Super Star Children's Book Reviews: Sing with Me / Canta conmigo

Welcome to the monthly children’s book review feature with a focus on diverse books here at Bird Meets Worm! My team of reviewers—Joan Charles, Laurie Young, Sarah Orgill—and I are so excited to be championing books celebrating everything from gender diversity, people of color, the LGBTQ community to ethnic, cultural and religious minorities, people with disabilities and developmental challenges to controversial topics, unique family situations and anything and everything I did not include. It is to say we take a rightfully broad view of diversity! We aim to shine a light on books that bring both familiar experiences to those who do not often see themselves represented in books and new experiences to those looking to expand their worldview. Here at Bird Meets Worm we believe in the power of story to build empathy and thus a better world for you and me and everyone. Look for a new review on the second Wednesday of every month.



SING WITH ME / CANTA CONMIGO: SIX CLASSIC SONGS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
By José-Luis Orozco • Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Picture Book (ages 4-8 years) • 32 pages
Published by Scholastic Press • 2020
ISBN 978-1-338-12118-6


Sing With Me / Canta Conmigo, is a delightful collection of classic children’s songs in both Spanish and English. The six featured songs, including such favorites as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Old MacDonald,” and “Wheels on the Bus,” are introduced through a light-handed narrative as the main characters move throughout their day. Children will delight in the side-by-side translations, seeing “Old MacDonald” translated to “Juancho Pancho” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” to “Estrellita”. Parents and children alike will enjoy singing, dancing and playing along on this musical adventure.

Illustrator Sara Palacios’s artwork is bright and vibrant. Each page is filled with the rich diversity that makes up America today. The pictures reveal the imagery in the songs with a contemporary feel.

Orozco wisely points out in the Author’s Note that “recent studies on the brain have discovered the benefits of using two or more languages and the importance of music in the intellectual development of children.” Sing With Me / Canta Conmigo is a book in service to this dual goal of bilingual and musical education. It will be a welcome addition to any school or home library!


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Reviewed by: Sarah Orgill