Midwest Book Review

July 2017

Children’s Bookwatch: July 2017 James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/cbw/jul_17.htm#Bilingual

The Bilingual Shelf

Where Love Begins: Where Love Begins/ Donde comienza el amor” is a beautiful, tender poetic tribute to the author’s grandmother and memories of family life growing up in New Mexico. Narrated in both Spanish and English, “Where Love Begins/ Donde comienza el amor” traces cherished memories, tender recollections, and a growing awareness of the meaning of family love as experienced by the author as she grew up with her siblings, parents, and grandmother in a rich Southwestern culture mix in New Mexico. Bright primary colors glow in the joyous portraits of these treasured experiences and memories. The two translations of the poem are presented side by side on the illustrated page opposing. The theme of love’s beginning unfolds and flowers through these pages of poem and warm illustrations until the final page. A beautiful Tree of Life embroidered hanging is the background of embracing black silhouettes of a girl, her dog, and her grandmother, accompanying the words: “I think of grandma all the time/ She gave us Blackie/ And warm dinners/ But most of all/ She gave us love/ And a good laugh? Like she always said/ “Mijita, this is where love begins.” the Spanish translation of the poem is also very beautiful and musical. “Where Love Begins” is completed by a Spanish English vocabulary and biographies of the author and artist.

Where Love Begins/ Donde comienza el amor
Helen Nieto Phillips, author
Susan Arena, illustrator
Lectura Books
1107 Fair Oaks Ave., Suite 225, South Pasadena, CA 91030 9781604480399, $8.95 paperback, www.LecturaBooks.com