Sobre los mamíferos
Una guía para niños
Written by Cathryn Sill
Illustrated by John Sill

This addition to the acclaimed About… series offers young readers a first glimpse into the diverse and natural world of mammals. Educator and author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children about mammals, and illustrator John Sill introduces readers to the huge variety of mammals with beautifully detailed and realistic paintings. An afterword provides details on the animals featured and inspires readers to learn more.

Sobre los pájaros
Una guía para niños
Written by Cathryn Sill
Illustrated by John Sill

This beginner’s guide offers a first glimpse into the natural world of birds. In this addition to the About… series, author Cathryn Sill teaches children what birds are, what they do, and how they live. Noted wildlife illustrator John Sill uses beautifully detailed, realistic paintings to introduce readers to the diverse and natural world of birds. An afterword provides further details on the featured birds and inspires young readers to learn more.

14 vacas para América
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy,
in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah
Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

In June of 2002, a mere nine months since the September 11 attacks, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. This gift of 14 cows is as unexpected as it is extraordinary, and it offers a soft light of hope and friendship for the heartsick American nation. With the stunning paintings of Thomas Gonzalez, master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures.

Un colchón de plumas para Ágata
Un cuento de alas para niños
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by Laura L. Seeley

When children approach Agatha wanting to know the source of the beautiful fabrics in her weaving shop, she always recites a simple verse.

Everything comes from something,
Nothing comes from nothing.
Just like paper comes from trees,
And glass comes from sand,
An answer comes from a question.
All you have to do is ask.

Perhaps Agatha forgets her own advice, for one night her pleasant sleep is disrupted by six cranky, cold, naked geese who want to discuss the source of the feathers keeping Agatha so warm in her brand new feather bed. In a delightfully surprising ending, Agatha arrives at a solution that benefits them all.

La gallinita de la pradera
Written by Jackie Mims Hopkins
Illustrated by Henry Cole

When Mary McBlicken the prairie chicken is sure a stampede’s a comin’! She hurries to the ranch, gathering up her friends along the way. Before the fine feathered and furry folks get to their destination, they encounter a coyote who says he knows a shortcut. Should they trust him? Will they find Cowboy Stan and Red Dog Dan in time? And where is that rumbling coming from anyway?

Jackie Mims Hopkins brings readers a hilarious, prairie-style rendition of a well-loved tale. Henry Cole’s energetic illustrations perfectly complement the hilarity and will have readers laughing out loud.

Martina una cucarachita muy linda
Un cuento cubano
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by Michael Austin

Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage. That’s where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increíble, some shocking advice. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela’s unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him café cubano?

Miguel y su valiente caballero
El Joven Cervantes sueña a don Quijote
Written by Margarita Engle
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
Translated by Teresa Mlawer and Georgina Lázaro

This fictionalized first-person biography in verse of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra follows the early years of the child who grows up to pen Don Quixote, the first modern novel. The son of a gambling, vagabond barber-surgeon, Miguel looks to his own imagination for an escape from his family’s troubles and finds comfort in his colorful daydreams. Even at a time when access to books is limited and imaginative books are considered evil, Miguel longs to tell stories of his own. When Miguel is nineteen, four of his poems are published, launching the career of one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language.

For: The Budding Bibliophile

The Bookshop Girl
Written by Sylvia Bishop
Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

The Joneses have just won the Great Montgomery Book Emporium in a contest, and it’s every book lover’s dream! But the previous owner is hiding something that could destroy absolutely everything for the Joneses. Property Jones has a whopper of a secret too—and it might just be the key to saving her family and their bookshop from the clutches of a nasty villain.

Readers will fall in love with Property Jones and her cantankerous kitten side-kick as well as the beautiful descriptions throughout the story, and they will be in awe of how magical bookstores can be. Read an excerpt here.

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
Written by Chelsea H. Rowe
Illustrated by Frank Dormer

No one seems to understand Ebenezer’s work collections, but his efforts are finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn’t have a word collection—but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories.

