Rodriguez, Patty & Ariana Stein.The Life of/La vida de La Pola. ISBN 9781948066341.
––––. The Life of/La vida de Salazar. ISBN 9781948066570.
ea vol: illus. by Citlali Reyes. 22p. Lil’ Libros. Apr. 2023. Board. $10.99. BL
PreS-Gr 2–The latest entries in the ­publisher’s “The Life of/La vida de” series feature an 18th-century revolutionary who is considered one of the greatest figures in Colombian independence and 20th-century Mexican American journalist Ruben Salazar. Born in 1795 rural Colombia, Policarpa “La Pola” Salavarrieta became a seamstress and moved to the capital to spy on the royal family. With the intelligence she gathered, the country was able to win independence from Spain. Salazar was the first Mexican American columnist for the Los Angeles Times and devoted his career to shedding light on Chicano issues. Both trailblazers made a mark on Latinx history, breaking boundaries to do so. La Pola illegally learned how to read. She crossed gender and class divides. Salazar used his platform to fight for equality for Latinx people. These bright board books pack in a lot of text and information within their sturdy pages. The English narrative is placed at the top and the Spanish below it. The stylized art presents the subjects as young children, making these volumes more kid-friendly. The illustrations for the book on La Pola lean heavily on yellow, blue, and red, the colors of the Colombian flag. The background characters are rendered with different skin colors, emphasizing the racial diversity within the country. Newspaper-like clippings pepper the pages of the Salazar title; writing instruments—pens, a typewriter—are also prominent. VERDICT These are best when shared aloud with young children. Purchase where there are gaps in bilingual board book shelves.– Shelley M. Diaz

Rodriguez, Patty & Ariana Stein. VÁMONOS: Los Angeles. illus. by Ana Godinez. 22p. Lil’ Libros. Jun. 2023. Board $10.99. ISBN 9781948066150. BL
Toddler-PreS–Tourism is not just for grown-ups. Young children can experience an introduction to travel through this colorful mapping of the City of Angels. This board book presents Los Angeles as a beautiful place that honors Latinx cuisine as well as celebrities, such as Selena and the LA Lakers. It will entice little ones to want to visit this city and find the featured sites. It will also inspire pride for those who live in LA and can identify the familiar places. Illustrations are bright and full of vibrant colors, highlighting locales like Santa Monica Pier and Olvera Street. The Spanish/English text is made up of simple sentences. This nonfiction book is lovely to look at, with lots of details to pore over, but it might not be attention-grabbing enough for children who have a tough time sitting down to read a picture book. Without a character to anchor the reading experience, this entry in the “Vámonos” series might be too difficult for some. However, with the help of a caring adult, kids will be pulled in by the busy and vivid art. VERDICT A great choice for families ­prepping little ones for a visit to Los Angeles or for proud Angelenos ­themselves.–Erika Villaherrera