A Day Without Sugar/Un Dia Sin Azucar
Beto and his cousins are excited to spend a weekend at their favorite aunt’s house, but when Tía Sofía announces that this time they will spend a whole day without sugar, their anticipation fades. Tía Sofía, however, presents the “quest for sugar” as a fun challenge, in solidarity with Beto, who is at risk of developing diabetes. Tía Sofía helps the children find hidden sugar in different foods and replace it with naturally sweet alternatives, proving that eliminating sugar from the diet is not so bad. The book is focused solely on its didactic purpose, and the story gets lost in it. On the other hand, it does not go deep enough in the subject of diabetes. Halfway between a picture book and a non-fiction resource, it does not satisfy either completely. This is a bilingual story, and the Spanish version is mostly a literal translation of the original. Recommended with Reservations.
A Day Without Sugar/Un Dia Sin Azucar. Diane de Anda. Illus. by Janet Montecalvo. Spanish Translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. Houston, TX: Pinata Books, 2012. 32 pp. $17.95 (Hardcover). ISBN: 978-1558857025. Grades K-3. Bilingual English/Spanish.