Customer Reviews
Won Me Over 
2007-08-18
I love Elisa Kleven, the illustrator, but thought it was a silly story. I finally got a copy, read it to my children and preschool students, and they love it! I love the pictures and letting them search for "perros" and "gatos", "pájaros" and "globos". The children learn Spanish as they look!
A "must have" for your library! 2007-05-14
I first purchased this book for my classroom library. My kindergartners loved the illustrations and the use of Spanish mixed in with English. I used this book as a starting point for many creative writing assignments. I have given this book as gifts to many people and most recently, my two-year old gave this book to her "Abuela" for Mother's Day!
Beautiful, colorful detail 2005-03-21
I love reading this to my 3-year old daughter. The pictures are so colorful and full of detail.
The language and tone is so fine. The author slips in and out of the two languages, Spanish and English so easily. It is the best way to read a story. It is fantastic for my daughter's imagination. She is flying just like Rosalba, just like we all did when we were young.
We also love her other book "Isla".
I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea 
2004-10-31
It's hard to resist the charms of a picture book filled to brimming with tiny fabulous details in a vast cityscape. It's probably one of the reasons I love books like, "Who Needs Donuts?" by Mark Stamaty or James Warhola's, "Uncle Andy's" so much. Usually books of this nature are very precise. They hide delicate little intricacies on each and every page, just waiting for the viewer to find them. Yet I've never read a picture book that contains such remarkably colorful embellishments as I have in Arthur Dorros' 1991 treasure, "Abuela". Taking a standard fantasy of wishing to fly, author Dorros and illustrator Elisa Kleven have given us a remarkable journey above a world too complex to capture in a single book. To read this book is to experience something beautiful.
Rosalba is quite close to her Grandmother or "Abuela" as she is called in Spanish. The two often go on enjoyable trips around and about town, just for the heck of it. On this particular day, the woman and the girl go to the park (Central Park, by the look of it) to feed the birds. It's there that Rosalba begins to speculate a little. What if the birds picked her up and started flying away with her? What if her Abuela simply leapt into the sky and flew too? The birds gone, the two could soar above factories, trains, people, and workers. What follows is a story in which Rosalba describes the path the two could take while skimming across the sky. They wave to the people and visit the Statue of Liberty. They race the sailboats, hitch a ride with an airplane, and hug on a cloud. In the end, the two are back in the park and they decide to go on another adventure in a boat. "Vamos" Abuela says, and she takes her granddaughter's hand.
There are quite a few remarkable Spanish/English picture books out there in the world today. One of the best, without question, is L.M. Gonzalez's, "The Bossy Gallito". But "Abuela" is just as good in many ways. There's a helpful dictionary of Spanish to English terms for those words and phrases in the text that kids (or adults) didn't quite understand. The story itself is well told, though its definitely left unclear whether or not the fantastic events that take place in this book are true or false. Aside from that, it's a great text, remenicient of Faith Ringgold's other kids-flying-above-New-York picture book, "Tar Beach". A pairing of the two during a storytime would not be out of place.
When I write reviews of picture books, this paragraph tends to be the space where I say something along the lines of "Of course the book itself would be nothing without the pictures". "Abuela" is no different and though it may seem a little repetitive, I say it again. The illustrations in this book are remarkable. What caught me off guard was the level of detail and the multitude of colors and fabrics lining the corners and seams of every page. This is perhaps the most subtle picture book I have ever seen in terms of how it uses mixed media. While some books throw fabrics and other elements into their pictures in a distinctly slap-dash fashion, "Abuela" subtley works them into the context of the illustrations without distracting you or drawing your eye away from the action. Whether it's Abuela's purple dotted purse or the fabric crested tops of buildings, the mixed-media here is perfectly melded to the story. Then there are the thousands of details lining each and every page. Plus the fact that everything is bright, colorful, and lively without ever straying into gaudy territory. Finally, illustrator Elisa Kleven has imbued her main character with a great deal of liveliness. Rosalba and her Abuela dip and dive and swoop with perfect grace and poise. If humans could fly, this is the best possible way they could look in sky.
It is not possible to be disappointed with "Abuela". The book is a fun fancy-free encapsulation of the ultimate flight of fancy. Kids that read this tale will be envious of Rosalba and her beloved grandmother. Adults will coo at the pretty pictures and helpful text. A beautiful story unencumbered by weight or gravity. Lovely.
Gorgeous! 2004-08-03
This is a wonderful book for kids and adults, alike. It's a very loving and imaginative story paired with breath-taking illustrations. They colors are gorgeous and there are endless tiny details to point out in the pictures.
I recommend this book very highly!
Beautifully Expressive 2004-06-13
While riding on a bus through Manhattan with her grandmother, a little girl imagines that they are carried up into the sky and fly over the sights of New York City, in an evocative study of the loving bond between child and grandparent. Reprint.
AB. "
My 3-year old son loves this book 2002-06-12
I think it's the flying. It took us by surprise when, after checking it out from the library, it was suddenly his new favorite book. He was into the typical boy stuff: trucks, trains, front-loaders, rocket ships. Then all of a sudden, all he wants us to read is Abuela. It's a nice blending of fantasy and reality, with strong family relationships, and lots of fun, colorful pictures. He's moved on to other favorite stories now, but he always seems to enjoy this one. The sequel (Isla) is also good. A nice way to learn a few new Spanish words. There's even a glossary in the back with a guide to correct pronunciation. Just make sure you get the English with Spanish phrases, if that's what you're looking for. There is also a version that is completely in Spanish.
A well-written, beautifully illustrated story 1999-11-04
Our class of 20 latino students appreciates having books with characters that are like them. We liked to read this story on our own and in groups.
A great way to introduce the Hispanic culture to any child. 1998-11-10
This book provides a wonderful introduction to a Hispanic-American child's way of life. Rosalba portrays the typical immigrant child without stereotyping. The author uses the Spanish language to lend authenticity to his story, and really gives the readers a chance to experience the fantasies of a child living in New York City.
What a great book! 1997-11-13
Miss Jacobs' second grade class really liked the story Abuela. We loved learning Spanish words throughout the book. We liked the way the illustrator drew the s. We all agree that Rosalba's imagination was running wild. We wish we could take an adventure with her.
