I loved this charming story about learning Spanish to communicate with Abuela, which was based on a true story. I liked how the reader was introduced to a few Spanish words and that the pronunciations were located at the back of the book. The illustrations were colorful and pleasing to look at. I also liked that the book included the recipe for Arroz con Leche so the reader could have an interaction with the story. I plan on buying a copy for myself!

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Squawk of Spanish is a very cute book by Gabriella Aldeman about a boy named Max, his Abuela, and a parrot named Lorito. Abuela speaks Spanish, but Max has difficulty speaking it. Fortunately they have Lorito a bilingual parrot that will help them translate. One day Lorito goes missing and Max and Abuela are forced to have way to communicate. They both learn so much about each other before Lorito returns. This book would be perfect for any story time. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

This book made me shed a happy tear at the end!

Max’s abuela (grandmother) only speaks Spanish, Max only speaks English but their language together is cooking.

Lorito, abuela’s chatty parrot translates between them. Max is embarrassed of his Spanish pronunciations especially as his cousins always tell him he can’t roll his R’s.

One Sunday when Max is due to cook with abuela, their translator, Lorito is nowhere to be seen. Abuela thinks they are unable to communicate so hangs up her apron until Max summons up the courage to try and speak Spanish.

Really beautiful story with stunning pictures. Definitely recommend.

I love the illustrations in this book! They are adorable and very eye catching. The story is a very fast read which is great for bed time. I love this message that even if you are embarrassed of your Spanish, it’s the thought that counts and that you should keep trying. I see this story in my little brother who is not the best in Spanish and even in myself that I am losing my Spanish. It is such a beautiful language and I think we should never lose and continue to pass on in our families.

I definitely recommend for everyone especially parents. It is a great story with a beautiful message. It’s very eye opening even for me. I will be purchasing a copy :)!


Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

The book offers a valuable theme about embracing cultural identity and overcoming the shyness of speaking a new language. The glossary and the included arroz con leche recipe are a delightful addition.

I did wonder why the cousins always played in the backyard never helping abuela. I felt the story could have had more depth. The illustrations are lovely.

Very cute little story about a boy and his abuela. He is afraid to speak Spanish because of inability to roll his Rs. Luckily, abuela's parrot understands both and helps them out when they bake. One day, the parrot is missing and the boy has to remember the recipe. He does his best to say "arroz" and then he is not afraid to speak Spanish.

I was hoping for more practice with Spanish as I am needing to use it more in my work setting. I already knew most of the words in this book. However, it was fun to read with very cute illustrations. There are translations in the back so you can read it with your kiddo and learn a little Spanish.

Highly recommend.

My thanks to the publisher Charlesbridge and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

This centers such an important topic for a children’s book! There is so much nuance to language, both in speaking and learning. This book follows a young boy who is embarrassed to speak Spanish with his family because he can’t roll his “R’s”, which is a frequent sound in the Spanish language. With the encouragement of his grandma and her parrot, the boy practices Spanish, even if it’s not perfect. They cook together as he gain a confidence.

I enjoyed the concept however I think the parrot character was a bit off in its characterization. While it bugged me, I think kids won’t notice it. So I would still recommend this book to kids 4-8 years old. It would be a great book to read in a dual language classroom like my own!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-copy of Squawk of Spanish by Gabriella Alseman in exchange for a honest review. This is a beautiful book of love and the importance of family that is told through the story of Max and his grandmother..He can’t speak Spanish to his grandmother because he can’t pronounce the words correctly but through the help of his grandmother’s bilingual bird Lorrito they can communicate.One day when Lorrito flies off ,how can Max and his grandma make their arroz con leche recipe? Through their shared live of food Max and his grandma find a way to communicate.Perfect book about acceptance.

Being bilingual will usually mean that the second (or third, or fourth) is always influenced by the first and that some sounds seem impossible to pronounce. And there's always someone to laugh at the attempts. This happens to both children and grown-ups, so they keep listening and learning but are most hesitant to speak.
This story is of a boy with family who speak both English and Spanish and how his grandmother (abuela) and her parrot (loro) help him. There is also a short bilingual phrase glossary and the recipe for the dessert they make together.
The illustrations by Romina Galotta are clear, colorful, and fun!
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Thank you!