Ebenezer and Fitzgerald demonstrate the creative ways in which words, and language as a whole, can expand and evolve through collaboration with others. For the future storyteller or wordsmith in your life, show your budding bibliophile how fun words (and stories) can be when with a friend. Read an excerpt here.

Miguel’s Brave Knight:
Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote
Written by Margarita Engle
Illustrated by Raúl Colón

This fictionalized first-person biography in verse follows the early years of the child who grows up to pen Don Quixote, the first modern novel.

Available in both English and Spanish, this moving picture book shows young readers the importance of “never quitting their daydreams.” Miguel’s story is a reminder that passion and personal belief in oneself can go a long way, especially on the side of creativity and hard work. Read an excerpt here.

The Cheshire Cheese Cat:
A Dickens of a Tale
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright
Illustrated by Barry Moser

In this playful homage to Charles Dickens, unlikely allies learn the lessons of a great friendship. Take a trip back to Victorian England with an alley cat named Skilley and an erudite mouse, Pip as they are drawn into a crisis of monumental proportions that threatens the peace not only of the Cheshire Cheese Inn but also the British Monarchy!

With its playful puns, entertaining and well-rounded characters, and delightful illustrations, The Cheshire Cheese Cat will make any young reader a lover of language and stories. Young readers will be flipping through the pages to learn the how Skilley and Pip’s conclusion unveils in the end. Read an excerpt here.

Find these titles and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. Still looking for more great ideas? Our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide has even more gift recommendations for your little readers this holiday season!

In this interview, Spanish translators Teresa Mlawer and Georgina Lázaro share their experience translating Miguel’s Brave Knight and explain the importance of translating literature for children.

Q: What are your own connections to Cervantes’s story of Don Quixote? 

GL: Yes, the fact that Miguel’s Brave Knight is about young Cervantes dreaming about the knight he wants to write about someday and my Don Quijote para siempre (Don Quixote Forever) and Don Quijote a carcajadas (Don Quixote’s Laughter) are about that same knight as children will see him, makes a connection. The previous works and this translation are intended for young readers, and one of the goals of all three is not only to tell a story they will enjoy but also to familiarize them with one the most important books of all times, and to make them appreciate the beauty of our Spanish language.Q: What does your translation process look like?

TM: I read the book in English a few times before I start to work on the translation. Then I proceed to translate page by page. When I have finished the translation, I let it “rest” for a while, then I go back to the translation to see if it sounds right, or if I need to make some changes to the text before submitting the final translation.

GL: My translation process looks very much like my writing process. I think about it as part of my work. Although the book is already written, translation demands not only lots of attention to words and language. It involves, contrary to what many people think, imagination and creativity to transmit not only words and ideas, but also feelings and cadence.

To start, I read the original text several times and do some research. If it is poetry, I consider the structure, its rhyme and rhythm. When I’m working sometimes I write down several options for some words. Then, at the end of a verse or a page I read it aloud and choose the one that is closer in meaning to the original, that reproduces better the music of the text, and that delights the most.

Every day, as I do when I’m writing a book, I read what I have done the day before and then go for some more until the end. When the work is finished, I let it stand for several days and read it with “new eyes” later to modify or add, if necessary, the finishing touches. Sometimes translating feels like a challenging game. Like solving crosswords puzzles, translating offers me lots of special moments, knowledge, inspiration, vocabulary, and skills to improve as a writer.

Q: What kind of research, if any, do you conduct in order to select the correct form or context of translation?

GL: I read the book several times to be sure I understand it completely and to immerse myself in its tone and atmosphere. Usually I read about the author and some of his or her books and writings to learn more about his or her style and voice.

I also read information in Spanish on the theme of the book to learn more about it and to familiarize myself with its vocabulary.

For Miguel’s Brave Knight, I researched about Miguel de Cervantes, especially his childhood and youth, and read again some chapters of Don Quijote de la Mancha to focus particularly on the vocabulary and idiomatic expressions of the time and place in which the novel takes place.

Q: What about translating Miguel’s Brave Knight was most challenging?

