We’re learning Spanish as part of our homeschool curriculum, so whenever I see a picture book that combines Spanish and English, I snatch it up to be used for school. “Bebe Goes Shopping” was particularly cute.
The text is written in rhyme, with interspersed Spanish words all throughout. The context tells you what the word means, which I love – I like being able to figure it out without having to look it up.
Mama and Bebe have gone to the supermarcado. Bebe is in the carrito, looking around for something sweet to eat. As soon as Mama bends over to grab something off a shelf, Bebe goes into action! He grabs something off a shelf too – it’s a box with mucho colores. Mama lets him keep it – what a nice mama. His luck doesn’t hold out, though – the next thing he grabs earns him an “Hijo, keep your hands to yourself.” I guess Mama doesn’t like chocolate covered pickles.
To keep him occupied, Mama hands Bebe her keys. “Play with my llaves,” she tells him, but he throws them on the floor. “Cuidado!” she warns him when he tries to follow them.
Poor Bebe is getting bored and decides to eat Mama’s shopping list. Not such a good idea – she needs it. Finally she breaks down and gets him a box of circus crackers. Ah, now Bebe is happy! He eats his way through all the animales, giving Mama the time she needs to shop.
Your child (and you) will learn the Spanish words for things like: cheese, corn, head, box, sweet, and lion. A glossary is included in the back, in case it’s needed.
Every mommy will identify with Mama on her wild grocery shopping adventure, and your young listener will learn some new words. A cute little book – and an educational one, too!
(This book was published in 2006 by Harcourt and was illustrated by Steven Salerno.)
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