Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems

Los Ángeles Andan en Bicicleta y otros poemas del otoño
By Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Gonzalez
Paperback: $11.95

Following the success of their award-winning book of spring poems, Laughing Tomatoes, and their acclaimed collection of summer poems, From the Bellybutton of the Moon, poet Francisco Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to experience fall in Los Angeles-the City of Angels-where dreams can come true.

Description

In the poet’s whimsical imagination, mariachis play like angels, angels ride bikes, and the earth dances the cha-cha-chá. Alarcón celebrates the simple joys and trials of everyday life: a visit to the outdoor market, the arrival of the ice cream vendor, the first day of school. He honors his family and pays tribute to his mother, who taught him that with hard work and education he could realize his dreams.

Maya Christina Gonzalez’s spirited images perfectly complement each poem, bringing to life the people and places in Alarcón’s childhood.

About the Creators

Francisco X. Alarcón
Francisco X. Alarcón

Francisco X. Alarcón was a renowned poet and educator, and a three-time winner of the Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for his bilingual Magical Cycle of the Seasons series of poetry for children. His many other honors include the American Book Award, the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, the Chicano Literary Prize, and finalist for state poet laureate of California. Alarcón was also the author of several poetry collections for adults and textbooks for teaching Spanish. In addition, he directed the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California. Alarcón passed away in early 2016.

Maya Gonzalez

Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children’s book artist, author, activist and progressive educator. Their work addresses systemic inequity in relation to race/ethnicity, sexism, and cissexism using children’s books as radical agents of change and healing, both personally and culturally. Gonzalez co-founded Reflection Press, a POC, queer and trans owned independent publishing house that uses holistic, nature-based, and anti-oppression frameworks in their books and materials for kids and grown-ups. They are also the creator of the Gender Wheel, a tool to express the dynamic, infinite and inclusive reality of gender, and provides lectures and workshops to educators, parents and caregivers. Visit them online at mayagonzalez.com.

Awards

  • Américas Award

    Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs

Reviews

  • "Welcome this new collection and then await the winter addition to complete the seasonal quartet."

    - Booklist

Paperback

  • ISBN 9780892391981
  • Publication Date Apr 01, 2013
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 8 in
  • Weight 0.3125 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Word Count 946
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / Poetry
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Family / Multigenerational
  • Themes Bilingual, Biography / Memoir, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Coping with Death, Courage, Cultural Diversity, Dreams & Aspirations, Families, Friendship, Games / Toys, Grandparents, Home, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Imagination, Immigration, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Neighbors, Nonfiction, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Overcoming Obstacles, Poetry, Pride, Religion / Spiritual, Siblings, Weather / Seasons / Clothing
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 7 - 11
  • Grade Range Grades 2 - 6
  • Guided Reading O
  • ATOS Book Level 4.7
  • DRA 34
  • Interest Level Grades 2 - 6
  • Lexile Code NP
  • Reading Level Grades 3 - 4
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 36
      Fluent Bilingual
      Collection of 36 books: $425.20

      Uncle Nacho's Hat / El sombrero del Tío Nacho

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A classic Nicaraguan folktale: when Ambrosia gives her Uncle Nacho a new hat, he tries to get rid of his old one, but to no avail.

      Animal Poems of the Iguazú / Animalario del Iguazú

      let's listen to / the green voice / of the rainforest

      The animals of the Iguazú speak for themselves, creating a collection of poems that will resonate with readers of all ages.

      Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado

      Having crossed the Rio Grande into Texas with his mother in search of a new life, Joaquín receives help and friendship from Prietita a brave young Mexican American girl.

      From North to South / Del Norte al Sur

      Bilingual English/Spanish. This nuanced picture book tackles the difficult and timely subject of family separation and deportation.

      Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes / Los perros mágicos de los volcanes

      Whenever Salvadoran people gather to tell stories, someone will have a story about the magic dogs called cadejos.

      My Papa Diego and Me / Mi papá Diego y yo

      "When most people think of my father, Diego Rivera, they think of him as a famous painter... His hard work, dedication, and talent taught me that if you work hard at your passion, you can achieve your dreams."

      Guadalupe Rivera Marín had a very unusual childhood, growing up among world famous artwork. Her papá, Diego Rivera, was a larger-than-life figure who created unforgettable images of working people, of life in Mexico, of industrial machines and flowers. But Diego Rivera also loved to paint children, and you'll find them inside the pages of this book, along with lessons and wisdom he passed along to his eldest daughter.

