Review of the book The Legend of Roberto Cofresí, a Puerto Rican hero/La leyenda de Roberto Cofresí, un héroe puertorriqueño

The author of this book is Janet Balleta She was born in Brooklyn from Colombian and Puerto Rican parents. She currently lives in Florida where she works as a bilingual kindergarten teacher. Inspired by her family, she wrote her first book, The Legend of the Colombian Mermaid(2013). She wrote her second book,The Legend of Roberto Cofresí, a Puerto Rican hero in 2015. Janet is an award winning author of the Mariposa Award from the International Latino Books Awards(2015), the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards for Cultural Diversity(2016), and the International Latino Book Awards for Best Latino Focused Book. Janet likes to write bilingually and she hopes that her book will inspire children to appreciate bilingualism and multicultural literature.

Review

Which child would not like a good pirate story? The book The legend of Roberto Cofresí has more than a good one. This beautiful picture book captives the story of Roberto Cofresí, a Puerto Rican corsair that lived on the island back in the 1800s. The story is about two brothers who live in Florida. One day they asked their father to read them a story. He decided to read about the legend of Roberto Cofresí. After that day, the boys love to play pretending to be corsairs that embark in different adventures and search for hidden treasures.

Every page of this charming book captures the reader attention, taking them through all the adventures of this corsair. The legend tells about the corsair’s beginnings as well as how he brought back to help the Puerto Rican people. Also, it tells us about treasures that have never been found.

At the end of every written page, the dad answers a question of one of the kids. These questions relate to some word they don’t know the meaning of. This is a great technique used by the author to introduce the reader to new words and expand their vocabulary. 

This book would definitely spark a kid imagination while he/she learn about a Puerto Rican legend and some new words too!

As a Puerto Rican and a lover of history, it was delightful for me to read this beautiful book about our beloved legend, Roberto Cofresí.

You can find this and her other books in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=janet+balletta

This review is part of the Multicultural Children's Books Day, to be celebrate on January 27. You can follow it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/259709034187671/
Twitter #ReadYourWorld @MCCHildsBookDay 

Review of the beautiful book Grandma's Treasure/El tesoro de la abuela

Grandma's Treasure or El tesoro de la abuela in Spanish. 

The author of this book is Maritza M. Mejías. Maritza is an Award-Winning Author of the Crystal Apple Award(2006),the Virtue Christian Award(2015) and the International Latino Books Award(2016). Her published work includes: Hazel Eyes(2010),Vanilla and Chocolate(2012), Grandma's Treasure(2014),Poems,Thoughts and More(2015)and Ojos Avellana(2016). Maritza was born in Colombia. She likes to write in both English and Spanish. She writes to inspire people be better human beings. As said by her own words:"I write to inspire others to be good."

Review

Lovely book of beautiful and simple illustrations, written in English and Spanish; that teaches us a good lesson: to value what we have and the importance of being thankful for it. All begins when the grandmother, when she noticed that her grand kids where arguing over some toys, left the room a little sad and angry. When the grandchildren find her, she shows them a box where she kept some things, only three. They were the things she most cherishes. She explains to them what each one represented. It is so that she teaches them that it is not important what one has but what that represents. An important lesson to learn: be grateful of what you have.

You can find this and her other books in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=maritza+mejia&sprefix=maritza+m%2Caps%2C166&crid=2ZRZXTOSVYAI3

This review is part of the Multicultural Children's Books Day, to be celebrate on January 27. You can follow it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/259709034187671/
Twitter #ReadYourWorld @MCCHildsBookDay 

That kind of love...

The one that feels like home

The one that takes your breath away

The love that gives you butterflies

The one you’re looking for to hug everyday

The one that isn’t like a storm but rather like the peace after

The love that makes you laughed

The one you can’t stop looking at

The one that completes you

The love you can stay silent with

The one that puts a smile in your face

The one that makes you feel secure

The love that caress you delicately

The one that let you be who you are

The one you love and don’t know why

That kind of love…

                                        Tere Rodriguez-Nora

My book, En busca de la paz (In search of peace)

André, a very curious little boy, is in search of an answer to the question What is peace? What is it made of ? What does it feel like? 
The answers come to him in a dream in which his grandfather appears and teaches him that peace is wonderful and can be experienced when feeling secure, safe, and protected. 

This is my second published book. It is called En busca de la Paz. That means In search of peace.
I wrote this book after my younger son asked me about the September 11 attacks. He wanted to know about peace and how he could feel it. My explanation to him is carry on the message of the book.

You can get your book in Amazon. Link is showed above

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1803858.En_busca_de_la_paz

https://www.amazon.com/En-busca-paz-Tere-Rodr%C3%ADguez-Nora/dp/8496046516/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475615177&sr=8-1&keywords=tere+rodriguez+nora

Thank you, my friend...

 for the many laughs we share
 for all the tears we shed
 because you always encourage me
 for always listening to me
 for your respect and trust
 because I can always rely on you
 for that shoulder I cried on
 for believing in me
 because every time I need you, you are there
 for all the fun we have
 for being my confident
.because you are always by my side
Thank you, my friend, for your presence in my life
                                                                  TRN

Go ahead and smile...

Go ahead and smile because it's the beginning of a new day
   Go ahead and smile because you just listened to your favorite song
Go ahead and smile because life can bring you second chances
   Go ahead and smile because that smell reminds you of your childhood
Go ahead and smile because you can feel the cool grass with your feet
   Go ahead and smile because you can hear the rain falling
Go ahead and smile because you just experienced the most beautiful sunset
   Go ahead and smile because your child smiled with you
Go ahead and smile because your eyes just met the eyes of the one you love
   Go ahead and smile because you lived another day
Go ahead and smile because you just want to
                                                                      TRN

Color my world...

Color my world with your smile
  Because it lightens so much your face
Color my world with your voice
  Because it is a soothing sound
Color my world with your laugh
  Because is music to my ears
Color my world with the sight of yours eyes
  Because they tell me everything you want me to know
Color my world with your hug
  Because it shows me the way you feel
Color my world with your life
  Because is the only thing I really need
                                               TRN