K-Gr 5-This fourth book in Alarc-n and Gonzalez's series of poems about seasons maintains the quality seen in the earlier titles. Brief, zippy verses express delight in such simple things as a family frolic in the snow and the wonder of giant redwoods. More than a series of poetic vignettes, however, this celebration of winter is an ode, as well, to San Francisco, a city where people are bridges to one another and a multiplicity of languages are heard. The selections are short of line and long on meter, with a rhythmic roll that begs reading aloud. It is one of Alarc-n's strengths that he makes both the reading and the writing of poetry accessible. His work serves as an excellent pattern for teaching students to write about their own experiences. Better in Spanish, where the swing of the language and the internal rhyme give a more definite shape, the English verses still surprise in their fresh use of language and joyous voice. Gonzalez's illustrations are bright and busy, catching the playful cadence of the words.-Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Francisco X. Alarcbon celebrates a San Francisco winter in Iguanas in the Snow: And Other Winter Poems/ Iguanas en la nieve: y otros poemas de invierno. The title poem describes a family delighted """"to see snow/ for the first time/ on the Sierra Nevada/ all dressed in white/ like a bride."""" Illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez captures the vibrant colors of the city and its people; English and Spanish verses sit side by side. (Aug.)

This collection of poems in Spanish and English celebrates not only winter but also the region of northern California where Alarcón lives. While the poems are clearly tied to a specific landscape, they also evoke the universal joys of the season. Gonzalez's illustrations capture the jubilant spirit of the bilingual poems, and children will enjoy hunting for the iguanas hidden throughout.