A bilingual story describes a young boy who joylessly anticipates an upcoming family reunion. To his surprise, the event proves to be meaningful and fun as he meets relatives and learns about his family's history. Some Spanish words in the English text go untranslated but can be derived from context. The illustrations are somewhat stiff, and the story, while well intentioned, is flatly told.

Gr 1-4 In this bilingual picture book, Daniel Gonzalez goes to a family reunion in San Antonio, TX, expecting it to be dull. Instead, he finds himself enjoying a Tex-Mex feast, making a new friend in a cousin his age, and learning the importance of family. Spanish words and phrases are scattered throughout the English text, and vice versa. With rounded lines and muted tones, the realistically rendered, mixed-media illustrations accentuate the lighthearted mood of the story. Although his age is not mentioned, Daniel appears to be nine or ten-years-old. Since the gentle narrative lends itself to reading aloud, and the attractive, soft-focused illustrations are large enough for group viewing, this is a solid choice for storytime and classroom sharing. Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.