Salta, saltarín

Salta, saltarín
Salta, saltarín

Book Description

This anthology of original poems for young children by Alma Flor and Isabel includes some of their favorites.

Award winning illustrator Claudia Legnazzi complements this book with her vibrant and delightful creations.

Author’s Note

Poetry is a child’s best friend. A poem is a treasure that can remain with us forever. New words, new structures, new images, ideas, values and reflections can be part of the poem’s gift. Rhyme, rhythm or cadence will facilitate remembering it.

A poem a day is an infallible prescription for an engaging classroom and happy children.

Facilitating access of children to poetry has been one of my life quests.

Many years ago, in what now seems as another life time, when my children were growing up in Perú I was able to publish in Lima four poetry anthologies Poesía Menuda, Poesía Pequeña, Poesía Infantil, Poesía Niña.

Later I was able to incorporate wonderful poetry in the Hagamos caminos reading program.

Publishing Días y días de poesía, an anthology with a poem for each day of the year, has been one of my greatest satisfactions in life. I know many classrooms have incorporated the idea of “a poem a day” thanks to that anthology. Collaborating with Lee Bennet Hopkins and Violet Harris to create the English companion to Días y días de poesía, the multicultural anthology A Chorus of Cultures was an equally joyful experience.

Isabel Campoy and I have published a series of seven anthologies of poetry in Spanish as part of the Cielo abierto Series: Gorrión gorrión, La rama azul, Verde limón, Dulce es la sal, Nuevo día, Huertos de Coral and Ríos de lava. We are delighted to have included there poetry from the best poets from the Spanish-speaking world. As well as the poetry series of Gateways to the Sun / Puertas al sol which includes four volumes, in separate editions in English and in Spanish: Dreaming Fish / Pimpón, Laughing Crocodlies / Mambrú, Singing Horse / Mambrú, Flying Dragon / Chuchurumbé. The beautiful presentation of these books, where the artistic illustrations are a worthy companion to the poems gives both Isabel and myself immense satisfaction.

Recently we have published a series of books of rhymes from the oral tradition in bilingual editions, in order that English speakers can also get to know and enjoy our folklore: ¡Pío Peep! and MuuMoo are collections of rhymes. Merry Navidad is a collection of villancicos or Christmas carols, and Ten Little Puppies / Diez perritos a book inspired on a traditional popular rhyme.

Salta, saltarín is a new addition to this world of poetry all children should have access to.

Other works by the same illustrator

Claudia Legnazzi has been the illustrator of two other of my recent books published by Frog Street. The new edition of The rooster who went to his uncle’s wedding / El gallo que fue a la boda de su tío and Cristina y la rana / Cristina and the Frog.

Claudia was also one of the illustrators of the collection Gateways to the Sun / Puertas al sol. Among her work there she did outstanding illustrations for my play Serafina’s Birthday / El cumpleaños de Serafina included in the book Roll ’N’ Role / Teatrín de Don Crispín.

READERS’ RESPONSES

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