El vecindario de Quinito - Quinitos Neighborhood, Del Sol Books

$415.76 for the Bilingual Collection Red Books Set , Including 20%-Off, Free Shipping, and No Sales Tax : 17 Hardcover Bilingual Books and 29 Softcover Bilingual Books

2006 Skipping Stones Honor Award, Bilingual Book
2006 Texas 2x2 Reading List, Texas Library Association
2006 Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices

Quinito knows that his neighborhood is made up of much more than just buildings, streets, and shops—it is made up of all the people he knows and loves. People like his grown-up cousin Tita, who learns how to make people laugh in clown school, and his aunt, who paints murals to brighten up the streets. Everyone in the neighborhood has an important job, and each friend and neighbor knows and values everyone else.

José Ramírez's jewel-like paintings vibrate with life and energy, and bring Quinito's charming neighborhood journey to life. Quinito's Neighborhood will inspire readers to explore and appreciate their own neighborhood, and show them the boundless array of different jobs in their communities.

Ina Cumpiano is a Puerto Rican poet and translator who lives in a bustling neighborhood in San Francisco, California. She has published nearly twenty books for children. She has had many different jobs, but so far her favorite has been as a grandmother to her ten grandchildren, ages two to thirteen.

José Ramírez was born in Los Angeles, California. A gifted artist, he is also a second grade teacher for the Los Angeles Unified school District. His paintings, sculptures, and tile murals have been shown in museums, galleries, bookstores, coffeeshops, and public spaces in the US and abroad. This is his fourth book for children.

Listen to Vienna Rose read Quinitos Neighborhood to you. A marvelous example of the magical encounter between a child and books that we wish for all children.

“...the dark illustrations with their rich colors, heavy black holding lines, and block shapes...will draw the audience in.”
—The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2006

“...presents a healthy view—without gender stereotypes—of a neighborhood.”
—FOREWARD MAGAZINE, November/December 2005

"Ramírez's colorful mural-style illustrations introduce children to modern role models that reflect the changing workplace."
—CRíTICAS

"This is an excellent book for ages four to seven to learn about the people in their neighborhoods and the roles the denizens play. Like a real neighborhood, this piece is full of characters who are each important to the daily functions of their streets. This book is ideal for children in the beginning stages of reading in either English or Spanish. Just open it up, Quinito will welcome you in."
—MULTICULTURAL REVIEW, Winter 2005

"José Ramírez employs bright colors and flat perspective in his striking illustrations that take us on a journey through a vibrant city landscape."
—BOOK NOTES, December 2005

"This bilingual picture book (tells) the story of a beautiful community united by love and acceptance."
—FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, September 2005

School Library Journal : Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 2–What makes a neighborhood? Is it the shops, the buildings, the roads, the schools? Or is it the people? Answering this question is easy for effervescent young Quinito, who knows most of his neighbors–in fact, he is related to many of them. From his carpenter mother and nurse father to his aunt the muralist and cousin Tita, a clown, his is a network of love that encompasses teachers, crossing guards, bankers, postal workers, dance instructors, and truck drivers. Ramírez's vibrant acrylic-on-canvas paintings bring this community to life, the primitive forms fairly bursting from the book's pages with their deep hues and sense of emotional warmth. The simple text, equally good in both English and Spanish, is in a font that resembles a child's printing. Its child appeal, lovely message, and potential inspiration to young authors and artists make Quinito's Neighborhood a place that youngsters will enjoy visiting.

Booklist : PreS-Gr. 2. Quinito knows all about his neighbors and the jobs they do: his mami is a carpenter, and his abuela drives a big truck. He also knows how each person is connected to the other. There's not much in the way of story; it's the acrylic illustrations that will draw in readers. The colors and textures, the absence of white space, and the folk-art representation of the neighbors make every page seem like a mural. Both the English and the Spanish texts employ simple, present-tense constructions: "Rafi bakes bread and Luis Manuel sells it." ("Rafi hace el pan y Luis Manuel lo vende"). Despite the effort to bring the action full circle, the ending is abrupt, and it's never clear what role Quinito himself plays in his neighborhood. Nevertheless, this is a vibrant depiction of a variety of individuals who energize the community in which they live.