Medias naranjas: Lucy & Desi: A Bilingual Book

by Nayeli Reyes, Ellia Ana Hill (Illustrator)

Overview

Introduce your little ones to the dazzling stars of Hollywood, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz, and their beloved sitcom I Love Lucy – in both English and Spanish!

Who’s your other half, your media naranja?

Introduce your little ones to the following book in our Medias naranjas series, Medias naranjas: Lucy & Desi, as we spotlight television’s hilarious pair and their captivating chemistry. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were the stars of the iconic sitcom show, I Love Lucy, and brought an abundance of giggles and smiles to screens all across the world. After top-rated skits, silly gags, and floor-rolling belly laughs, Lucy and Desi took their comedic talent off-screen. They carried on an extraordinary legacy by producing even more memorable moments on TV.

Parents will adore this bilingual English-Spanish board book as it introduces little ones to the beloved comedic duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and their pioneer moments on television.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781948066136
Publisher:	Lil' Libros
Publication date:	02/27/2024
Pages:	22
Product dimensions:	6.75(w) x 6.75(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 5 Years

About the Author

Nayeli Reyes was born in Mazatlan, Mexico. She is Emilio’s mother, a chef, and a photographer specializing in brand photography. She recalls devouring any book that came into her hands at a young age, with a special weakness for children’s books. Now she’s trying to share the joy of reading with her son, Emilio. She likes to combine her love for books with cooking, creating recipes inspired by literature for her YouTube channel. In her spare time, you may find her doing DIY projects, such as crochet, watercolor, or origami, baking sourdough bread, and playing with Emilio and her husband Alejandro.

Ellia Ana Hill is a Puerto Rican cut paper illustrator and artist. She creates hand-cut whimsical illustrations from a mix of vintage and modern papers. Her work is influenced by her familia, pop culture, toys, retro goodness, curly hair, and childhood adventures. Ellia earned a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with an emphasis on illustration and creative writing. The No Boy is her first published children’s book and is based off one of her children. She has participated in gallery shows by Netflix, Disney, American Horror Story, Hasbro, and more – all the while raising 6 kids with her husband. Ellia and her family live in Milwaukee, WI.

Editorial Reviews

04/19/2024

Toddler-PreS—This is the next book in the "Medias naranjas" series that poses the question, "Who's your better half?" and introduces children to the iconic 1950s TV characters, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. In her rhyming bilingual book, Reyes cleverly relates how Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met and made the most of their star power as a Hollywood couple. Each verse is translated on the same page, which makes it easy to follow the story simultaneously in English and Spanish. Focusing on the couple's early movie successes and later comedic stylings, Hill's illustrations highlight episodes from the Arnazes' hilarious I Love Lucy days; kids will love Lucy's red hair and outrageous outfits alongside Ricky's debonair presence. Their TV sidekicks, Ethel and Fred Mertz are also featured. Reyes and Hill further demonstrate how the Desilu production company changed television sitcoms for all time and opened the doors for shows like Mission Impossible and Star Trek to make their own marks in TV history. The Ball-Arnaz legacy had its ups and downs, and this book ensures that their contributions will always be remembered fondly. VERDICT This colorful book will have young readers laughing at the Ricardos's 1950s TV antics, told in both English and Spanish.—Sharon Sherman

School Library Journal