Like a grandmother telling stories to her grandchildren, the author recalls part of her childhood in a small town in Mexico, spinning her tale in a delicate thread of anecdotes. She recalls how, together with her brother, Victor, she explored the spooky, deserted house of local hero Juan Sebastian, hearing later from her grandmother that Sebastian followed his destiny to fight and die in the Mexican Revolution. She also remembers sitting outside the cantina with her brother, waiting for favorite songs on the jukebox, and listening to stories and songs in their cozy home, contemplating what their own destinies might be. Bold, cheery illustrations will help attract readers to the unusually sophisticated (though still accessible) text, which appears on the page in both English and Spanish. (Reviewed January 1 & 15, 1998)

Intertwined with the author's memories of her Mexican childhood is the legend of the revolutionary Juan Sebasti n, whose desire to find his destiny inspires her, as an adult, to leave her small town and become a writer. The bilingual text lacks tension but, along with the colorful artwork, presents a vivid picture of tropical Mexico and a family with a strong love for music and stories.

The CIP data calls this bilingual tale fiction, but Corpi's afterword places the story where imagination and memory blend.'' She recalls a night during her childhood, in the small Mexican town of Jltipan, when she and her older brother, Victor, explored a ruined house, once home of the revolutionary fighter Juan Sebastin. Learning his story from her grandmother, Corpi was introduced to the idea of personal destiny and was inspired to seek her own. That destiny led her away from Jltipan to California, but the final page tells of her singing and telling stories to her own son, just as she was sung to as a child. It's a wonderful evocation of the early experiences and family love that give a child both roots and wings, but the Spanish version of the text is often more vivid than the English. On the first page,las luciCrnagas danzaban al ritmo del viento nocturno'' (literally, the fireflies danced to the rhythm of the night wind''), is rendered prosaically asfireflies danced in the night air.'' In the intensely tropical-colored paintings, cats are purple, memories are turquoise, and a many-hued bus announces that its destination is El Mundo'' (The World''). Fireflies and a number of photographs (presumably of Corpi's family) figure into the illustrations, each of which has a uniquely appropriate border. (Picture book. 6-9)"

Gr 2-4--Lyrically phrased in both Spanish and English, this warm family story opens a window to a rural Mexican upbringing. The narrator and her brother investigate a haunted house and recount the story of Juan Sebastian, whose ghost is said to visit it. Frightened by strange noises, the two run from the house straight into the music coming from the new jukebox at the cantina. Entranced, they begin to visit the bar nightly, until their mother discovers them. Exiled from the place, the children discover that their father knows all of their favorite songs and will sing for them. Readers will identify with traditions and memories of special times. Reisberg's brilliantly colored, primitive illustrations and arresting borders add immeasurably to the sense of place. This is a sure winner for storytimes as well as a solid addition for schools with Spanish-speaking students.--Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA