Ten Little Puppies / Diez perritos
Book Description
This story has been adapted from a popular children’s song. Count along in Spanish and English as each one of ten adorable puppies disappears from the pages.
Colorful and playful illustrations by artist Ulises Wensell, a vibrant rendition of the classic nursery rhyme by Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy with a new and satisfying ending, and a delightful English adaptation by Rosalma Zubizarreta will make this edition an instant family favorite.
The book offers several pages of non-fiction information about the ten puppy breeds featured.
Puppies have never been so irresistible!
AUTHOR’S NOTE
The Diez perritos song was a favorite during my childhood. Years later it would become a favorite of my own children. While the song is lively and playful, there was always a certain amount of sadness as the puppies disappeared to an uncertain fate. So when Isabel Campoy and I decided to create a book based on this song we made sure that, when the puppies disappear from the page, following the rhyme it’s to engage in fun adventures.
Dogs have been an important part of my life, as well as for Isabel. The puppies here honor the dogs in our lives.
It was a particular joy that Ulises Wensell would create the wonderful illustrations. Ulises, his creative wife Paloma, and I have been good friends since the early 1970s. when Ulises illustrated my reading series Hagamos caminos, creating a series of whimsical characters that continue to enliven the pages of those books and workbooks. And since that time I cherished the dream of having a book illustrated by him. It was particularly touching that when I asked him that the last puppy, the one that remains as the protagonist’s great love, be a Samoyed he remembered our beautiful Snowflake that he had met very many years ago. I know that last puppy was painted with special love.
REVIEWS
School Library Journal
In one of the most popular counting rhymes in Spanish folklore, 10 adorable puppies decrease by one with each page turn. Enticements such as snow, pastries, fireworks, a new home, theater, sickness, and fun cause the puppies to move on, until only one remains as a beloved companion for a child. Vibrant colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations are done in deep hues of green, pastels, and earth tones to create realistic images that capture the spontaneous, playful, and affectionate nature of the pups. The text can be sung or spoken in Spanish or English. The English translation skillfully utilizes rhyme to maintain the story’s authenticity while accurately reflecting the original poem. The back section contains musical notation of the melody, guitar chord symbols, the bilingual verses in their entirety, and a glossary with information about the 10 dog breeds featured. Large, appealing illustrations will make this a favorite for storytime presentations; an excellent source in helping children to develop prereading skills, and a fun way to introduce them to early math concepts such as addition and subtraction.
–Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Library District, WA
