Dalia's Wondrous Hair

DALIA'S WONDROUS HAIR by Laura Lacamara. Arte Publico, 2014.

Dalia's wondrous hair
Can be a home to creatures
Such as butterflies.

Dale Dale Dale!

DALE DALE DALE! HIT IT! HIT IT! HIT IT! A FIESTA OF NUMBERS by Rene Saldana with illustrations by Carolyn Flores. Arte Publico/Pinata Books, 2014.

It's time for birthday
Fun and festivities. It's
Time for a party!

THE LIGHTNING DREAMER by Margarita Engle. Harcourt, March 2013.

In her usual novel in verse format, Engle tells the story of Tula, a girl who yearns for an education in a time and place where girls' educations are not valued. She is determined, though, to learn more about the words she loves, the books she reads, and more. When Tula stumbles across the work of a poet, her life changes. The words affect her deeply, and she knows she must escape from her promised marriage and become a writer. Based on the work of a Cuban woman, Engle once again demonstrates her prowess at making characters come to life.

The return of Mickey Rangel

Fellow Texan, Rene Saldana, created this series featuring Mickey Rangel, boy detective, a couple of years ago. THE LEMON TREE CAPER (Pinata/Arte Publico 2011) gives readers another mystery to solve along with Mickey. Mickey's mouth is watering as his unairconditioned school bus passes Tina's lemonade stand on the way home. Before he can make it to her stand to quench his thirst, though, he hears a blood-curdling scream from his neighbor's house. There he discovers TWO mysteries. One he is able to solve quickly. The other one: who stole Senorita Andrade's lemons straight from her tree, might take some time and maybe assistance from his ghost sidekick or whoever it is who leaves him notes with clues and hints. Mickey is a welcome addition to the sleuths of children's literature. This book is in English; flip it over, and the text is in Spanish as well.
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