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Let Me Help! / Quiero Ayudar!
"Let me help! Let me help!" Perico learns this phrase from little Martita, who's been saying it a lot lately. When the whole family scrambles to prepare for Cinco de Mayo, Perico knows there must be some way he can help — even if he is just a parrot. Perico tries to help abuela make delicious tamales. He tries to help craft beautiful paper flowers for the barge his family will take down the San Antonio river. He even tries to help the boys practice their mariachi number on the porch. But at every turn Perico is shooed away, until he finally figures out how he can add to the Cinco de Mayo fun. Acclaimed children€™s book author Alma Flor Ada's tale is the story of every young reader who has been told he or she is too little or too young to help. Angela Domínguez's vibrant paintings glow with the rich colors of the southwest. Let Me Help!/¡Quiero ayudar! is a joyful, rhythmic, read-aloud you can celebrate year-round.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Alma Flor Ada
683 books189 followers(http://facebook.com/almaflorada)
Dr. Ada was the founder and First Editor in Chief of :
NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education
She has been active for many years in various professional associations including : IRA, International Reading Association
CRA, California Reading Association
CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education
USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People
She is a member of :
Advisory Board of Loose Leaf Public Radio Programs
National Television Workshop
Between the Lines
Reading Up!, Natural Head Start Association
A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents.
The award-winning author of numerous children’s books and a prolific translator, Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States.
She has authored several reading programs, among them two Spanish reading programs :
Cielo abierto (K-6)
Vamos de fiesta! (K-3)
and of two English reading programs :
Signatures (K-6)
Collections (K- 6)
and is a series consultant for Relatos de la historia (1-5), a Spanish social studies program developed by Harcourt School Publishers.
Among her most substantive contributions to the transmission of Hispanic culture to children are :
Música amiga, a program for learning through songs, published by Del Sol Books
Puertas al Sol - Pathways to the Sun, published by Santillana
Latino poetry, Art, and Biographies for children, published by Santillana
Dr. Ada received her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima, Perú and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute and a Fulbright Research Scholar.
Dr. Ada was the founder and First Editor in Chief of :
NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education
She has been active for many years in various professional associations including : IRA, International Reading Association
CRA, California Reading Association
CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education
USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People
She is a member of :
Advisory Board of Loose Leaf Public Radio Programs
National Television Workshop
Between the Lines
Reading Up!, Natural Head Start Association
A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents.
The award-winning author of numerous children’s books and a prolific translator, Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States.
She has authored several reading programs, among them two Spanish reading programs :
Cielo abierto (K-6)
Vamos de fiesta! (K-3)
and of two English reading programs :
Signatures (K-6)
Collections (K- 6)
and is a series consultant for Relatos de la historia (1-5), a Spanish social studies program developed by Harcourt School Publishers.
Among her most substantive contributions to the transmission of Hispanic culture to children are :
Música amiga, a program for learning through songs, published by Del Sol Books
Puertas al Sol - Pathways to the Sun, published by Santillana
Latino poetry, Art, and Biographies for children, published by Santillana
Dr. Ada received her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima, Perú and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute and a Fulbright Research Scholar.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 3, 2013
I enjoyed the diversity of this vibrantly illustrated childrens book. I specifically borrowed this book to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican day of fiesta. I was a little upset that the author decided to put a disclaimer-form at the beginning of the book explaining certain originations and festivity traditions at the beginning before the actual story, which also told the majority of the story without including characters.
Let Me Help! is a bilingual book, written in both English and in Spanish which would be great if this book is being read in a group with either one or two readers (one reads in English, the other in Spanish) allowing an integration of the languages and expanding the imagination of the listener. However, as ideal as the book can be to be read in two languages, having it read in one is sufficient as well.
I must also conclude by saying that I wasn’t overly impressed with the story line, although written for children between the ages of 4-(maybe)10 there was just something inconclusive to the story itself.
Vibrant colors. Short story line. Accompanying pictures to text. Most young people will enjoy the book and the meaning as it explains the preparatory phase for a single family as they arrange for the celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
Let Me Help! is a bilingual book, written in both English and in Spanish which would be great if this book is being read in a group with either one or two readers (one reads in English, the other in Spanish) allowing an integration of the languages and expanding the imagination of the listener. However, as ideal as the book can be to be read in two languages, having it read in one is sufficient as well.
I must also conclude by saying that I wasn’t overly impressed with the story line, although written for children between the ages of 4-(maybe)10 there was just something inconclusive to the story itself.
Vibrant colors. Short story line. Accompanying pictures to text. Most young people will enjoy the book and the meaning as it explains the preparatory phase for a single family as they arrange for the celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
May 2, 2013
Perico wants to help his family celebrate Cinco de Mayo. He has learned how to say, "Let me help!" As the family is getting ready, cooking, and practicing for the parade, he flies to each one of them screeching "Let me help!" They all wave him away. The family gets on the barge for the parade. It gets stuck under a bridge and part of the decorations fall off. This is just the job that Perico has been waiting for. He says, "Let me help!" and he perches on top of the barge and becomes part of the colorful decorations. Perico finally found something he could help with.
*I have to shorten this story quite a bit to tell during storytime...but it is still cute.
*I have to shorten this story quite a bit to tell during storytime...but it is still cute.
May 13, 2017
A family is preparing in many ways for the local Cinco de Mayo celebration. Each family member has something special to do but Perico the parrot doesn't. He keeps trying to help but no one wants or needs help. Will eh find a way to help? Told in both Spanish and English with the text repeating in each language. preschool and up for concept and length.
February 25, 2010
Great illustrations!!! Love how it was written in English and Spanish.
November 28, 2010
Fun, vibrantly illustrated bilingual story about a parrot wanting to help his family prepare for their Cinco de Mayo celebration.
June 23, 2011
Cute story that teaches children more about TexMex culture. Me gusta el libro!
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December 3, 2015I miss the Riverwalk in San Antonio! Fun story if you've ever lived or visited there. Nice message about everyone having something they're good at!
May 5, 2019
Bird wants to help with the festivities and finds a way in the end. Added bonus is it's told in English and Spanish.
January 29, 2021
The family in this room seemed mean, unhelpful and unaccommodating. I'd skip this book. There are so many others nicer to read.
May 28, 2024
A cute book about a bird who wants to help his family prepare for celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Excellent for learning Spanish.
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May 7, 2019This is a very cute bilingual English/Spanish book that tells about a little Green Parrot who only wants to help his family prepare for a celebration parade. For the parade, the family each has a contribution for their boat float, except the parrot, sad, he flies off until he notices his families boat floats topper broke off. Then he swoops in and saves the day. I really enjoyed the fact that this was a bilingual book. I could really use this book especially when I have a Spanish speaking ELL present in my classroom. I also enjoyed this picture book because I too own a green parrot and I haven’t seen many picture books with that kind of pet represented.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews