Tracey Kyle

A bit of a daydreamer, Paco has trouble concentrating in class, looking out the window and imagining the many wonderful things he could be doing. When he begins to paint what he imagines, his teacher sees his work and takes him to a special class, where he can explore his artistic impulses...

Written in rhyme, with copious use of Spanish words throughout, the narrative of A Paintbrush for Paco is both entertaining and educational. Author Tracey Kyle is a middle-grade Spanish teacher, and is clearly using her story, not just as an exploration of energetic kids who have trouble sitting still, but as a vehicle to teach Spanish vocabulary. A glossary (including pronunciation) is included at the rear. The artwork by Joshua Heinsz is vibrantly colorful, with lots of swirling forms that capture the sense of movement in the story. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books introducing basic Spanish vocabulary (especially color words), as well as to those in the market for children's stories about using your imagination and being an artist.… (mer)