Okay, maybe not everywhere but on Considering Campbell, at least.
When we decided that we wanted to teach Jack Spanish, we bought a few "Used Book Lots" on eBay--just a bunch of random Spanish children's books for $5 or something like that. I can't remember whether "Say Hola to Spanish!" was in one of those lots or whether it was a gift. Nevertheless, it quickly became Jack's favorite book. The English/Spanish rhyming was catchy and Jack picked up on it almost immediately ("A dog is a perro, a cat is a gato, you drink from a vaso and eat from a plato!"). It's adorable to hear him call bread "pan" and open wide when I ask him to show me his dientes. One of my favorite things about the book is that there is a little glossary in the back that translates all the Spanish words used throughout the story. After Jack demanded to read "Español!" every night (even though it sounded much more like "Pan-OL!"), we decided to go online and see if we could find more books written by the author. We were in luck. The next day I ordered Say Hola to Spanish Otra Vez, Rubia and the Three Osos and a few other gems. Although I loved them all, Rubia and the Three Osos was probably my favorite of the lot. I just loved the retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears with the Spanish words thrown in and rhyming in a way that Jack remembered them later.
When we were looking for Spanish books at the beginning of our "Let's teach our Gringo Spanish!" quest, none of Susan's books came up in our search. It was sheer dumb luck that we ended up with the first one on our bookshelf. Now that we've fallen in love with her fun and effective way of teaching kids (and let's face it, adults too) a robust number of Spanish vocabulary words, I want to shout her praises from the rooftops. I am convinced that the rest of you will fall in love with her style too. And here's a little secret I found out: if you order her books directly from her shop, she sends it to you with an autograph inside the front cover. Umm....yes please! A few of the books on her site are only English so if you’re looking for the English/Spanish versions, be sure to make the right choice!
But you want more than just a link to purchase an autographed copy of the best books around, you say? Well, you're in luck. Because Susan Middleton Elya, being the peach she is, asked her publishers to send me 4 of her books to give away to you lovely folks!
What: Four of Susan Middleton Elya's English/Spanish rhyming books (a $55.00 value!!):
1) Rubia and the Three Osos The Campbell Favorite!! Jack likes to "Drink sopa!!!" and pretend to drink from the bowl of soup that Goldilocks brings to Baby Bear as a peace offering
2) Say Hola to Spanish at the Circus We don't have this one but we have Say Hola to Spanish (Jack’s favorite) and Say Hola to Spanish, Otra Vez which are both great
3) Bebe Goes Shopping Yep, we've got this one too....and Jack loves to show off his sweet Español Skills as we read it and he tells us everything he sees on the "shelves" of the grocery store
4) Bebe Goes to the Beach Don't have this one but we probably should. Nothing makes Jack happier than "Agua!" so an entire book about it? Yeah, gonna need to get on that.
Rules: Just leave a comment below and tell me what your favorite childhood book was. I'll use random.org to draw a winner at 6:00 PM CST on Thursday, February 2 so be sure to enter before then! The winner will be posted on Friday, February 3. And just to be sure that this giveaway and Susan's books get even more attention, if you tweet about this giveaway, leave me a 2nd comment telling me so (and your twitter name so I can verify---because, ya know, I'm a lawyer...I need evidence) and you'll be entered for a 2nd chance to win.
Note: I wasn't paid to write this post and I don’t know Susan Middleton Elya or any of her publishers. And frankly, I'd have written it even without the freebies to give away to you guys. I truly think that more people should know about her books because there's nothing neater than hearing your not-even-two-year-old ask you for "queso" on his "huevo" in the morning. Her writing style is very child-friendly yet still really reinforces the Spanish/English education. Really, all we do is read him one or two of her books each day and he's already picking up on it like a rockstar. So if you or anyone you know has/is expecting kiddos soon, enter this giveaway. And if you don't win, be sure to head over to her website to order a few of her libros---because who doesn’t want a bilingual kid? College scholarships, here we come!
34 Comments:
Don't enter me in the contest because I have enough children's book to fill say a classroom and they are currently all in boxes in our basement - all like 15 boxes! But I must say I used to love reading Say Hola to Spanish to my kindergartners! Fantastic book! Your winner will be very pleased!
I can't remember what my favorite book was, but I remember the one that left the biggest impact. It was about a mouse who married a cockroach, cooked him a big pot of soup on the stove, and when he went to get a taste he fell into the soup and died!!! I am not kidding, I remember my mom reading it to me at night and I just cried my eyes out!
My favorite book growing up was called the Jolly Postman by Janet & Allan Alhberg.
I have tried starting to speak French and Spanish around Leah, I hope she picks it up like Jack.
