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24 pp.
| Millbrook
| April, 2012
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-5082-8$23.93
|
PaperISBN 978-0-7613-8580-6$6.95
(4)
K-3
Cloverleaf Books: Holidays and Special Days series.
Illustrated by
Holli Conger.
Children from different cultural groups describe their families' celebrations. Information about the occasions is included in the simplistic stories, but text boxes provide more details than the young narrators do. Bright, cheerful illustrations will draw readers to these introductions. Birthday focuses on U.S. customs but mentions other traditions. An activity concludes each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf Books: Holidays and Special Days titles: Brandon's Birthday Surprise, Chelsea's Chinese New Year, and Marco's Cinco de Mayo.
32 pp.
| Children's
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-89239-232-2$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Angela Domínguez.
Pet parrot Perico knows how to say "Let me help!" He repeats this statement as his (human) family members prepare for the San Antonio Cinco de Mayo festival. They shoo him away, but to everyone's surprise he eventually finds a way to help. Warm-hearted illustrations--from a bird's-eye view--support the family-centered text, printed in both English and Spanish.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2194-7$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jeffrey Ebbeler.
In his second outing, Mouse follows his nose to a Cinco de Mayo celebration, which offers opportunities for scavenging and adventure. Lively acrylic paintings from a variety of perspectives show Mouse taking in the sights, trying to elude Cat, and getting a wild ride on a piñata. The resolution is weak, but readers will take away some information about the holiday.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| January, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-1932-0$25.36
(4)
K-3
Historias de fiestas series.
These books explain the history, customs, and traditions of each holiday. The texts, though choppy, are generally informative and have been accurately translated into Spanish (except for some inconsistencies with capitalizations). Illustrations include reproductions and photographs; some of the stock images are dull or awkwardly placed. There are six other spring 2009 books in this series. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Historias de fiestas titles: El día de las elecciones, El día de Martin Luther King, Jr., El día del trabajo, Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, and Año nuevo.
32 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| February, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3104-3$22.60
(4)
K-3
Holidays--Count and Celebrate! series.
In a counting book format, brightly colored photographs (occasionally repetitive) and brief texts introduce a holiday's customs and symbols. Each double-page spread prompts readers to count something in an accompanying photograph; the choppy texts provide some information about the photo subject. This series offers an accessible way to learn about holidays. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holidays--Count and Celebrate! titles: Chinese New Year--Count and Celebrate!, Cinco de Mayo--Count and Celebrate!, Kwanzaa--Count and Celebrate!, and Martin Lither King, Jr. Day--Count and Celebrate!.
(4)
K-3
Looking Glass Library: Cultural Holidays series.
Illustrated by
Holli Conger.
The stories behind each celebration, its significance, and traditions are presented in straightforward but limited texts. Bright, cheery illustrations of round-faced revelers help readers visualize the experiences. Cinco includes recipes and a song; Chinese has a song and a calendar. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: Cultural Holidays titles: Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, and Cinco de Mayo.
32 pp.
| Heinemann
| July, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4329-1040-2$25.36 New ed. (2003)
(4)
K-3
Holiday Histories series.
This updated series presents brief, easy-to-read introductions to specific holidays. Each book reports on the holiday's history and how it's celebrated today. The clean design is easy to follow and makes effective use of historical illustrations, but many of the stock photos are dull. Reading list, timeline. Glos., ind. Review covers these Holiday Histories titles: Cinco de Mayo, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, and Juneteenth.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| March, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2107-7$16.95
(4)
4-6
Photographs by
Lawrence Migdale.
Cinco de Mayo is "a time to take pride in Mexican traditions and share them with others in the community." The book alternates between historical background and one Mexican American family's preparations for Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Hercules, California. The text is informative but dense and the design is busy, though the many photographs do provide a lively backdrop. Glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| July, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3044-2$23.93 New ed. (1997)
(4)
K-3
Best Holiday Books series.
This useful but unexciting revised and updated volume presents the historical origins of Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo and the ways they are observed. Many captioned photographs of public festivals featuring traditional foods, music, and clothing decorate the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
32 pp.
| National
| April, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-0215-2$15.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-0216-9$23.90
(3)
K-3
Holidays Around the World series.
This series effectively draws cross-cultural connections through the exploration of holiday traditions. The texts describe Cinco de Mayo traditions in the U.S. and Mexico and Valentine's Day celebrations around the world; the inclusive "we" is used throughout. Vibrant photographs and engaging layout will capture readers' interest. Additional facts, recipes, and a one-page essay about the holiday are appended in each volume. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Holidays around the World titles: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Celebrate Valentine's Day.
(4)
K-3
Translated by Miguel Arisa.
Illustrated by
Loretta Lopez.
The history and traditions of this popular Mexican holiday are shown through one family's observance. The simple bilingual text is accessible (though some of the phrasing is awkward), and the illustrations are celebratory, if a bit static. Educators will appreciate the find-what's-missing pages and the illustrated craft projects. A useful author's note gives more historical information.
104 pp.
| Enslow
| November, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2579-9$31.93
(3)
4-6
Celebrate Holidays series.
Captioned photographs, drawings, sidebars, and some maps combine with an accessible text to present a thorough discussion of each of the featured holidays. Each title describes clearly the origin of the holiday, then is followed by discussions of family practices, common symbols, and simple activities, making these useful resources to add to library or classroom holiday collections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Celebrate Holidays titles: Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Celebrate Chinese New Year, Celebrate Thanksgiving Day, Celebrate Halloween, Celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Celebrate Columbus Day, and Celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
(4)
K-3
On My Own Holidays series.
Illustrated by
Barbara Knutson.
Each author provides a detailed explanation of the featured holiday or, in the case of Easter, describes how the holiday is celebrated in diverse lands, from Sweden to Ethiopia to Colombia. Some books' illustrations are less accomplished than others, but the short sentences in these thorough offerings are just right for beginning readers. Chinese and Cinco contain glossaries. Review covers these On My Own Holidays titles: Veterans Day, Easter around the World, Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo.
24 pp.
| ABDO
| March, 2005
|
LibraryISBN 1-59197-586-7$21.35
(4)
K-3
Buddy Books: Holidays series.
Following a short description of the featured holiday, Murray discusses its origin, its evolution, and the way it is celebrated today. The writing is simple and straightforward, but bolded key words are not always defined in the text, leading to disruptive detours to the glossary. Photos appear throughout the generally clean layouts. Columbus and King contain timelines. Ind. Review includes these Buddy Books: Holidays titles: Chinese New Year, Cinco de Mayo, Columbus Day, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Presidents' Day.