Common Sense Media Review
By Monica Encarnacion
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Engaging, simple bilingual book shows what "close" means.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
CERCA / CLOSE follows a little girl as she walks from her bedroom, through the kitchen, into a daisy-filled yard with apple trees and horses, to the house next door. Along the way she notices things that are close to each other. She starts by saying, "Mi cuarto está cerca de la cocina," a statement followed by its English translation: "the kitchen is close to the door," and so on. Eventually, she reaches the house next door where her friend lives -- "Mi amigo está cerca de mi" (and "my friend is close to me").
Is It Any Good?
This fun and simple word book is easy to read and a great concept book for young children. Written in short verse, Cerca / Close presents a statement about a spatial relationship first in Spanish and then follows it with the italicized English translation on the next line. Colorful, cheerful illustrations by Blanca Gómez use straight lines to form familiar objects, while curving roads and winding hills add a soft feel to this small book. Young readers will find this board book engaging and some may identify with the round-faced, brown-skinned little girl. It's a great little concept book for introducing spatial awareness while speaking and/or learning a new language.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what's close in Cerca / Close. What's close to the apple tree? What's close to the horses?
What are some things that are close to you? Take a walk around your house to find objects that are close to each other.
What's the opposite of close? Can you identify something that's not close or far?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Blanca Gomez
- Genre : Board
- Topics : Friendship , Animals
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Candlewick Press
- Publication date : September 17, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 14
- Available on : Hardback
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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