Giveaway: First Spanish Words book
A few feet from the cubicle I called home for many years, there was a Free Table. That’s where all the “graft” PR people sent the newsroom got put up for grabs. There were CDs, books, T-shirts, toothpaste, cookies. You name it. It was excessive and ridiculous and very fun. We got to try out new ice cream flavors first and read future best-sellers before they hit the stands. See, it used to be fun to be a journalist.
It appears my cyber cubicle has become a Free Table.
I’m getting asked with more regularity to tell you, the reader, about new books, videos, toys, etc. I gladly will as long as it is something 1) I would buy myself and 2) it fits in with the spirit of this blog — which is to futher not just love of guinea fowl but bilingualism and diversity.
So, the most recent loveliness to land on my desk: First Spanish Words, illustrated by David Melling and published by Oxford University Press. List price: $12.95.
The book, released earlier this month, is bright and colorful, depicting scenes of everyday life — like school, the grocery store, a museum outing.
Our two favorite pages are Magia Animal (Animal Magic). It’s full of energy and movement and reminds me that a walrus is a morsa. I keep forgetting that. The bedtime page (A la Cama) shows a dad snuggled up reading in bed with two children, while the characters of favorite stories fill up the room. There’s the giant from Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood and a friendly ghost.
The book description says the reading level is for ages 9 to 12, but really, this is the kind of book to leave within easy reach of a toddler or preschooler…or a Mami who regularly forgets how to say kettle or slide in Spanish.
In the back pages, there are shapes, counting and opposites words pages. Useful and fun. There are more than 400 words depicted in the book.
So, we’re sharing our good Free Table fortunes with you. If you’d like to have this sweet Spanish picture book here are the rules:
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what Spanish word you constantly forget or mess up. If you don’t speak Spanish, tell me what English word confounds you.
- One entry per person.
- You have until midnight EST on Monday, Nov.3 to enter.
- Anonymous comments are not eligible.
- You must live in the United States or Canada.
- The winner will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 4 — Election Day.
Have a safe Halloween and a great weekend.
Cool book. All of the spanish words confound me since I never took Spanish (all except NO, i know that one), but I’d like a few children to get off on a better start. If I won that book I’d give to my bff who is a preschool teacher at a bilingual daycare.
bathrooms in spanish!
I am always mixing the words up!
perejil–I used to think it was pimple! mi esposo cubano corrected me many times, telling me over and over that it was parsley–an herb I cook with often!
I guess yo soy una tonta gringa de verdad!
my e-mail is lafeofern11@hotmail.com
Does it have to be just one word?? It seems I have a daily ‘I just plain forgot Spanish’ word of the day. It changes almost daily.
Your little girl sounds like mine. She’ll tell me words she knows in Spanish, but then she’ll go right back to English! How frustrating..o que frustante!
Vilma
There are many words I mess up, but the ones that mostly stick out in my mind are: CEREBRO and CATALOGO. I always want to say CELEBRO and CATALAGO.
I forget a ton of words in Spanish, but my main problem is writing and remembering accents and such. The most embarrassing time was when I wrote and mailed a ton of holiday cards with “Prospero Año Nuevo” written on the inside. But I forgot the tilde over the “n.”
I’m sure they knew what I meant to say.
I still have to find a standard way of translating or explaining what “gana/ganas” means all the way from “no me da la gana” to “para triunfar tienes que tener ganas”.
Gracias!
my Spanish is so poor, I wouldn’t know where to begin, so I’ll cheat. My 4-year-old, who would be the proud recipient of this book, has learned some Spanish words from Dora and other cartoons. She actually has the right words, but mixes up pronunciation of abrir and hablar…like when she pretends to be a door and tells me I have to say “ablay” to open it.
That sounds like a great book. I always forget that querer is really supposed to be querrer. But, being Puerto Rican, we mess up a LOT of words. LOL
Oh, I love entering the giveaways, not so much because I could win but because I love answering the question and reading what others wrote.
I love using the word “arisco” for cranky or unfriendly–except I’ve been saying “erisco” my entire life and was just corrected the other day. I wish someone had corrected me a long time ago!
I always mix up the numbers “60″ and “70″ they sound way too much alike!!
Hello, I unfortunately did not take Spanish in school so I’m learning the grassroots way. I can never remember how to pronounce the Spanish word for Grandmother, a word used commonly in my daughter’s children’s books. We’d love to win this book to help in furthering our studies.
Wow that’s a tough question, I speak some Spanish but nothing pops up in my mind as being really troublesome. Umm. Oh I know. I always think Problema is feminine. I forget that ema endings are masculine.
callista83 AT cogeco DOT ca
I wish I spoke Spanish- it would have totally helped all those years in SoCal. Heck it would be great now, but I’m not likely to start learning as I have no spare time!
Soooo… English words I mess up? Carafe. I still question the way to pronounce it EVERY TIME. Is it “care-uh-fay?” or “cuh-raff”?
Hola Carrie,
It’s been a long time since I wrote you last.
I have been cooking a lot! =)
No grandchildren yet =)
I am glad to see you are yours are doing well.
Muchos Saludos desde Northern California.
My brain had to work double hard when I heard the English word : condone, especially when I heard the expresion I don’t condone… My Spanish brain is hearing condeno, so image the mess in my head hearing yo no condeno…
and is always something that should be condenado, is a whole big mess!
=)