"A poem makes us see everything for the first time." Francisco Alarcón's epigraph to his vibrant picture book collection of 20 original poems holds the promise of discovery, and young readers will not be disappointed at what they find--poems that reminisce, delight and surprise. Some of the poems, like "Other Voices," "Strawberries" and "Chile," are a mere handful of words, drops of water forming a small pool that reflects everyday items and occurrences in new and exciting ways. Other poems, like "My Grandmother's Songs," are a cascade of memories and observations as seen through the poet's passionate and exacting eye ("My grandmother's songs / ... consoling / the chairs placed / upside down / delighting / the family portraits / on the walls"). Some of the poems were written originally in Spanish and others in English. All are presented in both languages and paired with Maya Christina Gonzalez's colorful artwork--imaginative, interpretive paintings that will conjure up a laugh, a smile, a moment (or more) of contemplation, just as the poems do. (Ages 7-10)

Pura Belpré Author Award Winner - American Library Association (ALA)

Bilingual English/Spanish. From the imagination of poet Francisco X. Alarcón comes Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems, a playful and moving collection of twenty poems in English and Spanish.

Tomatoes laugh, chiles explode, and tortillas applaud the sun! With joy and tenderness, delight and sadness, Alcarcón's poems honor the wonders of life and nature: welcoming the morning sun, remembering his grandmother's songs, paying tribute to children working in the fields, and sharing his dream of a world filled with gardens.

Artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invites us to experience the poems with her lively cast of characters-including a spirited grandma, four vivacious children, and playful pets who tease and delight. Follow them from page to page as they bring each poem to colorful life.

Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems is a verbal and visual treat, giving us twenty opportunities to see everything for the first time.