Ifiesta!

Here's a counting and vocabulary book that, in a refreshing twist, teaches in English and Spanish. In a south-of-the-border setting, a group of children make their way around a village gathering items for a party (""fiesta""). From ""Una canasta/ One basket"" to ""Cinco trompos/ Five tops"" and ""Diez serpentinas/ Ten streamers,"" the correct number of objects can be counted in each picture, while the text on the facing page asks, "" Que mas?/ What else?"" The familiar, limited number of items--and vocabulary words--makes it all the more likely that children will absorb the language and counting lessons, although the absence of a pronunciation guide may hamper some would-be polyglots. Moreno's (The Pocket Book) pastel, watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations afford an idyllic, soft-lensed view of frolicking children, kindly merchants and such atmospheric elements as mariachis and an open-air market. The pictures also add a story to the counting/vocabulary class: all the objects go into the creation of a pinata, which explodes ("" Pau!/ Crack!"") in a jubilant party scene at the end. Ole! Ages 5-up. (Aug.)