Book Review: Cuando Amamos Cantamos by Ernesto Javier Martinez

Cuando Amamos Cantamos: When We Love Someone We Sing to Them
by Ernesto Javier Martinez (j466.3 Mar)

I pulled out this bilingual book to recommend for the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday. I am a big fan of Maya Christina Gonzalez’ books, and this one makes for a beautiful collaboration between Gonzalez as illustrator alongside author Ernesto Javier Martinez. A father teaches his son about how serenades are sung to those we love. The young boy realizes he has loving feeling towards his new friend (who is another young boy). It’s a lovely story of family acceptance. Author and professor Ernesto Javier Martinez also made a short film of this same story.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Sing, Don’t Cry by Angela Dominguez, What You Don’t Know by Anastasia Higginbotham, Call Me Tree by Maya Christina Gonzalez, Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez Neal or Julián is a Mermaid by Jessica Love.)

 

( official When We Love Someone We Sing to Them page on the official Ernesto Javier Martinez web site )

 

Recommended by Naomi S.
Eiseley Branch Library

 

Have you read or listened to this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

DVD Review: All My Life

All My Life

(DVD All)

 

If you pay any attention to trending romance stories in pop culture, you may have heard about the experience of Jennifer Carter and Solomon Chou, whose friends and family initiated a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to help them pay for their wedding and honeymoon, after Sol was diagnosed with inoperable cancer only months before their original wedding was to have taken place.

 

All My Life tells their story. Jessica Rothe plays Jenn and Harry Shum Jr. plays Sol, with an extensive cast of supporting actors as their friends, co-workers and physicians. The film telescopes some of the real-life events in the couples’ life, shortening the timeframe of some of the actual events. Yet, the feel of the film isn’t rushed. Rothe and Shum have marvelous chemistry as the ill-fated couple, with Rothe particularly shining, the more stress she’s placed under.

 

Despite the sad ending that most viewers should know is coming, this was an uplifting and life-affirming movie. I enjoyed it very much and give it a strong recommendation!

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official All My Life Facebook page ]

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Services

 

Have you watched this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide Blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewer’s recommendations!

New Lincoln Community Playhouse Booklist - Almost, Maine

 

In November, the Lincoln Community Playhouse featured a production of John Cariani's play "Almost, Maine". Unfortunately, the run was interrupted by increases in local cases of COVID-19, and they hope to return to complete the remaining performances sometime in early 2021. The following recommended reading/listening/viewing list was prepared by library staff to accompany this production.

Check out the list of books, CDs, and DVDs recommended at the following link: 

Almost, Maine -- Recommended Reading Booklist

Love You When... by Linda Kranz

Love You When… by Linda Kranz [jP Kranz] 

This is a lovely little juvenile picture book, which should also appeal to adults who appreciate creativity. Linda Kranz is a children’s book illustrator who specializes in using painted rocks in her art. In the case of Love You When…, she has assembled a series of inspirational pages filled with photos of heart-shaped rocks, some just in their natural appearance, and others painted. Each page is a work of art, with an upbeat statement about loving someone under any types of circumstances.
The images in Love You When… reminded my wife and myself of one of our trips to San Francisco, and the various “Heart” statues that were on display throughout the city (much like Lincoln’s bicycles, stars, lightbulbs and hearts). We also both look for small heart-shaped rocks and stones, on hiking trails, lakesides, and bike paths. Knowing how rare it is to find such uniquely-shaped items, I can appreciate how much effort Kranz went to in order to assemble the beautiful images in this book. If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up, and can appreciate an artist’s use of natural objects in telling a story, both my wife and I recommend this charming little book!

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try some of Linda Kranz’s other books, of which the libraries own Only One You, and Let’s Rock: Rock Painting for Kids.] [ official Love You When… page on the official Linda Kranz web site ]

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library and

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month. Click the tag for the reviewer's name to see more of this reviewers recommendations!