FICTION

Dalia's Wondrous Hair/El maravilloso cabello de Dalia

tr. from English by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. illus. by Laura Lacá;mara. 32p. glossary. notes. Piñata. May 2014. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781558857896. LC 2013036485.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—One day, a young Latina girl's thick, black, wavy tresses stand straight up into the air. This might sound like a set-up for a bad hair day, but rather than being appalled or upset, Dalia happily makes the most of it. She proceeds to add items in her hair to look more like the natural surroundings, in hopes of resembling a special tree for her mother. The childhood appeal of this little girl interacting with nature will resonate with a broad audience, who will like Dalia. The Spanish translation is good, and it is just as enjoyable to read in English as it is in Spanish. At the end, the author includes a glossary of flora native to Cuba that are mentioned in the story. Additionally, there are some notes on how to create a butterfly garden. Lacá;mara's rich and colorful artwork beautifully complement the imaginative text. A fun and enjoyable read-aloud.—Maricela Leon-Barrera, San Francisco Public Library
When Dalia wakes up, her hair has grown "tall and thick as a Cuban royal palm tree." She gathers leaves, mud, and other treasures and turns her hair into a tree. The next morning butterflies fly out; she's a "BUTTERFLY TREE!!" Enhanced by lush illustrations, the Spanish and English texts don't make much sense but are full of references to Cuba's natural world. Glos.

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