‘Squawk of Spanish’ by Gabriella Aldeman is a very cute and educational story that offers a delightful reading experience.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot is quite sweet, making it a lovely story for children to enjoy while learning a bit of Spanish. It’s simple yet effective in its educational goal.

Character: ★★★★☆
The characters are very sweet and endearing. They add a lot of charm to the story, making it easy for children to connect with them.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations are lovely and complement the story beautifully. They’re colourful and engaging, adding an extra layer of appeal to the book.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
It’s a quite engaging story. The combination of a sweet plot and charming characters keeps children interested from start to finish.

Readability: ★★★★☆
The readability is wonderful. The story flows smoothly and is easy to follow, making it a great read-aloud book for parents and educators.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆
Overall, it’s quite an enjoyable book. While it’s not entirely my cup of tea, I can definitely see its appeal and how children and parents alike would enjoy it.

‘Squawk of Spanish’ by Gabriella Aldeman is a cute and educational story that’s sure to delight young readers. With a sweet plot, endearing characters, lovely illustrations, and great readability, it’s a wonderful addition to any child's bookshelf. While it may not be everyone's favourite, it offers a charming and engaging way for children to start learning Spanish.

This sweet story was about the loving relationship a boy had with his grandmother. Although he struggled with his Spanish, they bonded over cooking together. In the end, he learned to take risks and do his best to speak some Spanish (without rolling his r’s) and his abuela
spoke a little English.

What a sweet book. I'm an ELL teacher and I can tell that this will be a huge hit in my classroom, particularly with students with Spanish-speaking backgrounds. In this story, Max cannot roll his rrr's and is too embarrassed to even try, but eventually he succeeds! The illustrations are beautiful and sweet, the story itself is simple and easy to follow. This has such a lovely message and promotes growth mindset. :) A great addition to any classroom!

I love a good bilingual picture book and especially a when it’s a good story.

Every Sunday Max cooks with his Abuela and their parrot helps translate the recipe. Max doesn’t like to speak Spanish because he can’t roll his Rs and he doesn’t like to be made fun of.

Abuela encourages him and the parrot Lorito does too but Max is still nervous. Abuela even speaks some English to show him she will, even though her English isn’t perfect.

One day Lorito is no where to be found and Max almost gives up cooking with Abuela. He tries and keeps trying, even without perfect Rs! Trying is what counts and Max has the support of those around him so he doesn’t give up!

What a delightful book. It made me ashamed as I struggle to learn languages but the children, even the smallest, could quote me quite a few Spanish phrases. The youngest I think knew these words from the children's disco songs on holiday. The illustrations are wonderful and add much to the story. Heartwarming tale.

Such a cute book! Max feels uncomfortable speaking Spanish in front of his family because he can't roll his Rs. It's a great lesson in learning to be more comfortable with yourself, and Max is able to do what he needs to do for those he loves. In the end, Max accomplishes more than he could have imagined. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Heartwarming and beautifully illustrated!

Though I must note that it wasn’t a smooth read, it was a bit too fast paced but that certainly played a positive role in making it a brief and easy guide to confidence for kids.

This is a great story about taking the time to learn to communicate with someone close to you who speaks a different language. I like the theme of not giving up also and too keep trying.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I am a retired preschool teacher so I have read many children's books. I love when a book teaches children about a different culture, religion or language. This one does such a great job teaching a few Spanish words and also teaching that it's OK to try, even if it's not perfect. Most fun part of this book is the glossary at the end and the recipe for. rice pudding - Arroz con leche! Loved this book so much!

Pjs, cuddling, and story-time before bed is a favorite at our house! The last couple weeks the kids had so much fun reading some new material I was given advanced copies of. It’s cute how now they ask what new books I have to read. As soon as I’m finished they will tell me what they loved about the book. My great little reviewers! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚📖 @netgalley #netgalley

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A big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Squawk of Spanish by Gabriella Aldeman. In this charming and beautifully illustrated story, Max is embarrassed to speak Spanish because he can't roll his rrrrrr's. His cousins tease him but with some encouragement from his abuela and her funny parrot, Max is able to communicate with his grandma over their shared love of cooking together. The delicious recipes at the end of the book are an added bonus!

As a teacher in a predominantly Spanish-speaking elementary school, this is a delightful book that I cannot wait to add to my classroom library.