Rafi y Rosi: iCarnaval!

Rafi and Rosi

by Lulu Delacre

¡Llegó el Carnaval! ¡La fiesta más mágica de Puerto Rico está repleta de cosas para ver y sonidos para explorar!

Genres: Holiday, Childrens, Animals, Picture Books, Spanish Literature, Latinx, Family

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Three-time Pura Belpré Award honoree Lulu Delacre has been writing and illustrating children's books since 1980. The New York Times Bestselling artist was born and raised in Puerto Rico to Argentinean parents. Delacre says her Latino heritage and her life experiences inform her work. Her many titles include Arroz con Leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes from Latin America, a Horn Book Fanfare Book in print for over 30 years. Her bilingual picture book ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el bosque nublado; Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest and her story collection Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos have received multiple starred reviews and awards. Among her latest works are the art of Turning Pages by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Luci Soars. Delacre has lectured internationally and served as a juror for the National Book Awards. She has exhibited at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, The Original Art Show at the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico, and the Zimmerli Art Museum among other venues. Reading is Fundamental honored her with a Champion of Children’s Literacy Award. For more visit her at www.luludelacre.com.

Reviews

[La La]

These stories about life in Puerto Rico during Carnival are fun and entertaining. The accompanying illustrations are colorful and charming. There is a glossary of different terms in the beginning of the book and information about Carnival celebrations around the world at the end of the story, as well as insructions for making a periscope, kid's parade float wagon, and paper mache masks. I was aporoved for this review copy, via Edelweiss, in return for and honest review. I will he reviewing this titoe on my Children's book blog and will add the link when it is posted.

[Celia Buell]

It's so nice to see an early reader animal fantasy book by an own voices author!

Rafi and Rosi Coqui are brother and sister frogs named for the coqui frogs of Puerto Rico. In this "I Can Read" book, each chapter explores a different aspect of Carnival. Readers learn about various Carnival traditions including the king and queen of the parades, the Funeral of Sardines, and Vejigante costumes worn at the parades, as Rafi and Rosi experience them.

It's a fun introduction to some of these practices, although I do wish that more of the history or background was touched on. Why are they having these parties? What is Carnival? What do these things mean for readers who aren't familiar with the celebrations? I found myself a little lost with this one.

The illustrations in this one are cute but nothing special. I do like the way they depict the holiday in all of its colors.

It is never specified in the book that the location is Puerto Rico, but an author's note at the back talks about how the Rafi and Rosi books are inspired by Puerto Rican traditions that the author grew up with. At the back there is a note about Carnival celebrations in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as well as instructions for the activities Rafi and Rosi do to prepare for Carnival.

This one is a lot of fun. I'm definitely going to use it with the kids this week.

*Read for: Children's Book group (Picture Book Club) - February 2023 Holidays Scavenger Hunt - Carnival

[Cheryl]

Not enough citizens of the USA know enough about the territory of Puerto Rico. This series will help, and is a delight to read.

I highly recommend the 'upper' Leveled Readers 'Rafi and Rosi' and 'Rafi And Rosi: Carnival!' (I will look for the next ones in the series, too.)

Not only are they STEM friendly, in that they make it clear that science is even more fun than magic, but they also have enriching notes about science and PR culture and Coqui (frogs). And a lovely big brother/little sister dynamic. Humor, a dash of excitement, lots of heart, and charming & apt illustrations.

[Anthony]

The tree frog siblings, Rafi and Rosi Coqui prepare to celebrate Carnival time. Rafi suggests that Rosi try to be the carnival queen, and surprises her. Rafi makes a periscope and tricks Rosi with it. When Rafi scares Rosi while posing as a Vejigante, Rosi fools Rafi into thinking she is lost. These short stories covers the seven day celebration of carnival season that started in Puerto Rico in 1858.

[Angelina]

Siblings, Rafi and Rosi, celebrate Carnival in three smaller stories inside this level 3 story for the I Can Read series.

This is my first time reading the Rafi and Rosi books and I love the sibling dynamic. They have fun, they create, and they argue! I can’t wait to read more. I especially love the Spanish text! It’s so beautiful and so fun to read.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Barbara]

In this book intended for readers who are just beginning to be fluent readers, two siblings celebrate Carnival together. Rafi and Rosi live in Puerto Rico, and as happens with most brothers and sisters, sometimes they tease each other. But when push comes to shove, they have each others' back, and Rafi takes his role as big brother quite seriously. Since the book contains three different stories, all surrounding Carnival, and plenty of illustrations, readers won't feel overwhelmed by too much text. The fact that Rafi and Rosi are tree frogs wearing human clothing may add to the book's appeal as well as the Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text. Back matter includes necessary information about Carnival as well as directions for making a wagon float, a periscope, and a mask. I found this book strangely appealing on many levels and would certainly point young readers to it.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

This is the second book in the I Can read series about Rafi and Rosi. The three separate stories all focus on some element of Carnival. The first story where Rosi works to become queen for the day is the most entertaining.

While designed to be an easy read, there is little repetition and specific vocabulary terms that would make this hard to read independently for any child who was not a solid transitional reader.

The pictures mix pastels and bold colors to create the ambiance of Carnival.

[Jennifer Oaks]

I like this story because it shows the relationship between a brother and a sister. It shows the tricks that the older brother plays on the younger sister, but he still shows her that he loves her. I like how realistic this stoty is.

[Kate Hastings]

Grades 1-2. RL 480. I have the English version of this title. It is sprinkled with Spanish words and children will learn about the tradition of Mardi Gras/Carnival.

[Rebecca]

Read the English version.

[Rebecca Millerjohn]

Raffi and Rosi may be frogs, but they are latino frogs with great cultural flair that go to carnival! Higher level early reader with great details about this special celebration.