Review of Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky no habla inglés

Maritere R. Bellas, Jayri Gómez (illustrator)

Uncle Ricky doesn't speak English, and his nephew Enrique has to translate everything for him. Sometimes Enrique isn't in the mood to help his uncle, since translating isn't an easy task. He even tried to help his uncle Ricky learn English by playing dominoes, and something interesting happened. Enrique is a role model for all bilingual members of our community who discover that being bilingual can make a difference.

 

With vivid illustrations and expressive faces by Jayri Gómez, she brings the colorful Caribbean culture to life. Author Maritere captures the essence of being bilingual and tells us that what can sometimes be a burden is ultimately a blessing and an opportunity that can save the lives of their families and the community.

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 El tío Ricky no habla inglés, y su sobrino Enrique tiene que traducirle todo. A veces, Enrique no está de humor para ayudar a su tío, ya que traducir no es una tarea fácil. Incluso intentó ayudar a su tío Ricky a aprender inglés jugando dominó y sucedió algo interesante. Enrique es el modelo a seguir para todos los miembros bilingües de nuestra comunidad que descubren que el ser bilingüe puede marcar la diferencia.

 

Con vívidas ilustraciones, expresivos rostros, de Jayri Gómez, da vida a la colorida cultura caribeña. La autora Maritere captura la esencia de ser bilingüe y nos narra lo que a veces puede ser una carga; al final, es una bendición y una oportunidad que puede salvar la vida de sus familias y de la comunidad.

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🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey

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🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press

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Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Author Sponsors!

 Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk, Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Tami Lehman-Wilzig,  Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Nancy Tupper Ling, Teresa Robeson, Crystal Z. Lee, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Elly Swartz, Robbin Miller, Shifa Safadi, Tonya Ellis, Lisa Stringfellow, Sylvia Liu, Kimberly Biddle, Robbin Miller, Eric Clock, Tonya Ellis, Nadine Pressley, Natahsa Yim Carter, and Lisa Chong.

 

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Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator, and Translator

Member: Read Your World Board of Trustees, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 

 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, 

Premio Verso Dorado 2022 

 

Review of The Purple Shell

The excitement of the third Read Your World Virtual Party is here and reviews are on in the Giant Link! #ReadYourWorld. Here is a special one:

The Purple Shell is on the book Sponsor of the Climate Change Classroom Kit

A bilingual story that teach children to care about our planet

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2026 - Format: Paperback

It is never too early to teach children to care about our planet. In this sweet bilingual story, the young reader is inspired to care and protect the beaches from littering. Star’s fun beach day with Mom becomes a must cleaning day first, because of all the garbage they encounter at the beach. When Star finds a beautiful purple shell inside the sparkling ocean, they feel rewarded for all their hard work. Colorful and poignant illustrations bring the story to life. Questions and facts at the end spark further conversations and another teaching opportunity. A book that belongs in every home and local library!

Maritere Rodriguez Bellas rated a book it was amazing

11 minutes ago

The Purple Shell : La concha de mar púrpura

by Maritza Martinez Mejia (Goodreads Author)

It is never too early to teach children to care about our planet. In this sweet bilingual story, the young reader is inspired to care and protect the beaches from littering. Star’s fun beach day with Mom becomes a must cleaning day first, because of all the garbage they encounter at the beach. When Star finds a beautiful purple shell inside the sparkling ocean, they feel rewarded for all their hard work. Colorful and poignant illustrations bring the story to life. Questions and facts at the end spark further conversations and another teaching opportunity. A book that belongs in every home and local library!

Nunca es demasiado temprano para enseñar a los niños a preocuparse por cuidar nuestro planeta. En este cuento bilingüe, los pequeños lectores van a aprender como proteger las playas de la basura tirada por otros. El día divertido en la playa se convierte en un quehacer antes de divertirse, por toda la basura que Star y se mamá encuentran en la playa. Después de limpiar, ellas son recompensadas al encontrarse en con una concha de mar púrpura. Bellas ilustraciones complementan el texto a la perfección. Las preguntas y datos al final puede generar más conversaciones sobre como cuidar nuestro medio ambiente.

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors Sponsors help make Read Your World Day possible. Join us!  Get all the details below: 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities:   🏅 Super Platinum Sponsor: Author Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media 🏅 Platinum Sponsors: Language Lizard Bilingual Books in 60 Languages and Jeanne Walker Harvey 🏅 Gold Sponsors: Publisher Spotlight 🏅 Silver Sponsors: Red Comet Press 🏅 Silver Corporate Sponsor:  🏅 Bronze Sponsors: Fabled Films Press 🏅 Corporate Sponsor: Crayola Education    Read Your World is honored to be supported by these Author Sponsors!   Authors: Audrey Barbakoff, Federico Erebia, Teddi Ahrens, Stephanie M. Wildman, Maritza M. Mejia, Authors J.C. Kato and J.C.², Eugenia Chu, Dorktales Storytime Podcast, Josh Funk, Frances Díaz Evans, Gaia Cornwall, Eric Clock, Maria Wen Adcock, Diana Huang, Gwen Jackson, Gea Meijering, Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett, Ismee Williams, Karin Fisher-Golton, Kathleen Burkinshaw, Tami Lehman-Wilzig,  Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, Nancy Tupper Ling, Teresa Robeson, Crystal Z. Lee, Karen Leggett Abouraya, Elly Swartz, Robbin Miller, Shifa Safadi, Tonya Ellis, Lisa Stringfellow, Sylvia Liu, Kimberly Biddle, Robbin Miller, Eric Clock, Tonya Ellis, Nadine Pressley, Natahsa Yim Carter, and Lisa Chong.

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator, and Translator

Member: Read Your World, Board of Trustees,  Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016,  Premio Verso Dorado 2022