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Summary
Summary
Winner of the 2017 Pura Belpré Author Award
Fans of Judy Moody and Clarice Bean will love Juana, the spunky young Colombian girl who stars in this playful, abundantly illustrated new series.
Juana loves many things -- drawing, eating Brussels sprouts, living in Bogotá, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas, the best amigo ever. She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform, solving math problems, or going to dance class. And she especially does not love learning the English. Why is it so important to learn a language that makes so little sense? But when Juana's abuelos tell her about a special trip they are planning--one that Juana will need to speak English to go on--Juana begins to wonder whether learning the English might be a good use of her time after all. Hilarious, energetic, and utterly relatable, Juana will win over los corazones -- the hearts -- of readers everywhere in her first adventure, presented by namesake Juana Medina.
Author Notes
Juana Medina was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She is the illustrator of Smick! by Doreen Cronin and the author-illustrator of One Big Salad. Juana Medina has studied and taught at the Rhode Island School of Design and now teaches at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at George Washington University. She lives in Washington, D.C.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-4-Juana is learning English in school and she hates it. She hates it more than gym class, dance class, and math. She does, however, love her home in Bogotá, Colombia; her friends; and her dog Lucas. Juana is a spirited protagonist; she is opinionated, smart, and an avid reader. After much grumbling, Juana tackles her English lessons head-on by studying and conversing with her grandparents and neighbors. Juana is relatable and funny. She eventually discovers how a new language can transform her world. Almarie Guerra does a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. Her voice uses various tones and accents, and her pronunciation of Spanish words is excellent; context clues help readers decipher their meaning. Juana's fun personality and relatable experiences make this a winning story. VERDICT Recommended for libraries looking to add diverse characters and stories about children learning languages.-Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
A Colombian girl takes on her greatest challenge-the English language-in this cheery series opener. Juana lives in Bogotá, where she enjoys life with her family and dog, Lucas. When English is introduced in school, Juana asks everyone she knows if she really has to learn another language. Medina (1 Big Salad) incorporates italicized Spanish words throughout Juana's first-person narration, always providing enough context clues so that English-speaking readers can do some language-learning of their own ("When a grown-up says something is going to be a ton of fun, it means there will be no fun at all. Not even a single bit of fun. Nada de fun"). Enlarged words and phrases creative type placement help emphasize Juana's lively attitude as she discovers the ways that English can be useful. Medina's loose, full-color cartoons and interspersed profiles of the people in Juana's life add to the overall playfulness of the story. It's an inviting look at life in Colombia, and readers will probably be struck by just how much they have in common with Juana. Ages 5-8. Agent: Gillian MacKenzie, Gillian MacKenzie Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Juana loves many things, but learning English is not one of them. In this early chapter book, Medina introduces Juana, a spirited young Colombian girl and her lovable dog, Lucas. Juana prefers playing fútbol outdoors to wearing an itchy uniform and learning English, a language she feels is too clunky and complicated. The reluctant student finally finds some much-needed motivation when her grandfather reminds her of their upcoming trip to Spaceland, in the U.S., where she must speak English if she wishes to talk to her hero, Astroman. Through this strong, adventurous, and smart female protagonist, Medina presents an extraordinary story about the many opportunities learning a new language can bring. Full-color illustrations provide excellent depictions of Juana's life in Bogotá and allow readers to connect with her character and culture. The artwork playfully interacts with the dynamic text, which often arcs across the page, employs large fonts for emphasis, and smoothly incorporates Spanish words. Fans of Judy Moody and Lola Levine will absolutely love Juana. This upbeat new series for young readers is a must-buy.--Rodríguez, Sonia Alejandra Copyright 2016 Booklist