story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez. The two worked together to help farmworkers fight for their rights. In 1967 Huerta and Chavez cofounded the United Farm Workers Union. Since its Labor Day, I thought this would be a very fitting book to review.

There are a few children's biographies on Cesar Chavez. Though as far as I know this is the first one that pertains to Dolores Huerta. This is Brown's fifth bilingual picture book biography. The first that features two influential people in history. She did a wonderful job with the layout. It opens with the reader being introduced to a young Dolores on one page and a young Cesar on the other.

Brown continues this alternating telling, so the reader learns about the early years of Huerta and Chavez equally. Until the day the two finally meet. From that point on Side by Side is about what they accomplished together.

"When the growers and the politicians wouldn't listen, Cesar stopped eating for thirty-six days so that others would understand how important it was to protect the workers. When their bosses bullied them, the workers used to say, "we can't do it. we can't win." But with the help of Dolores, they began to chant, "Si, se puede! Yes, we can"!

Brown has mastered the art of making facts readable and enjoyable. Joe Cepeda's artistic style is a perfect fit for Side by Side. I love this collaboration.* Brown includes a note for parents in the back, with additional information. This is a must add to any library.

I''ve linked this post to non fiction Monday. The round up this week can be found at The Miss Rumphius Effect

*I am still convinced Brown has an illustrator fairy. She's always paired with the perfect artist. Cross posted at Color Online.