Copyright Date:
2023
Edition Date:
2023
Release Date:
05/30/23
Illustrator:
Landazabal, Andres,
Pages:
32 pages
ISBN:
Publisher: 0-06-322313-9 Perma-Bound: 0-8000-7180-8
ISBN 13:
Publisher: 978-0-06-322313-4 Perma-Bound: 978-0-8000-7180-6
Dewey:
E
LCCN:
2022946688
Dimensions:
23 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
School Library Journal
(Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
PreS-Gr 2— Reina loves Saturdays with her friend Lila in the park, where they practice gymnastics. While initially excited to hear Lila is getting a dog, Reina is alarmed when she meets him, proclaiming, "I run far away from Chico, the biggest dog ever." Reina insists she is not afraid of Chico, even as she avoids him. Mounting tension between the two girls is finally resolved when they each admit a potentially embarrassing fear: Reina is afraid of big dogs, and Lila is afraid of cartwheels. The girls agree: "let's say no pressure." Reina becomes comfortable with Chico at a distance, particularly as an audience to gymnastics, and Lila focuses on low-to-the-ground forward rolls. The fears of the two girls are incredibly relatable for young readers, as is Reina's initial denial of her fear and its manifestation in feelings of avoidance and jealousy. The fact that these fears are acknowledged without any attempt to "fix" or "get over" them is highly validating for children. The text is suitably challenging for intermediate early readers, with length per page and complexity increasing slightly throughout. Frequent dialogue will encourage familiarity with its typical punctuation and patterns. Four Spanish words used by Lila, Reina, and her mother are listed with translations in a glossary. The text is enhanced with colorful and emotive illustrations. Reina has light brown skin, Lila is Black, and other characters are portrayed with a variety of skin tones. VERDICT Broad appeal and an engaging emotional journey make this an excellent addition to any early reader collection. Recommended for first purchase.— Elizabeth Lovsin
A CCBC 2024 Choices for the Books for Beginning Readers category!
In Reina Ramos Meets a BIG Puppy, Reina is embarrassed to admit she is afraid of a very big dog. This Level Two I Can Read story is perfect for social emotional learning!
Reina Ramos is the creation of Emma Otheguy, a children’s author who writes about Latin identity. The Reina I Can Read stories have engaging illustrations from Andrés Landazabal.
Reina and her friend, Lila, practice gymnastics on Saturdays. It’s Reina’s favorite part of the week. But when Lila gets a puppy, Reina has to practice gymnastics by herself. Also, Lila’s dog is HUGE and Reina is afraid to admit to her friend that she is scared. What can Reina do?
Reina Ramos Meets a BIG Puppy is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success. This story is a Guided Reading Level (GRL) K. Reina Ramos Meets a BIG Puppy contains several Spanish words and a glossary.
Acclaim for the first Reina Ramos I Can Read: Kirkus Best Book List for Early Readers 2022 and Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best List 2022
Also available in Spanish: Reina Ramos conoce un cachorro ENORME.