We Laugh Alike: Juntos Nos Reímos (Bilingual English/Spanish)

by Carmen T Bernier-Grand (Author) Alyssa Bermudez (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade

Six kids are ready to play: three speak English and three speak Spanish. But all of them laugh alike and together!

This clever playground adventure weaves together bilingual English and Spanish conversations, allowing two groups of children to express similar thoughts in their own languages.  But they can express similar thoughts in their own languages. Can they find a way to play? Of course they can! 

Seis niños están listos para jugar: tres hablan inglés y tres hablan español. ¡Pero todos se ríen por igual y juntos!

Esta ingeniosa aventura en el patio de recreo entreteje conversaciones bilingües en inglés y español, lo que permite que dos grupos de niños expresen pensamientos similares en sus propios idiomas. Pero pueden expresar pensamientos similares en sus propios idiomas. ¿Pueden encontrar una manera de jugar? ¡Por supuesto que pueden!

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A sweet demonstration of how friendship can transcend language barriers.

Review quotes

Two groups of friends, one that speaks English, the other speaking Spanish, encounter each other at the park and learn to communicate through the language of play.
The two languages are reflected in a responsive dual text, though not an exact translation, that allows readers to engage with each group's thinking and understanding. "We listen to the other kids, even though we don't understand a word of Spanish. / Escuchamos a los tres niños, aunque no sabemos inglés." The literal translations are: "Escuchamos a los otros niños, a pesar de no entender una palabra de español. / We listen to the three children, even though we don't know English." The two groups—both racially diverse—cautiously observe each other and then each begins to learn the other's games until they are counting, jumping rope, dancing, singing, and playing together. The cheery art using scanned textures and bold colors highlights the activity, setting it in a city park in the shadow of numerous skyscrapers. The simple, dual text works well to establish the concept that these children have much in common. But the wording of the English title, We Laugh Alike, is awkward in comparison to the Spanish version, which translates as Together We Laugh and jibes better with the spirit of the story. Nevertheless, the children are alike in their eagerness to befriend one another and laugh together.
A sweet demonstration of how friendship can transcend language barriers.
—Kirkus Reviews


In this playful spin on the bilingual format, three English-speaking friends go to play at the park, where a Spanish-speaking trio soon shows up. Each group is curious about the other, but for the first half of the story, they keep to different sides of the park, saying the same things in their respective languages, thus naturally incorporating the translation into the text. For example, when the English-speaking kids say, "They know how to jump rope! But we don't understand their rhyme," the Spanish-speaking kids also say, "Nuestro rima los invita a saltar con nosotros, pero no now hacen caso." Before long, kids from both groups are gesturing to one another to come play, bringing everyone together. Colorful illustrations showcase the similarities among the racially diverse kids, who easily find ways to connect that go beyond language. Yet, the kids don't stop there; they spend time learning each other's songs and rhymes. A glossary and author's note rounds out this encouraging demonstration of overcoming language barriers.
—Booklist
Carmen T Bernier-Grand
Carmen T. Bernier-Grand is the author of numerous books for children, including Picasso: I The King, Yo el rey; Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina; and Diego: Bigger than Life, a Pura Belpré honor book. She speaks about her work and the history of Puerto Rico, where she grew up, to elementary students. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Alyssa Bermudez has illustrated several books for children, including the two Lucía Luchadora books, the Amelia Chamelia series, and My Singing Nana. She studied illustration and animation at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Alyssa was born and raised in New York City, she has Puerto Rican family roots, and she currently lives in Tasmania, Australia. www.alyssabermudezart.com
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781623540968
Lexile Measure
400
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Charlesbridge Publishing
Publication date
April 13, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV009080 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | Words
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Picture books
Spanish language materials
Bilingual
Language and languages
Communication
Play

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