Common Sense Media Review
By Monica Encarnacion
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute bilingual tale of animals, opposites, and clever girl.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
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Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MARTA! BIG & SMALL is the story of an "ordinary girl" named Marta. Marta knows that she's bigger than a bug, smaller than an elephant, and faster than a turtle. When Marta meets a snake who thinks she's "sabrosa" or "tasty, very tasty," she must outsmart him. Marta brilliantly gets away because she is "ingeniosa" or "clever, very clever." The big lesson here is that Marta's identity isn't defined by one single characteristic -- big or small, fast or slow. The way we see ourselves is a matter of perception. Although Marta may think she's just an "ordinary girl" at the beginning of the story, by the end she proves to be quite extraordinary!
Is It Any Good?
This lively story of animals and opposites is a fun way to learn Spanish vocabulary. Although the text in Marta! Big & Small is minimal, author Jen Arena does a great job introducing Spanish words within the context of the story. Her use of repetition and context clues make the meaning of each new Spanish word very clear. For example, "To a horse, Marta is lenta. Slow, very slow. To a turtle, Marta is rápida. Fast, very fast."
Vibrant artwork by Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Dominguez further focuses the reader's attention on making comparisons between Marta and the different animals she encounters. Large, vivid illustrations on a white background offer little or no background distractions and help the readers see the similarities and differences between the main characters in the story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Spanish vocabulary in Marta! Big & Small. Which of the new words can you use to talk about opposites, compare sizes, and describe yourself and the people and things around you? For instance, what's the same or different between you and your dad?
What's your favorite animal? Can you name it in Spanish? How are you different or the same?
Marta is "ingeniosa." What does it mean to be clever? How are you clever?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Angela Dominguez
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Friendship , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : August 23, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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