This delightful children’s book concerns a little girl’s pacifier, also known variously as a paccie, a dummy, a binky, or, in this case, simply a bink. Little Kennedy—vividly depicted here as a dark-haired toddler in bright clothing—always has her bink either in her mouth or on a string around her neck. She wants her parents to know that the bink calms her down, helps her to think, and to sleep. In the Spanish translation, she declares that “es mejor que comer galleta” (“It’s better than eating a cookie”). And it’s a wonderful comfort when she goes on a ride. Kennedy will soon be eighteen months old, and some say it is time that she gave up the pacifying object. But Kennedy wants to keep it a while longer. Until she decides to give it up, what real harm can it do?
Author Sky, who has written stories for older children, was inspired by her granddaughter Kennedy to compose this new, colorful “read-to” book. Illustrator Maricella Obando Moya provides large, enjoyable paintings of Kennedy—in a wagon, by the seaside, and peacefully dreaming—with her pacifier in her mouth, of course. Each of Kennedy’s declarations in English is also offered in Spanish, although sometimes embellished a bit to suit the colloquialisms more familiar to a Latino child. Thus, “Nighty night!” becomes “Noche de pijamas!” (literally, “night of pajamas” or, idiomatically, “sleepover night”). The book provides a humorous, child’s perspective on a common parental dilemma. It seems perfectly placed to suit the needs of children transitioning from native Spanish to the American language as well as for English-speaking American children learning Spanish in school and social settings. Thankfully, Sky and Moya plan to build on the success of this well-crafted bilingual work with future collaborations.
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