Growing Vegetable Soup/A sembrar sopa de verduras
Written & Illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Translated by Alma Flor Ada & F. Isabel Campoy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • 2012 • 32 pages
Board Book ($4.99)
ISBN: 978-0-547-73497-2
Ages 0-3
Lois Ehlert’s use of primary colors is exquisite; she is an expert at crafting simple, engaging storylines for young children, and this bright, colorful board book provides yet another example of the author/illustrator’s skills.
The newly available bilingual board book edition of this previously published book is a feast for the eyes—an open door to discover the world of vegetables and vegetable growing. The book’s strength lies in its versatility; it lends itself to be used by children of a wide range of ages. For babies, the colors alone will engage, and the stiff board pages will be easy to turn and play with; toddlers and preschoolers will follow the simple story line of how the vegetables found in soup are grown and harvested, identify the different vegetables (in English and Spanish!), and learn colors, among many other possibilities.
Read Related: Why Bilingual is Better, According to Ana L. Flores & Roxana A. Soto
It is challenging to translate English text into a Spanish version that reads and flows well, and this bilingual edition succeeds on both counts; it is a delightful read in both languages. This little book is a must for every child’s first library, and will make a perfect baby shower gift, to be read and enjoyed for many years.
—Reviewed by Maria Mena, Youth Services Librarian, Albany, NY
