Sweet Dreams/Dulces suenos by Pat Mora. Illustrated by Maribel Suarez

Spotlight on Picture Books

Sweet Dreams/Dulces suenos by Pat Mora.  Illustrated by Maribel Suarez

The combination of English text with the Spanish translation sets this book apart from other picture books.  Let's shine the spotlight on this unique bilingual book:


Summary

Danny, Tina and their older sister are getting for bed.  Grandma has a special way of tucking them in. She kisses each child and tells them which animals are already sleeping like the squirrels, birds and even their pets. The older sister serves as the narrator of this bilingual book, which alternates lines of text in English with the same line of text in Spanish.   

Discussion

Bedtime traditions are special to each family.  This story would be a perfect fit for a bedtime read-aloud.  Themes of love, care and special time with family/family traditions are present within this text.  Children will be able to relate to these themes.  Children will also enjoy the pattern of the text, which repeats segments as Grandma says who is sleeping.  The tone of the text has a softness as Grandma repeats the words “Shh, shh.”  

Bright watercolors are used to create the illustrations.  The addition of pets and small stuffed animals around the bedroom add detail and carry your eyes throughout the pictures.  These details make the bedroom look like a typical children’s room.  Shapes are evident from squares and rectangles in the illustrations of the bedroom, to circles used in the illustrations of the pets, stuffed animals and people.  Whimsical shapes like stars and swirls are also added for bedroom detail.   

The illustration boundaries span two pages.  The views shift from inside the bedroom to outside the house.  The text carries over multiple pages, also.  The English and Spanish sentences are sometimes paired on one page or carried across two pages.

Sweet Dreams/Dulces suenos is one book in a four book series of bilingual texts called “My Family/Mi Familia.” Other titles include: Here Kitty, Kitty!/Ven, gatita ven!, Let’s Eat!/A Comer! and Wiggling Pockets/Los bosillos saltarines.

Overall, the strengths of this book are the bright, colorful illustrations, familiar themes and the versatility of the English/Spanish text. 

Awards/Reviews

Here is a sample of one highlighted review: 

"While all the animals and birds are sleeping and the stars are shining and the moon is smiling, Abuelita tucks her little grandson and two granddaughters in with kisses and wishes for sweet dreams. Bright, colorful watercolors show happy children getting ready for bed, detailing the repetitive and rhythmically lulling bilingual story … Abuelita's loving attention and gentle words bring tranquility and assurance to all as eyes close for a night of peaceful rest. This second in the new My Family/Mi Familia series brings a soothing tone to a nightly ritual universal in any language or culture.” - Kirkus Reviews

Teacher’s Tools

This book could be easily incorporated into a dual language or bilingual classroom.  The English lines of text have a direct translation of Spanish text following them.  This text can also be included in all classrooms to expand students’ exposure to culturally diverse literature.

During a read-aloud, students can join in to read the repetitive phrases.  

This book, along with the books in the My Family/Mi Familia series, lend themselves to a discussion about family.  Students can also engage in discussions about their family traditions, special time with a grandparent or bedtime routines.  

Bibliographic Information

Mora, Pat. (2008). Sweet Dreams/Dulces suenos. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-085041-8.