In this charming and delightful picture book, Sami shares the joys of Spanglish with his skeptical abuela and diverse community.Sami
loves to speak both English and Spanish. But he doesn't just speak them one at a time. He speaks in Spanglish! Sometimes, he makes brand-new words—like "lonche"—and sometimes, he puts the languages together in one sentence, like when he's hungry for jamberguers con papas fritas.
But not everyone likes Spanglish. Abuela thinks that Spanish should be spoken at home and English at school. And to make matters more complicated, Sami's not allowed to write his homework in Spanglish.
At first, Sami feels confused and frustrated. But with the support of his family, friends, and neighbors, Sami soon realizes that his unique identity should be celebrated. Hooray, muy bien, Sami!
On sale: August 22, 2023
Age: 4-8 years
Grade: Preschool - 3
Page count: 48 Pages
ISBN: 9780593521809
Reading level: Lexile: AD500L | Fountas/Pinnell: M
Mónica Mancillas (she/her/hers) grew up speaking English, Spanish, and her own version of Spanglish, where words like “socks” and “calcetines” accidentally became “socketines.” She lives in Burbank, California, with her husband and daughter, where she authors books featuring marginalized voices for children of all ages. Find more about Mónica and her work at www.monicamancillas.com.
Olivia de Castro is an illustrator from Verona, New Jersey and a graduate of Pratt Institute. Currently, she is living and working in Brooklyn, New York, as a freelance illustrator. Her work is inspired by her mixed family, and she likes to make art that relates to culture, family, food, humor, and the immigrant experience. Check out her work at oliviadecastro.myportfolio.com and @oliviadecastroart on Instagram.
A September Target Book Club Pick
A 2024 Américas Award Commended Title
"A celebration of a bilingual childhood."–
Kirkus Reviews"With a warm emphasis on visibility through language, how we sound to one another, and many kinds of diversity within our communities, this playful picture book will resonate with kids in multilingual families." –
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