Clara and the Curandera: Clara y La Curandera (Bilingual English/Spanish)

by Monica Brown (Author) Thelma Muraida (Illustrator)

Clara and the Curandera: Clara y La Curandera (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Había una vez una niña llamada Clara, que era gruñona. Estaba de mal humor por tener que sacar la basura, tener que compartir sus juguetes con sus siete hermanos y hermanas y tener que leer un libro a la semana para la escuela. Y Mami está cansada de la cara de mal humor de Clara, así que envía a su hija a la curandera o curandero para pedir ayuda. La curandera le da a Clara una lista de cosas para hacer la próxima semana: sacar su propia basura y la de los vecinos también; dar todos sus juguetes favoritos a sus hermanos y hermanas; y leer cinco libros en lugar de uno! Es una semana difícil y ocupada para Clara. Pero, cuando termina la semana, Clara se da cuenta de que no ha tenido tiempo de sentirse malhumorada. ¿Será que ayudar a los demás la hace sentir feliz?

Once there was a little girl named Clara, who was grumpy. She was grumpy about having to take out the trash, having to share her toys with her seven brothers and sisters, and having to read one book a week for school. And Mami is tired of Clara's grumpy face, so she sends her daughter to the curandera or healer to ask for help. The curandera gives Clara a list of things to do in the coming week: take out her own trash and the neighbors' as well; give all of her favorite toys to her brothers and sisters; and read five books instead of one! It's a difficult, busy week for Clara. But, when the week is over, Clara realizes that she has not had time to feel grumpy. Could it be that helping others makes her feel happy?


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Publishers Weekly

In this bilingual story, Clara is grumpy about her schoolwork, chores, and sharing toys with her siblings. Her mother sends her to a "curandera," who instructs her to take out the neighbor's trash, read five books for school instead of one, and give her toys to her brothers and sisters. Clara finds that her frown soon disappears. Muraida depicts Clara's transformation with rich, celebratory pinks and blues, though her characters' faces can feel wooden. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3--Clara has a bad temper. She is irritated by the chores she's expected to do, having to share with her siblings, and the amount of schoolwork she faces. Her mom decides to send her to a very wise curandera for help. The healer prescribes an unusual treatment; she wants Clara to help her neighbors with their trash, give her toys to her siblings, and read five books instead of one. The girl dutifully does all these deeds and discovers that her neighbors are grateful, her siblings are nicer, and reading is in fact interesting. She learns an important lesson about sharing and feels good about helping others. The pictures are vivid, expressive, and warm. A charming read-aloud.--Liliana Patricia Rocha, Teton County Library, Jackson Hole, WY

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"This well-written, beautifully illustrated bilingual book for 4- to 8-year-olds tells the story of once-grumpy Clara. Advice from the neighborhood curandera, or healer, helps transform a girl who learns valuable lessons from sharing and helping others." — Elaine Ayala "My SA"
Monica Brown
Monica Brown is the author of many multicultural books for children, including the Lola Levine series and the award-winning Waiting for the Biblioburro / Esperando el biblioburro, Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina, and Frida and Her Animalitos. Monica's books are inspired by her Peruvian and Jewish heritage and her desire to bring stories to children. Monica lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she is a professor of English at Northern Arizona University. She invites you to visit her online at monicabrown.net.

Rosa Ibarra is a fine artist who works in oils, interweaving thick layers of paint to convey the vibration of light and to build texture and design. Born in Puerto Rico, she spent her childhood in Old San Juan. She received a degree of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and exhibits her work in galleries and museums in the United States and abroad. She invites you to visit her online at rosaibarra.com.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781558857001
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pinata Books
Publication date
October 01, 2011
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039000 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | General
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
Library of Congress categories
Behavior
Spanish language materials
Bilingual
Families
Family life
Conduct of life
Healers

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