School Library Journal Review

K-Gr-3-Isabela enjoys every waking moment that she spends with her abuela when she comes to visit. She marvels when her grandmother combs out her long braid that "flowed in soft ripples down to her waist." Braiding Isabela's hair, she weaves colorful ribbons matched by equally colorful tales of all types, inspiring the child to write her own. Each time Isabela asks Abuela to read a story she has written, the woman finds an excuse until Abuela finally confesses that she is "a storyteller, not a reader," and Isabela cleverly uses the loteria (a bingo-like game from Mexico) to teach her how to read. Lindmark's colorful acrylic illustrations capture the unique bonds of an abuela-nieta relationship as well as the love and warmth of a young girl nurtured by a loving Latino family in modern-day America. Children familiar with the loteria game will enjoy Rene Colato's Playing Loteria/El juego de la loteria (Luna Rising, 2009). For a similar "grandmother learning to read" story, also see Eve Bunting's The Wednesday Surprise (Clarion, 1989).-Oralia Garza de Cortes, Latino Children's Literature Consultant, Pasadena, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.