Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky No Habla Inglés - (Lil' Libros Bilingual Book) by Maritere R Bellas (Hardcover)

About the Book

Knock, knock! Tío Ricky is in town and he needs his nephew Enrique's help! He doesn't speak any English, so his nephew has to translate for him at the store, the post office, and the bank. But speaking Spanish feels like such a chore...until Enrique finds himself in a situation where his bilingual skills become life-saving. Enrique soon discovers that speaking two languages isn't just helpful--it's powerful, and it can strengthen family ties in ways he never imagined. It's a heartwarming story in English and Spanish that shows you don't need a superhero cape to be a hero!

Book Synopsis

Meet Enrique, a bilingual boy who finds speaking Spanish a chore...until he discovers it's the superpower he needs to save his uncle--and the day!

Knock, knock! Tío Ricky is in town and he needs his nephew Enrique's help! He doesn't speak any English, so his nephew has to translate for him at the store, the post office, and the bank. But speaking Spanish feels like such a chore...until Enrique finds himself in a situation where his bilingual skills become life-saving. Enrique soon discovers that speaking two languages isn't just helpful--it's powerful, and it can strengthen family ties in ways he never imagined. It's a heartwarming story in English and Spanish that shows you don't need a superhero cape to be a hero!

Parents will adore this bilingual English-Spanish hardcover as it spotlights a nephew-uncle relationship in which language barriers know no boundaries. As well, this book showcases the genuine importance of speaking two languages, encouraging bilingualism in our future generations, and the power behind translation, especially between multigenerational individuals.

Review Quotes

Great Story to relate! A story that highlights family relationships, language and culture. Sign me up!

--Nomar Pérez, author/illustrator of many acclaimed children's books, including the Pura Belpré Honor Book, Coquí in the City

The perfect bilingual heartfelt and humorous cuento to show our little ones, los chiquitos, that being an interpreter is an act of love, amor. And speaking two languages is a superpower, un superpoder.

--Ana Siqueira, Spanish-language elementary teacher and award-winning Brazilian children's book author

Written in English and with Spanish translations, this story is meant to highlight the experience of families caught up in between two languages, and to make bilingual children feel seen, appreciated and to recognize their ability to speak in two languages as the superpower it can be!

--Mirelle Ortega, author/illustrator of Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land, a Pura Belpré Honor Book, among many other award winning books

About the Author

Maritere R. Bellas is a Puerto Rican award-winning author, speaker, writer, podcast host, and bilingual parenting mentor who combined her passion for writing and her devotion to motherhood to create a diverse platform of resources for parents raising bilingual, multilingual, multicultural children long before online resources were available. Passionate about writing children's books with Latino characters and stories that highlight and celebrate Latino culture, Mari is the author of two bilingual children's books and two parenting books. Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English is her third bilingual children's book.

Jayri Gómez is a Dominican illustrator who brings colorful worlds and endearing characters to life in every children's book she creates. Represented by Astound, she has collaborated with publishers such as Lil' Libros, Campbell Books, Scholastic, and HarperCollins among others. Since she was little, art has been her favorite corner, her safe space. She loves watching horror movies while she works, although her drawings exude tenderness. She lives in Santo Domingo with her three cats, Momo, Ginny, and Lilo, who are part of her inspiration and her daily accomplices. When she is not illustrating, she enjoys a good nap or conversations about her favorite things.