      Guadalupe Rivera Marín shares some of her childhood memories of the world-renowned artist who also happened to be her papá. Her recollections are tender, humorous, and unexpected. This intimate artistic portrait will delight readers, from the youngest art lovers to Diego Rivera's biggest fans.

      Nana's Big Surprise / Nana, ¡Qué Sorpresa!

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Amada and her brothers try to comfort their grandmother, Nana, who has come to stay with them in the US from Mexico after abuelo passes away.

      Prietita and the Ghost Woman / Prietita y la llorona

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Gloria Anzaldúa uniquely reinterprets the famous Mexican legend of la Llorona.

      Antonio's Card / La tarjeta de Antonio

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A tender story about a boy struggling to express his love for his mother and her partner in a nontraditional family.

      Xochitl and the Flowers / Xóchitl, la Niña de las Flores

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Miles away from their home in El Salvador, Xochitl (SOH-cheel) and her family make a new home in the United States, but nothing is the same.

      Featherless / Desplumado

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Award-winning children's book author and poet Juan Felipe Herrera offers a story of self-empowerment and friendship.

      Birthday in the Barrio / Cumpleaños en el Barrio

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In this second book by author Mayra Lazara Dole, lively determined Chavi sets off on yet another Miami adventure.

      Drum, Chavi, Drum! / ¡Toca, Chavi, Toca!

      Who says girls can't play drums? The beat of Chavi's congas livens up her entire neighborhood. When she's not picked to drum in Miami's Calle Ocho festival, she decides to do something about it!

      Soledad Sigh-Sighs / Soledad suspiros

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A picture book about eight-year-old Soledad, a latchkey child whose friends come up with an imaginative solution to make Soledad feel less lonely when she gets home from school.

      The Adventures of Connie and Diego / Las aventuras de Connie y Diego

      Bilingual English/Spanish. This folktale follows Connie and Diego who, tired of being teased, set out to find a new home and encounter all different animals along the way.

      The Invisible Hunters / Los Cazadores Invisibles

      A magical tale portraying the crucial first moments of contact between an indigenous culture and the outside word.

      Pie-Biter

      Trilingual English, Spanish, and Chinese. In the nineteenth century, a young Chinese comes to the United States to work on the railroad and develops a fondness for pies that becomes legendary.

      A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Young Jorgito has come to live in the Mission District of San Francisco, but he hasn't forgotten the unique beauty of El Salvador.

      Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. From the imagination of poet Francisco X. Alarcón comes Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems, a playful and moving collection of twenty poems in English and Spanish.

      Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems

      Following the success of their award-winning book of spring poems, Laughing Tomatoes, and their acclaimed collection of summer poems, From the Bellybutton of the Moon, poet Francisco Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to experience fall in Los Angeles-the City of Angels-where dreams can come true.

      Calling the Doves / El canto de las palomas

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Calling the Doves is Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera's story of his migrant farmworker childhood.

      Family Pictures / Cuadros de familia

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In this Pura Belpré Honor-winning book, Carmen Lomas Garza tells the story of her childhood growing up in Kingsville, TX.

      From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. From the Bellybutton of the Moon is renowned poet Francisco X. Alarcón's collection of 22 poems inspired by his touching recollections of childhood summers in Mexico.

      Grandma and Me at the Flea / Los Meros Meros Remateros

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Every Sunday, Juanito helps his grandmother sell old clothes beneath the rainbow-colored tents at the remate, the flea market.

      Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In their final collection of seasonal poetry, poet Francisco X. Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to celebrate winter-by the seashore, in the magic city of San Francisco, and in the ancient redwood forests of the Sierras.

      In My Family / En mi familia

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In My Family/En mi familia is Carmen Lomas Garza's second book of family pictures, a continuing tribute to the loving family and community that shaped her childhood-and her life.

      It Doesn't Have To Be This Way / No tiene que ser así

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Monchi likes to write poems, hang out with his cousin Dreamer, and tell stories to his uncle, Tío Rogelio, until one day, a member of the local gang tells him it's time to join up.

      Angel's Kite / La estrella de Angel

      By award-winning Mexican author Alberto Blanco, comes the story of how a young kite maker mysteriously brings back the missing church bell to his beloved town.

      Let Me Help! / ¡Quiero ayudar!

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Perico learns this phrase from little Martita, who's been saying it a lot lately. When the whole family scrambles to prepare for Cinco de Mayo, Perico knows there must be some way he can help-even if he is just a parrot.

