MERRY NAVIDAD takes the reader on a rich journey into Hispanic Christmas celebrations that occur between December 16 and
January 6. Both in Spanish and English, the text first introduces and explains the important events in chronological order, and then shares traditional Spanish Christmas carols that celebrate that event.
The lyrics of the carols have the simple truth of folk songs and are given added warmth by the artwork of Vivi Escriva. Kids will be drawn in by her sensitive, simple watercolors that people the pages with children, villagers, and various animals representative of Spain, Mexico, and South and Central America, as well as with the more traditional nativity scene visitors.
Highlighting the book are the
villancicos and their translations, provided by Rosalma Zubizarreta. Here, "villancicos" refer to centuries-old Christmas songs that followed the Spanish as they settled around the world. They are playful as well as religious, and reflect their culture of origin (Spain) as it has blended into Latin America.
Explanations of the celebrations that lead into the villancicos are clear and thorough without being overwhelming, and they add a depth that makes this more than just a book of
poems for kids. And, because the villancicos are technically songs rather than poems, musical notations are given for six of them at the end.