Twelve Latino festivals, one for each month of the year, are described in brief poems accompanied by short explanatory paragraphs. Some of the celebrations, such as Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos, will be familiar; others that are very specific to certain countries or ethnic groups may not be. Vibrantly flowing digitally enhanced cut-paper illustrations accompany the text.

Fiesta! ($15.00; August 1996; 32 pp.; 0-688-14331-8): In this English/Spanish counting book, Guy (Black Crow, Black Crow) takes readers shopping in a mercado (a market) as they purchase ten items typically found in a piata, the basket stuffed with goodies that children crack open with a stick. Fiesta! ($15.00; August 1996; 32 pp.; 0-688-14331-8): In this English/Spanish counting book, Guy (Black Crow, Black Crow) takes readers shopping in a mercado (a market) as they purchase ten items typically found in a piata, the basket stuffed with goodies that children crack open with a stick. Big type and minimal text on cheerful, full-bleed illustrations provide an easy, fun way to learn Spanish or English words and numbers; they also provide a gentle puzzle propelled by the repetition of the phrase QuC ms? (What else?) that is happily answered with the commencement of a party at book's end. (Picture book. 5+)"

PreS-Gr 2--Three children begin with una canasta (one basket) and proceed to fill it with scrumptious candies, trinkets, and toys in preparation for a Mexican fiesta. Readers are invited to count along as they gather dos trompetas (two horns), tres animalitos (three little animals), cuartro aviones (four airplanes), cinco trompos (five tops), etc. in joyous anticipation of the party and the cracking open of the pinata. A simple bilingual text provides numbers in English and in Spanish. The soft-edged full-color illustrations done in pencils, pastels, and watercolors have a subtle folkloric quality. The colorful artwork complements the simplicity and childlike appeal of this delightful picture book.--Selene S. Vasquez, New York Public Library