Bebe Goes Shopping

From the Publisher

[star] "Introducing a young child to Spanish has never been as attractive as in this shopping romp . . . Fantastico!"—Booklist (starred)

Publishers Weekly

*"[Elya's] rhyming bilingual text demonstrates a skilled storyteller who is clearly comfortable with both languages... Salerno packs the supermercado with such fiesta-bright hues, cartoons, and canned goods, it's no wonder Bebe can hardly keep his hands to himself...  This delightful tale turns an everyday chore into a lively adventure, brimming with entertainment and enjoyment for all."

Children's Literature

If you have ever taken a child to a big grocery store (mercado) this book will bring it all back with a smile. Mama must go to the store and Bebe must come along. As mama tries to do her shopping, Bebe tries to get a hold of different things: a colorful box of something, an interesting jar, some corn, and more, until Mama hands over her keys in an effort to keep Bebe entertained. Every aspect of grocery shopping is pictured in bold retro illustrations done in watercolor and ink. We see the little old lady who takes an interest in Bebe, we see the tug of war over the grocery list, and ultimately, we see Mama trying to appease Bebe with a box of circus cookies. As Bebe bites into the assortment of animal cookies, Mama is able to accomplish her task. The seamless rhyming text incorporates Spanish and English in a most natural, unforced cadence, making this book a pleasure to read over and over. Even for a non-Spanish speaker the Spanish text is so obvious you do not need to know the language to figure out the meaning, but just in case, there is a glossary at the back. This is a perfect book for bilingual story times. The unisex "Bebe" makes it suitable for either sex. The end papers will make you get a box of animal crackers on your next trip to the mercado. Delicioso! 2006, Harcourt, Ages 2 to 5.
—Maria E. Gentle

School Library Journal

PreS-In this warm and engaging picture book, a routine visit to the grocery store becomes an exciting outing. Children will love the retro illustrations done in watercolors and colored ink and brimming with delightful details, while adults will identify with the difficulty of keeping small children entertained and contained during a mundane shopping expedition. Spanish terms are scattered throughout the rhyming text, with a glossary included at the end of the book. English-only and bilingual readers will enjoy the bouncing rhythm and buoyant illustrations. The book is a great choice for storytime or one-on-one reading.-Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

An energetic young mother, black ponytail jauntily flipping, is accompanied by her equally energetic curly-topped bebe on an outing to the supermercado, "a really big store . . . with groceries galore." Bebe, strapped into the shopping cart, predictably longs for a sweet, grabs things off the shelves, drops Mama's keys and is finally entertained with a box of animal crackers. The rhyming text, with its mix of English in Spanish, captivates, despite an occasional sacrifice of sense for the sake of the rhyme. ("Mama wears a dress-a vestido bonito. / It blocks Bebe's view as she steers the carrito." Salerno's cheerful, energetic swirls of color and line, ample white space and changing perspectives transform an everyday outing into a dramatic adventure that will leave readers smiling along with Mama and Bebe. (glossary of Spanish words with pronunciation key) (Picture book. 2-6)

San Francisco Chronicle

"Learn 32 Spanish words in this merry romp about a trip to the supermercado with Mama and Bebe. Northern California author Susan Middleton Elya writes in bouncy rhymes that naturally accomodate both English and Spanish and some chaos too. Clue: No display is safe."—San Francisco Chronicle's Best Books List (November 19, 2006)

Booklist

* (starred review) "Introducing a young child to Spanish has never been as attractive in this shopping romp... The text carefully, and delightfully incorporations Spanish words into the rhyming text... Salerno is a master at getting motion into his pictures, and his spreads rumble and tumble, especially when the baby's animal crackers grow large and alive."—Booklist (February 15, 2006)