From: Franciso Alarcon <fjalarcon>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 13:41:42 -0800

Dear Joyce,

Thank you for very positive comments of the series of seasonal poetry books that I and Maya Christina Gonzalez did though Children's Book Press of San Francisco. I am very happy to hear that my bilingual books for children are having a positive impact among bilingual children in Minnesota. My intention was to write poems that work both in English and Spanish. Some of the poems came out first in English, others first in Spanish, and some almost simultaneously in both languages. I truly enjoy the fantastic artwork of Maya Christina Gonzalez, and I hope to continue working with her in other book projects.

I am presently working on a collection of bilingual poems on the wonderful origin of chocolate, although I have been told that that
"chocolate" is a taboo subject for a book for children. Well, I had to struggle to get my first book of bilingual poems for children because I was told that there was no market for bilingual poems and that I should do stories instead. The series has proven that there is not only a market for bilingual poetry books for children but there is "real" need to have more like these among children all over the country.

I am glad that my "tocayo" Francisco from Minnesota felt validated by having another "Francisco" as a author of a children's book.

Keep bring joy to children,

Francisco X. Alarc?n



Francisco Alarc?n Spanish for Native Speakers Program Department of Spanish UC Davis Davis, CA 95616
(530) 75222 FAX (530) 752!84
Received on Wed 27 Feb 2002 03:41:42 PM CST