Isabel and Her Colores Go to School – Bilingual Picture Book
Note: Thank you to Sleeping Bear Press for providing a copy to review. All opinions are my own.
In the new picture book, Isabel and Her Colores Go to School [Sleeping Bear Press], a young Spanish-speaking girl named Isabel starts a new school. Written by Alexandra Alessandri and illustrated by Courtney Dawson, the story follows Isabel as she adjusts to her new surroundings without the ability to understand the English spoken around her.
Written in both English and Spanish, readers see and feel Isabel’s anxiety and uncertainty through color imagery. To Isabel, English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong. She’d rather experience the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish.
On her first day of school, she struggles to understand the words spoken by her teacher. A classmate tries to talk to Isabel, and she tries to reciprocate, but they’re unable to understand one another. When Isabel starts coloring, she discovers a new way to communicate with her new friend.
Vibrant illustrations capture the colorful imagery of the story. Classroom depictions include racially diverse children to reflect the world around them.
Isabel and Her Colores Go to School is a wonderful book that includes universal themes about adjusting to new environments, feeling unsure about the unknown, and showing empathy to others. This book is ideal for educators and parents who wish to help children learn about different perspectives in the world around them. Isabel and Her Colores Go to School is for readers aged 4-8 years old. Purchase the book at SleepingBearPress.com or on Amazon.
Enter the Isabel and Her Colores Go to School Giveaway [CLOSED]
One lucky reader will win a hardcover copy of Isabel and Her Colores Go to School. Please enter via the entry form below. The giveaway is open to entrants aged 18+ years old with a U.S. mailing address. Good luck!
About the Author and Illustrator
Alexandra Alessandri is a Colombian American poet, children’s author, and Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her family. Learn more about her at alexandraalessandri.com.
Courtney Dawson is an illustrator with a great love for drawing, reading, and most kinds of ice cream. She lives with her family in Ventura, California. Learn more about her at courtneyjdawson.com.
