Laurie Krebs, illustrated by Christopher Corr,
Off We Go To Mexico: An Adventure in the Sun
Barefoot Books, 2006

Ages 4-8

The author of We are Sailing to Galapagos: A Week in the Pacific and We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey Through Tanzania (both published by Barefoot Books), Laurie Krebs has brought out another eye-catching book about a foreign land. In Off We Go to Mexico: An Adventure Under the Sun, readers will find themselves swaying to the sounds and reaching for the colors of this picture-book treasure. But don't be fooled: the 'fun & fiesta' approach of this book in no way detracts from its serious aim, which is to introduce very young children to the riches of Mexico and its language.

The doll-like people in colorful, patterned clothes and the sun-baked cheerfulness throughout open young eyes to the variety of experiences, celebrations and landscape Mexico has to offer, encouraging them to venture out of their native language and into Spanish: la plaza, el mercado, la música, la comida, los amigos... it's all there, to be learned and enjoyed, along with facts about Mexico's history and a map highlighting important sites.

Award-winning international illustrator Corr's vibrant, around-the-world style shows color and texture in happy illustrations of market and beach life, mountains and ruins, streets and canyons... They are truly full-page works of art that lend plenty of visual interest to this sunny read-aloud.

We say 'adiós' to Mexico on the last page but, as the text points out, the farewell leaves little ones with much to tell: and indeed, bedtime and world travelers alike will enjoy visiting and revisiting this book, word after word, place after place.

Aline Pereira
September 2006