In twenty-two poems, each presented in Spanish and English, Alarc_n evokes his childhood summer vacations in Mexico. Memories of both people and landscape are sprinkled with vivid images, such as that of the "Summer Sun": "luminous / orange / hanging / from the tree / of noontime." The joyful illustrations add an almost tactile quality to this truly bilingual collection.

Following their award-winning collaboration on Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems (1997), poet Alarcon and artist Gonzalez have produced a new picture-book collection of 22 bilingual poems inspired by the poet's memories of childhood summers spent in Mexico. Short, imagistic poems like Summer Sun (luminous / orange / hanging / from the tree / of noontime) given in both English and Spanish, are mixed with some slightly longer and more personally resonant selections, such as From the Bellybutton of the Moon, which traces the poet's childhood response to Mexico and the understanding of his own origins. Responding to and expanding on the poetry, Gonzalez's happy paintings weave rich waves of color in an exuberant dance between text and design. This seasonal collection is welcomed for the sweet summertime caress of its sunny sensations, tangy tastes, and warm memories of a loving Latino family life. (Reviewed October 15, 1998)

K-Gr 4-With precise language and vivid paintings, this collection of 22 English and Spanish poems celebrates the simple joys of summertime in Mexico. As in Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems/Jitomates risuenos y otros poemas de primavera (Children's Book Pr., 1997), Alarcon exhibits a tremendous talent for imbuing quotidian objects and concepts with dignity and jubilation. For example, in "Island," he writes that "every island/dreams/of being/a continent," and in "Ode to My Shoes," he describes a little boy's sneakers that "...fall asleep/and dream/of walking...." Gonzalez's folk paintings are equally fine, exhibiting a generous use of contrasting colors and wide, bold brush strokes. A charming book with even more direct language and more evocative art than that in Laughing Tomatoes.-Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX

With the alternate title, Del Ombligo de la Luna y otros poemas de verano, this exuberant collection, in both English and Spanish, is illustrated in bold, brilliant swathes of color that recall Mexican folk art and textiles. Each poem sits near its twin, and it's fun, even for non-Spanish speakers, to compare the two versions and learn the words. Most are simple and celebratory: the sound of a dog's bark in the two languages; a favorite cow named Mariposa; the joys of an aunt's breakfast. Alarcn celebrates summers spent with relatives in Mexico, where a grandmother taught him that Mexico is Aztec for "bellybutton of the moon." Some poems, such as "Water Wheel/Rueda Agua" and "Sea/Mar" are shaped on their accompanying image. A few, such as "Girasol/Sunflower," are tiny and perfect in either language: "algo/de flor/algo/de sol" translates to "somewhat/a flower/somehow/a sun." Ideal for summer story hours or warm reminiscing all winter long. (Picture book/poetry. 4-8)