'Twas Nochebuena
By (Author) Roseanne Greenfield Thong
Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Penguin Putnam Inc
Penguin USA
16th October 2014
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Families and family members
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories
Commended for Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature (Children/Young Adult) 2015
Hardback
40
Width 278mm, Height 248mm, Spine 9mm
420g
'Twas Nochebuena and all through our casa,every creature was kneading tamale masa... It's Christmas Eve, and you're invited to a Nochebuena celebration! Follow a family as they prepare to host a night filled with laughter, love, and Latino tradition. Make tasty tamales and hang colorful adornos (decorations) on the walls. Gather to sing festive canciones (songs) while sipping champurrado (hot chocolate). After the midnight feast has been served and the last gifts have been unwrapped, it's time to cheer, "Feliz Navidad and to all a good night!" Savor the magic of Nochebuena with a holiday tale you'll want to read again and again.
PRAISE FOR 'TWAS NOCHEBUENA:
A linguistic and visual treat. The lyrical blend of English and Spanish and vibrant action-packed illustrations make this ideal for read-alouds. Booklist
"Thongs humorous verse follows Clement Moores strong rhythm without falteringdespite the metrical challenges of working in two languages at once. Palacioss warm, earth-toned illustrations of a happy multigenerational family invite readers into the festivities, whether these tradiciones are familiar or new to them." Horn Book
This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary. Kirkus Reviews
This lively picture book offers a wonderful way to celebrate and learn about Latino Christmas traditions. School Library Journal
Roseanne Greenfield Thong is the author of many multicultural-themed children's books. She was born in Southern California but has lived in Guatemala, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. While in Guatemala and Mexico, she studied Spanish and ate many tamales. Roseanne now lives in Orange County where she teaches English composition. Sara Palacios illustrated the Pura Belpre honor bookMarisol McDonald Doesn't Match. She divides her time between San Francisco and Mexico City.