Margaret unwillingly goes to the park with her mother, and Margarita (also unwillingly) goes to the park with hers. The two little girls meet, and although their mothers are dismayed that neither speaks the other's language (Margaret speaks English, and Margarita speaks Spanish), the two girls communicate with each other very well, trading words and information in both English and Spanish. Reiser's watercolor-and-ink illustrations show the pleasant interaction between the girls as they get to know each other and, in the end, understand the Spanish and English words for friend This is a well-conceived, well-executed bilingual picture book with a narrative that does more than serve as a vehicle for a language lesson. A valuable addition to school and public libraries. (Reviewed Sept. 15, 1993)

Through a clever page design, English and Spanish interact with each other in the picture book--an innovative concept for bilingual reading. However, the didactic intention overshadows the story of two little girls' encounter in the park, weakening its narrative interest.

On the left, Margaret (carrying toy rabbit Susan) and her mother come to the park, though the child protests that ``There is no one to play with''; on the right are Margarita, her mother, and a cat named Susana holding the identical conversation—in Spanish. They meet, and while the mothers (assuming that their language difference is a barrier) sit facing outward on the same bench, the little girls gesture, converse, and play with their toys, each picking up a few words of the other's language and parting as friends—with the mothers now smiling at each other. Constructed with unusual imagination and care, a bilingual story that makes a perfect first bridge from either language to the other, with simple but expressive art that will help define the words for new readers. (Picture book. 3-8)"