Thursday, April 20, 2017

Quinito's Neighborhood

Quinoto's Neighborhood/El Vecindario de Quinito. Ina Cumpiano. Illustrated by Jose Ramirez. 2005/2009. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: My mami is a carpenter. My papi is a nurse. Mi mami es carpintera. Mi papi es enfermero.

Premise/plot: Remember the song, "Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood?" This picture book is a bilingual answer to that question. It is written in English and Spanish and is set in a colorfully diverse neighborhood. Readers meet not just his immediate and extended family, but the people that he meets each day.
Mrs. Hernandez sells Rafi's bread at her bodega, too. And her daughter, Sonia Isabel, counts the money in the bank on the corner. Guillermo is our mailman. Guillermo is going to marry Sonia Isabel.
My thoughts: I like this one. I can't say it makes much of a story--more of a friendly conversation. But the illustrations are wonderful. Perhaps with one exception!!! I could have done without the clowns!!! (Why did his grown-up cousin Tita have to go to clown school?!?!)

Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4.5 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10



© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

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