Amor by Matt De La Pena - ESSENTIAL

Amor by Matt De La Pena, illustrated by Loren Long, translated by Teresa Mlawer. PICTURE BOOK. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin), 2018. $18. 9780525518808

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This is the Spanish language version of the popular book, Love. It reads like a poem on the all the ways someone call feel and experience love in the city. Each spread has one detailed painting-like illustration capturing the tough moments and the beautiful ones. It leaves the reader with the final message that wherever you go on your path, you will be buoyed up by love. 

This is a great choice for Spanish speaking readers, since the poetic nature of the book would best be experienced and most accessible in a native language. The gorgeous illustrations depict a variety of ethnicities and abilities in a way that does’t feel like it is trying too hard to be inclusive, it just naturally is. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher