PreS-Gr 2 In this follow-up to Bebé Goes Shopping (Harcourt, 2006), Salerno joyfully blends 1950s advertising-style illustrations in vivid gouache and watercolors with colored inks and pencils. Elya rhymes through a day at the beach with bilingual Bebé and his "muy bonita Mamá." She cheerfully trails after the active boy as he plays, digs, picnics, chases a ball, and tries out a surfboard sand sculpture. At the end, the sweet toddler gives Mom a respite by napping under an umbrella. A 36-word glossary assists, though context clues keep things rolling. Elya's writing is as lively as her hero: "The rolling white olas are foamy and loud./Bebé waddles after them, right through the crowd./Mamá's coming, too; she remembered the lotion /he squeals as his toes hit the icy-cold ocean." Not just for students of Spanish, this merry exploration provides wholesome fun for anyone who enjoys the beach, or mischievous babies. Add Brigitte Luciani's How Will We Get to the Beach? (North-South, 2000, available in Spanish or English) to enjoy a mother and son who have a tough time trying to reach the ocean with all their paraphernalia. Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

The adorable mother and baby introduced in Bebé Goes Shopping (2006) are now at the beach, a venue that offers new opportunities to introduce Spanish words for everyday items. As in the previous book, Elya's rhyming text scans well: "There's bread, fruit, and cheese-pan, fruta, queso-and a cupful of juice, served with a beso." The picture shows Mamá giving Bebé a kiss, which puts the word in context. Most words can be so gleaned, but not all, so a glossary is appended. The terrific pictures, with the sensibility of 1950s advertising artwork, are bright, animated, and fun. Cooper, Ilene. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.