GL: I had never translated free verse poetry. When I write I use the traditional poetic forms. For me it comes naturally and effortless. And it has an advantage: if you follow the rules you are sure to achieve music and rhythm. With free verse it is more subjective. You have to trust the words you choose and your ears to capture the music of the original text. I had never attempted that, so I spent lots of time and effort choosing the right words and reading the text aloud many times, over and over again, to be sure our translation was as delicate, and delightful to the ear as the original.

TM: Translating Miguel’s Brave Knight was definitely a challenge because of Margarita’s free verse style. However, I believe that Georgina and I were able to accomplish this goal.

Q: Is communication with the author important to your process? 

TM: I don’t always communicate with the author when doing a translation. I only reach out to the author or the editor if I need to clarify something. In the case of Miguel y su valiente caballero I did communicate with Margarita Engle. Her style is so unique that I wanted to make sure that Georgina and I preserved her style and were truthful to her voice.

GL: In this case it was not only very important, but advantageous. Teresa knows Margarita Engle and had talked to her and knew what she wanted to achieve and what was in her heart and mind when she wrote the book. A few times we were not sure about a particular word, phrase, or idea. It was a blessing that she was accessible and willing to dispel our doubts.

Q: How many drafts of translation did you produce before the finished product was achieved?

GL: Oh! That I cannot tell. Many. Lots. This translation was very different from the others I have done before because I was not working alone.

We assigned ourselves one or two pages each week and we both translated those same few pages. Then each one of us read the work of the other, and chose words, phrases, or even verses of one translation or the other. Sometimes we ended up with a different new page. By this point we already had three or four drafts of a page.

Q: What was it like working with another translator on Miguel’s Brave Knight?

GL: This translation was very different from all the others I have done. I have worked a lot with Teresa Mlawer but in a different way. Usually I write or translate and she edits. Sometimes I help her with the rhymes and metrics of some of her translations. On this occasion, for the first time, we both worked as translators of the same text. As I have said earlier, we assigned ourselves one or two pages each week and we both translated those same few pages. Then each one read the work of the other, and chose words, phrases or verses from one translation or the other to achieve the best end results. We talked a lot on the phone considering each other’s point of view. Sometimes we thought about our differences and options for a few days or even looked for a third opinion.

To write is a solitary work. Working with another person can be a real challenge. I thought it was going to be difficult to work with another translator. Working with Teresa was different, but also stimulating and fun.

TM: I have worked with Georgina Lázaro before. We make a good team and complement each other. This was indeed a team effort and a work of love for both Georgina and myself.

Q: How important are cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of locale to the translation of a text such as Miguel’s Brave Knight? Do you feel it is important to have a Spanish translation of this text? 

TM: Cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of any text to be translated is extremely important. Because of the subject matter of the story I feel it was extremely important to have this book translated into the language of Miguel de Cervantes.

GL: Yes, I think it is important and necessary to have a Spanish translation of this text. Such a beautiful book about the author of the most famous and important book written in Spanish needs to reach Spanish readers.

To take notice of cultural appropriateness, language authenticity, and accuracy of locale is essential to be able to have a trustworthy text, without disparities, and to succeed in getting the reader to feel as if the new text is not a translation.

Q: Is language or intent more important to a work like Miguel’s Brave Knight?

TM: I would say that both are important, but when it comes to Cervantes, the language is extremely important.

Q: What is the crucial difference between authentic literature and translation literature?

TM: To me there is no crucial difference between authentic literature and literature in translation, as long as both are well written.

Q: What are some of the differences between translating literature and poetry?

TM: Poetry is definitely more of a challenge, especially if you are translating the words of someone as talented and unique as Margarita Engle.

GL: To translate an informative text or a cookbook, for example, you have to be meticulous and precise; there’s no room for creativity. To translate literature and poetry is more difficult. As in all translations, you have to look for accuracy in the words you choose. But besides meaning you have to consider the sound of the words, the music and the tone they create, the rhythm and cadence of the sentences. Especially with poetry the translated text should be read as a poem written in the new language and the translator becomes kind of a creator. This question makes me think of something actress Marta Poveda says: “To do prose is like running by the beach, to do poetry is like running through water.”

Q: What do you enjoy most about translating?

