Valentina is the best dancer in Mendoza. She longs to dance at the Tango Day Celebration in Buenos Aires. But she needs a partner to dance with. She's heard that Fernando can tango but will she find him in time?
Valentina es la mejor bailarina de tango en Mendoza. Ella quiere bailar en el Festival del Tango en Buenos Aires. Pero necesita un compañero con quien bailar. Ha escuchado que Fernando baila el tango ¿pero lo encontrará a tiempo?
- Back Cover Blurb
Valentina was a brilliant dancer, the best in Mendoza.
Valentina era una brillante bailarina, la mejor de Mendoza.
- First Sentence
"Would you like to be my partner?"
"How kind of you to ask, but no thank you. I'm a penguin and I don't dance. I waddle. .......
- Memorable Moment, page unnumbered
SOURCE ... Received with thanks from the author on Book Connectors (FaceBook).
READ FOR ... Not applicable.
MY THOUGHTS ... A little bit of school girl French, enough German to say please and thank you, where are the toilets, where can I get some chocolate? and, oddly enough where is your cat/dog? - you know, all of the important things. But no, no Spanish whatsoever. I went to school at a time when a second language wasn't taught until you got to 'senior' school at eleven and even then, allowed to drop it at thirteen, many of us only spent a mere two years learning another language and in my case that language was French.
But I digress ...
But I digress ...
A great idea for young English speakers learning Spanish or indeed for young Spanish speakers learning English. Fernando Can Tango! is a bilingual story written in both English and Spanish. Ideal as a fun read to be shared at home and yet, equally, a wonderful resource for the primary school library where children now start learning a second language at an early age.
The use of repeating phrases an ideal structure to aid learning. The story itself interesting enough to hold the attention and prompt discussion. And, oh my goodness, those glorious illustrations, innocent and simplistic and hugely appealing. I've seen illustrations done by adults that are made to look as if they have been done by children but have rarely come across illustrations that have actually been done by children as is the case here.
