Lia y Luís: ¡Desconcertados!/Lia & Luis: Puzzled!
Ana Crespo, author
Originally from Brazil, Ana Crespo moved to the United States to pursue a master's degree in education. Ana is the author of The Sock Thief: A Soccer Story, which won an International Latino Book Award, and the My Emotions & Me series.
Read more about Ana.
Giovana Medeiros, illustrator
Originally from Brazil, Giovana Medeiros is now a freelance illustrator based in Lisbon, Portugal. She is the illustrator of Running on Sunshine, In the Garden, and several other children's books from publishers around the world.
Read more about Giovana.
- Coming soon!
Kirkus Reviews
Piecing together a jigsaw puzzle helps twins Lia and Luís work on spatial skills while solving a mystery.
In their second Storytelling Math outing, the excited young Brazilian Americans (who, Crespo mentions in an author’s note, speak in a São Paulo accent)—receive a puzzle from their Vovó (grandmother) with a secret message and immediately notice that some pieces have one or two straight sides. “It’s a clue!” Sorting ensues, as well as matching contours and turning pieces until each one fits. Meanwhile, Mamãe is urging them to hurry (“Rápido!”) because they have to leave soon. Where to? The finished puzzle turns out to be a picture of Vovó saying “Até Já!” (“See you soon!”)…which solves the mystery just in time for a scramble to the airport and a joyful greeting: “Que saudade!” “We missed you too, Vovó!” It’s a brief but age-appropriate introduction to spatial skills that will appeal to kids. The olive-skinned twins are visibly lighter than their Mamãe and Vovó—realistic variations in hue—in the simple, sunny art. The final pieces are laid down with a list of Portuguese expressions used in the narrative and an educator’s explanation of the math related skills exercised here that features suggestions for enhancement activities.
Intellectual lessons and a glimpse at Brazilian American culture fit seamlessly together.
School Library Journal
In their second outing from the “Storytelling Math” series, siblings Lia and Luís are surprised by a package from their grandmother. It’s a puzzle the Brazilian American kids have to piece together to figure out what message Vovó has sent them. The puzzle pieces are clues, and the kids use their sorting and spatial skills to solve the mystery. All the while, their mom is trying to get them ready and out the door to run an errand. As they finally place the last piece, Luís and Lia figure out what their abuela wanted to share and where their mother is rushing them to. The preschoolers have tan skin with wavy hair, and their mom and grandmother have deeply brown skin with more textured hair, showing the diversity of the Brazilian people. The bright colors, cartoony illustrations, and fun conundrum will draw kids in. This bilingual volume is primarily in English and Spanish, though Brazil-specific phrases are scattered throughout, which might confuse readers. A glossary is included in the back matter along with an author’s note and extension activities to continue the mathematics fun. VERDICT This charming, bilingual addition to the series will have young learners (who are not yet prejudiced against the subject) and their adults enjoying math.
Spanish Bilingual Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-400-3
Spanish Bilingual Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-62354-401-0
Ages: 3-6
Page count: 32
91/2 x 91/2