I want those books!!! Little do you know that random.org and I are besties so I have this in the bag!
Who can forget "Monster at the End of the Book"? One of my childhood faves, even though there is absolutely no way to pick a true favorite from the childhood of self-professed bibleophile!
I recall reading tons of Dr. Seuss when I was little. I think Green Eggs and Ham forged me into the person that I am today. I also read the dinosaur encyclopedia a lot, but I'm not sure what that did to me...
Favorite book was Bugs Bunny's Carrot Machine! I'd love to give these to the newest nephew :)
--Emily
woops didn't sign in...that's me (talking about Bugs)
My favorite? Either "Cookie Monster and the Cookie Tree" or the Berenstain Bears book "The Bike Lesson"
Willy Mac
Dude!! Oliviers favorite book is "donde esta mi ombligito?" He wouldnt let me put it down at the bookstore! So yeah I must have these.
Oh yeah I tweeted under O's twitter...@SenorPeepee (don't judge).
Oh yeah x2...I forgot to say my favorite book!! It was a big book of Greek mythology. My dad would read it to us every night. Kind of weird since there were some very adult themes... :)
oops...@Senor_Peepee
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes takes the cake!! I plan on getting all of mouse books by him for Halle.
First of all I think your child might be a genius.
Secondly, I don't remember my favorite book at a child, but i seemed to really enjoy Jansen's book about the coyote that swallowed a flea.
You can't choose a favorite book!! That's impossible! I did LOVE Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
I'm with Chelsea. I have no favorite...of anything. I'm too indecisive. I deeply loved me some Where the Wild Things Are though! Clifford the Big Red Dog books were awesome, too.
Anything by Eric Carle! My students would love these books... and I need to learn Spanish to be a better teacher!
Hi there! Came across your giveaway thanks to Chelsea (Roots & Rings) and this is so awesome! My brother wants to teach my nephew Spanish & these books seem JUUUUST right :)
My favorite children's book... That's a tough one since I work with kids' books! I'd have to say that Lost & Found by Oliver Jeffers is way up there though. Love him! My e-mail is mliss024@gmail.com
We have also done the "buy some here, buy some there" approach to english/spanish books; therefore, we don't have many that really qualify to teach like I want to. We would love these books!
I definitely do not have ONE favorite childhood book, but will list, "Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret" for the sake of mentioning just one.
Thank you!
I can't remember my FAVORITE. But, I do remember loving Where the Sidewalk Ends!
Oh man, I LOVED books when I was a child (still do). If I had to pick one favorite, I remember loving the Amelia Bedelia books.
My favorite book as a little girl was "Duncan & Delores", but I also loved anything Berenstein Bear as well.
Mine was Matilda by Roald Dahl. This is such a great idea. I never even thought of teaching Meredith Spanish until now!
Paul says his favorite book was, "Where the Wild Things Are". Mine had to be, "Are You My Mother?" with the little bird trying to find his mama. I was also obsessed with collecting all of the Beatrix Potter books. I am grateful to my mom for saving all of my childhood books do that I can now read them to my kids.
I would like my children to speak Spanish because my dad's first language was Spanish and his entire family speaks Spanish-which made for awkward family reunions for my sisters and I since we do not speak Spanish
Oh yea, I would also like to get a double entry by posting on Twitter, but being as I am an old lady, such things confuse me....I will of course get a twitter account, if necessary, for the sole purpose of winning this contest, but Lord help us all if I do. As it is I already neglect my children due to my Words With Friends addiction. Another reason why we need to win these books- to cure me of my addition so I can bond again with my kids.
Harold and the Purple Crayon. Hands down.
And I need these books. :) For me - my boys go to Spanish daycare and I'm pretty sure they understand the people that take care of them, but I'm at a complete loss. :)
The flying hockey stick!! :)
Browyn & Brady
Ps. I just tweeted. @browynking
My favorite childhood book was Serendipity...actually there was a whole series. Really great books!
ecarian at yahoo dot com
I remember spending long long hours reading and rereading two books of Grimms and Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. I was ecstatic when Dad found them under the stairs, it was like finding an old childhood friend. Also loved Trixie Belden books (mysteries like Nancy Drew) and Little House on the Prairie. Amelia would love these books I think :) huuggs :)
My favorite book was Jillian Jiggs. I can still recite the whole book from memory, and frequently do with my children. My copy is currently on my daughter's book shelf :-)
I loved "Mom's Day Out"
Tweeted
@ letthemcome1014
My favorite book was "Adventure in the Dark" about Tippu the mouse who is afraid of the dark! Another favorite was "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie".
Tweeted (@GrantGGreen) :-)
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