Squawk of Spanish
Written by Gabriella Aldeman
Illustrated by Romina Galotta
Charlesbridge
Ages 5-7
Available August 13th, 2024
Even though Max can’t speak Spanish, Max treasures each Sunday when he bakes with his grandmother, Abuela. Abuela can’t speak English either, but they can communicate through the delicious family recipes of polvorones, tres leches, and rice pudding. With the help of the loveable Lorito, Abuela’s brilliant bilingual parrot, Max helps Abuela with the recipe when she forgets the next ingredient. Lorito’s squawks aren’t limited to “arroz” or “azúcar.” He also encourages Max to try speaking Spanish, but he refuses; his “Rs come out wrinkled with an accent,” and his cousins make fun of him (p 10). One Sunday morning, Lorito was flying outside the house and had not returned when Max arrived. Without Lorito there to help Max and Abuela translate, Max wondered how they would bake together. However, Max remembers communication is about trying rather than perfection, so he squawks out the next ingredient for Abuela even though his Rs stick on his tongue.
Aldeman, a bilingual mother, bases this story off of her own son’s experience, who also struggles speaking Spanish with his grandmother but uses food to help bridge the divide. Her simple dialogue, poetic metaphors, and bilingual text draw in young readers, especially but not exclusively for those from multilingual families. Galotta’s gentle, pleasant watercolors mirror the themes of reassurance and unconditional love in Aldeman’s story, but they do not overshadow the text. The illustrations center the colorful, playful parrot, which provides humor to balance Max’s vulnerability when he tries to speak Spanish. Backmatter includes an author’s note, glossary, and even a mouthwatering recipe for arroz con leche. In this triumphant ending to a heartwarming story, Aldeman reminds readers that love transcends language barriers, empowering readers to try something even when they feel nervous.
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