Cinco monitos brincando en la cama/Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow, Victoria Ortiz (Translator)

Product Details

Synopsis

Even doctor’s orders won’t stop these silly monkeys from having their fun. But you’ll never guess what Mama does when the Five Little Monkeys finally do fall asleep! Here is the most popular Five Little Monkeys story, available for the first time in a bilingual board book edition. Now Spanish- and English-speaking readers can enjoy the lighthearted antics of these mischievous monkeys, while learning the words of the familiar rhyme in both languages.

Veronica Betancourt - Children's Literature

Christelow's counting book will appeal to children—as it has—thanks to its spunky monkey characters, their wonderful facial expressions, and the countdown structure of the story. In English, the rhyme adheres to a cheerful scheme that allows for a musical inflection in its retelling. Unfortunately, this familiar closed rhyme scheme is completely lost in the Spanish translation. Ortiz retains the content of the original text, but not its energy, despite her attempt to mimic Christelow's repetitive phrasing. The resulting book is one that tells the story of five little monkeys jumping on their bed, falling off, and bumping their heads in two languages, but not one that does so in a comparable way in both languages. The translated book is a fine read, particularly for young children who are learning to count and like monkeys, but it lacks the spirit and poetry of the original. Ultimately, if you seek a Spanish-language board book that teaches counting, find one that was either originally written in Spanish or does not rely on rhyme schemes in English. 2005 (orig. 1989), Houghton Mifflin, Ages 2 to 5.

Biography

Eileen Christelow has created numerous fun and funny picture books, including the Five Little Monkeys series, Author, and most recently, Letters from a Desperate Dog. She and her husband, Ahren, live in Vermont. For more information visit www.christelow.com.