Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 1991)

Starred Review While in the park feeding the birds, with her abuela (grandmother), Rosalba wonders what it would be like to fly--and in her imagination--fly they do! Together, the young girl and her grandmother see New York City from above--the neighborhoods, the coastal area, and the docks. At the Statue of Liberty, Abuela says, Me gusta, remembering her first trip to the U.S. After a brief flight over the airport, they land to visit Tio Pablo and Tia Elisa's store for a limonada (Flying is hot work). Off they soar again, viewing the skyscrapers before landing back at the park. As they walk around the path at the lake, Rosalba begs Abuela for another adventure. The paddle boats are waiting. Exquisite color collages convey the special relationship between white-haired Abuela and her granddaughter. Each painting is a tableau of details. The animated tableux features a rainbow of ethnic characters, pets, flowers, and bright curtains with the general excitement of a city street. Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters. These are pages to be studied again and again. The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues, so the glossary, while helpful, is not absolutely necessary. This is similar in some ways to Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach , and used together, these wish books would make a powerful foundation for a multicultural unit for children of all ages. Even if used alone, this book is a jewel. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1991)

Horn Book

In a book exuberantly liberating in concept and design, a small girl imagines that she and her grandmother are flying high above Manhattan. The text is a series of straightforward declarative sentences with Spanish words carefully integrated into the context. A handsome book, with energetic, well-composed collage illustrations.

Kirkus Reviews

Rosalba imagines how the grandmother who takes her to the park might soar with her over the city (New York), sharing the sights. Since Abuela'' speaksmostly Spanish,'' Rosalba mentions many Spanish words for what they see, and in their conversations. Though the storyline here is slight, the relationship glows with affection; the Spanish vocabulary is well integrated and clear in context. Kleven's illustrations—jewel- like collages of sparkling images and patterns, crammed with intriguing details—effectively transmit Rosalba's joy in her narrative. Pronouncing glossary. (Picture book. 3-8)"

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A girl imagines flying over New York City with her Spanish-speaking grandmother. """"Solid multicultural material,"""" said PW, also praising the """"vibrantly hued and intricately detailed mixed-media collages."""" A Spanish-language edition ($4.99 -056226-5) will be released simultaneously. Ages 2-6. (May)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2-- An innovative fantasy narrated by a Hispanic-American child who imagines she's rising into the air over the park and flying away with her loving, rosy-cheeked abuela (grandmother). From the air, they see Manhattan streets, docks, an airport, tourist attractions, and Rosalba's father's office. The simple text could be enjoyed as a read-aloud or as a read-alone for newly independent readers. What makes the book so interesting is Dorros's integration of Spanish words and phrases via Abuela's dialogue within the English text. While some phrases are translated by the child, others will be understood in context. As insurance, a glossary, which provides definitions and pronunciations, is appended. The illustrations sing out a celebration of the love and joy that underlies the brief, straightforward narrative. Combining vibrant watercolor and pastel images with interesting snippets of collage in an exuberant folk-art style, Kleven depicts the adventurous, warm-hearted Abuela and the jazzy, colorful topography of an energetic, multiethnic city. Thoughtful design extends to the endpapers featuring cloud formations that cleverly echo many images from the story. While not bilingual in the strictest sense, this book is a less self-conscious, more artfully natural approach to multicultural material. It should prove useful not only for collections in which there is need for ethnic diversity, but also as enrichment for intellectually curious children who are intrigued by the exploration of another language. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT