Series: Dear Dragon-Bilingual
Copyright Year: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59953-362-9
Edition: Library-Spanish/English
Grade level: K-3
Dewey: E
Subject: Fiction, Dragons, Soccer, Sportsmanship
Lexile Level: BR
GRL: F
Binding: Library Hardcover
Available: Now
Primary BISAC: JUV002270
Secondary BISAC: FOR026000
Sportsmanship, friendships, and family are the underlying themes in these bilingual easy readers about a boy who has fun with his pet dragon. Full-bleed, entertaining cartoons provide essential sight clues. Hillert uses very simple language and repetitive phrases, adding to the books’ worth as great educational tools. Although the Spanish translations are accurate, they include words that are not commonly used among Spanish speakers. For example, the sentence “go, go, go” is translated “avanza, avanza, avanza” instead of “apurate, apurate, apurate.”
School Library Journal, March 2011
Each title includes an instructional note to caregivers and is enhanced with full color illustrations. Highly recommended for children K-2 needing educational and entertaining bilingual reading material, school and community libraries are well advised to order the complete set of four.
The Midwest Book Review, August 2010
Contains many high frequency words, sight words, and repetition. Example of writing style: "Oh, no. That was not good. Now I have no friends to play with. What can I do?" (This is after the boy told another child to go away and said "I do not want you here" --- in a tree house). Noteworthy aspect is that from the story a child would learn what s/he can do if s/he makes a poor choice with other children, as the character goes to look for the outcast, tells him he is sorry and says he wants to be friends and play with him. This is a typical situation for young children, so would be relevant and helpful. Activities depicted are also fun to young readers: playing softball and basketball, jumping rope, hanging on bars, swinging and going down a sliding board. If you have use for a bilingual reader, this series would work. Recommended.
Richardson's Independent School District's Library Media Services Book Review Program, June 2010