      My Diary from Here to There / Mi diario de aqui hasta allá

      Bilingual English/Spanish. One night, young Amada overhears her parents whisper of moving from Mexico to the other side of the border- to Los Angeles, where greater opportunity awaits.

      Magic Windows / Ventanas mágicas

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Through the magic windows of her cut-paper art, Carmen shows us her family, her life as an artist, and the legends of her Aztec past.

      The Harvest Birds / Los pájaros de la cosecha

      Bilingual English/Spanish. The zanate birds advise Juan to keep the weeds around his land and to plant beans, squash, and corn together.

      The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A bilingual biography of Pura Belpré, New York City's first Latina librarian.

      The Upside Down Boy / El niño de cabeza

      Bilingual English/Spanish. The Upside Down Boy is award-winning poet Juan Felipe Herrera's engaging memoir of the year his migrant family settled down so that he could go to school for the first time.

      The Woman Who Outshone the Sun / La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A legend of Lucia Zenteno, who is part of the oral history of the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico.

      Where Fireflies Dance / Ahi, donde bailan las luciérnagas

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In her first book for children, award-winning author Lucha Corpi remembers her childhood growing up in Jáltipan, Mexico, where the moon hung low and the fireflies flickered in the night air.

      204 in stock

    • 45
      Latin American Spanish/Bilingual PreK-2
      Collection of 45 books: $610.75

      Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes / Los perros mágicos de los volcanes

      Whenever Salvadoran people gather to tell stories, someone will have a story about the magic dogs called cadejos.

      Uncle Nacho's Hat / El sombrero del Tío Nacho

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A classic Nicaraguan folktale: when Ambrosia gives her Uncle Nacho a new hat, he tries to get rid of his old one, but to no avail.

      A Movie in My Pillow / Una película en mi almohada

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Young Jorgito has come to live in the Mission District of San Francisco, but he hasn't forgotten the unique beauty of El Salvador.

      Where Fireflies Dance / Ahi, donde bailan las luciérnagas

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In her first book for children, award-winning author Lucha Corpi remembers her childhood growing up in Jáltipan, Mexico, where the moon hung low and the fireflies flickered in the night air.

      Moony Luna / Luna, Lunita Lunera

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A loving tale about a young girl afraid to go to school for the first time.

      Bajo la luna de limón

      In Spanish. When she and her pet hen, Blanca, investigate, they see a man leaving with a large sack-full of fruit from Rosalinda's beloved lemon tree.

      Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. From the imagination of poet Francisco X. Alarcón comes Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems, a playful and moving collection of twenty poems in English and Spanish.

      Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems

      Following the success of their award-winning book of spring poems, Laughing Tomatoes, and their acclaimed collection of summer poems, From the Bellybutton of the Moon, poet Francisco Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to experience fall in Los Angeles-the City of Angels-where dreams can come true.

      From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. From the Bellybutton of the Moon is renowned poet Francisco X. Alarcón's collection of 22 poems inspired by his touching recollections of childhood summers in Mexico.

      Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In their final collection of seasonal poetry, poet Francisco X. Alarcón and artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invite us to celebrate winter-by the seashore, in the magic city of San Francisco, and in the ancient redwood forests of the Sierras.

      Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado

      Having crossed the Rio Grande into Texas with his mother in search of a new life, Joaquín receives help and friendship from Prietita a brave young Mexican American girl.

      Armando y la escuela de lona azul

      In Spanish. The story of a young Mexican boy living in a colonia (trash dump community) who takes the first steps toward realizing his dream of getting an education.

      Quinito's Neighborhood / El Vecindario de Quinito

      Join Quinito as he introduces the people and places of his neighborhood.

      Birthday in the Barrio / Cumpleaños en el Barrio

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In this second book by author Mayra Lazara Dole, lively determined Chavi sets off on yet another Miami adventure.

      The Upside Down Boy / El niño de cabeza

      Bilingual English/Spanish. The Upside Down Boy is award-winning poet Juan Felipe Herrera's engaging memoir of the year his migrant family settled down so that he could go to school for the first time.

      Nana's Big Surprise / Nana, ¡Qué Sorpresa!

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Amada and her brothers try to comfort their grandmother, Nana, who has come to stay with them in the US from Mexico after abuelo passes away.

      ¡Qué sorpresa de cumpleaños!

      A Mexican American girl looks for the perfect birthday gift for her sister and ends up with a big surprise of her own. In Spanish.

      Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico! Brotes de las Américas

      A collection of haiku focusing on fourteen foods native to the Americas, celebrating the fun of the foods as well as their origins.

      The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A bilingual biography of Pura Belpré, New York City's first Latina librarian.

      Finding the Music / En pos de la música

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In this cheerful book, a determined Latina girl accidentally breaks her grandfather's vihuela and ventures into her community to find someone who can fix the instrument, leading her to discover his legacy as a mariachi player.

      Our Celebración!

      A delightful rhyming romp through the festivities of a small town's summer parade and celebration, written in English with Spanish words sprinkled throughout.

      Rainbow Weaver / Tejedora del arcoíris

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala.

      Arrorró, mi niño

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A book of Latino lullabies and games, inspired by the author's own childhood in Puerto Rico.

      El camino de Amelia

      A girl from a migrant worker family overcomes the hardship of moving by creating a special place for herself in this Spanish picture book.

      Say Hola to Spanish at the Circus

      The creators of the award-winning Say Hola to Spanish and Say Hola to Spanish Otra Vez (Again!) return for a third time with more fun and inventive ways to learn Spanish.

      Say Hola to Spanish Otra Vez (Again!)

      With its lively illustrations and humorous verse, this companion volume to the acclaimed Say Hola to Spanish makes language learning a fun activity for the whole family.

      Say Hola to Spanish

      Full of fun rhyming verse, this book helps readers begin to learn Spanish.

      Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina

      Mismatched and fabulous Marisol McDonald celebrates her Peruvian and Scottish heritage.
      Bilingual English/Spanish.

      Marisol McDonald and the Clash Bash / Marisol McDonald y la fiesta sin igual

      In the follow-up to the Pura Belpré Award Honor-winning Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald No Combina, everyone's favorite mismatched heroine turns eight and throws a fabulously mismatched party.

      Marisol McDonald and the Monster / Marisol McDonald y el monstruo

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Free-spirited Marisol confronts her fear of monsters and unfamiliar nighttime noises.

      Mamá the Alien / Mamá la extraterrestre

      Bilingual English/Spanish. In this lighthearted bilingual immigration story, a young girl sees the word alien on her mother's Resident Alien card and concludes that her mother is from another planet--until the girl finds out that the word has more than one meaning.

      ¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z! Descubriendo el bosque nublado / Olinguito, from A to Z! Unveiling the Cloud Forest

      Using the framework of the Spanish alphabet, this bilingual nonfiction book introduces readers to a cloud forest in the Andes; the plants, animals, and other organisms found there; and the newly-identified olinguito, a South American mammal.

      El tapiz de Abuela

      In Spanish. A girl in Guatemala learns about family tradition and trust from her grandmother.

      Estela en el mercado de pulgas

      In Spanish. A Mexican American girl learns to value the act of giving when she attends her first swap meet.

      Poems to Dream Together

      A bilingual collection of poetry by acclaimed Chicano poet Francisco X. Alarcón celebrating family, community, nature, and the positive power of dreams to shape our future.

      Primer día en las uvas

      In Spanish. The powerful story of a migrant boy who grows in self-confidence when he uses his math prowess to stand up to the school bullies.

      Baby Rattlesnake / Viborita de Cascabel

      Bilingual English/Spanish. A Native American (Pawnee) tale of family love and forgiveness.

      Featherless / Desplumado

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Award-winning children's book author and poet Juan Felipe Herrera offers a story of self-empowerment and friendship.

      Gracias • Thanks

      In a series of poetic sentences, a young boy (biracial Mexican/Caucasian) tells about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful.

      Gracias te damos

      In Spanish. A traditional Iroquois celebration of the beauty and spirit of Mother Earth, as told by a contemporary Mohawk chief.

      Drum, Chavi, Drum! / ¡Toca, Chavi, Toca!

      Who says girls can't play drums? The beat of Chavi's congas livens up her entire neighborhood. When she's not picked to drum in Miami's Calle Ocho festival, she decides to do something about it!

      Let Me Help! / ¡Quiero ayudar!

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Perico learns this phrase from little Martita, who's been saying it a lot lately. When the whole family scrambles to prepare for Cinco de Mayo, Perico knows there must be some way he can help-even if he is just a parrot.

      Maya's Blanket

      Bilingual English/Spanish. Based on a Yiddish folk song, a young girl's cherished baby blanket becomes old and worn over time and she finds new ways to use it as she grows up.