GL: What I enjoy most about translating is the challenge and the fun of it. It reminds me of the days I used to solve crosswords puzzles with my father, especially if it involves the rhyme and rhythm of traditional poetic forms. It is like a game, like a riddle. Like this:

TM: When I look back to my career as a translator I like what I see. It has been and it continues to be a very rewarding experience for me. Therefore, I would say to any aspiring translators: If that’s what you really like to do, go for it!

Q: What do you hope to inspire through your work in translation?

TM: I have to admit that I do translations because I love language and I love children’s literature. However, my goal is to be able to translate into Spanish many of the wonderful children’s books published in English so that Hispanic children will have the opportunity to read all these books in their language.

GL: What I want with my translations is to expose the work of other writers, to make available good books written in English to Spanish-speaking readers or to readers who are learning Spanish. As with my own books I expect children to discover that reading is fun, exciting, and stimulating.

Find  Miguel y su valiente caballero at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble! For more information about the story behind Miguel’s Brave Knight, check out our interview with author Margarita Engle and illustrator Raúl Colón as well as a guest post from Margarita Engle about why she wrote this important and inspiring story.

To celebrate and honor the histories and cultures of people with Hispanic heritage, we want to share some stories that feature strong Hispanic and Latino characters in all forms—skeleton, insect, or human. Pick one to read today and celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with us! And don’t forget to check out our Spanish and Bilingual books round-up!

Miguel’s Brave Knight
Young Cervantes and His Dream of Don Quixote

To escape the hardships of his family life, Miguel lives in his imagination, and finds inspiration in wandering actors and storytellers. Based on the real childhood of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of Don Quixote, the first modern novel, this fictionalized first-person biography tells the uplifting tale one of the greatest Spanish writers of all time.

Not only does this book provide insight into the hardships in young Miguel’s life in Spain, but it also highlights the influence he and Don Quixote had on Western culture in the United States and around the world. Cuban-American author and poet Margarita Engle, and illustrator Raul Colon, who grew up in Puerto Rico, also explain in each of their personal notes what Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote mean to them. Check out the Spanish edition here!

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
A Cuban Folktale

Based off of a Cuban folktale, this picture book tells the story of Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha and her difficulties finding a good husband among her fellow cockroaches. After taking her Aubela’s advice to test her suitors with café cubano, can anyone pass the test and win their way to Martina’s heart? Abuelas always know best!

Sprinkled with Spanish words, puns, and plenty of humor, this book is perfect for reading aloud. It is also available in Spanish and audio.

Clatter Bash!
A Day of the Dead Celebration

Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with playful skeletons that rattle and shake as they rise from their graves to receive offerings, sing, dance, and feast before the sun rises. Rollicking rhyme—sprinkled with Spanish words—captures the bone-rattling sounds and fun of the evening, while the vivid cut-paper art is sure to raise the spirits of young readers without frightening them.

Dia De Los Muertos, a celebration of life and legacy that originated in Mexico, has become a huge part of how we celebrate Halloween in the United States today, and this picture book is perfect for storytime and introducing the holiday to young readers.

Truth and Salsa

Almost-thirteen-year-old Hayley has to spend six months with her eccentric grandmother in the rural mountain town of San Miguel, Mexico after the breakup of her parents’ marriage. Going by her new, more glamorous chosen name Margarita, she finds life in Mexico surprisingly exciting and full of adventure, including mystery of la fantama (“the ghost”) that has been haunting her grandmother’s house. Margarita enjoys the Mexican culture and lifestyle she has been immersed in, but also becomes aware of the poverty and demand for migrant work that affects those around her.

This entertaining and engaging coming-of-age story reminds us that our experiences can change how we see the world and ourselves.

Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia

Follow popular storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy as she takes listeners through her childhood experiences of moving from Havana, Cuba as a refugee to Decatur, Georgia in this compelling audio CD. This collection of twelve stories, several of which have been featured on NPR’s “Weekend All Things Considered,” is a perfect glimpse into Deedy’s collision of cultures and what it’s like for a child to transition from one country to another.

Find these books and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble.