The Island Rescue - Book Review

Bilingual award-winning author Minda Gomez has imaginatively created another intriguing, fast-paced adventure children's book, The Island Rescue. It is an addition to her series, Martinez Kids Adventures. The author, who is also a talented artist, brings the book to life with her vibrant illustrations, enhancing both the plot and the characters. 

Gomez skillfully incorporates a family of five and their eccentric neighbor, Don Tono, who is a secret scientist, into a compelling story involving enhanced virtual reality through magic sunglasses. Within the story, she uses a modern twist on Spanish language inclusion. The book provides a handy vocabulary list to help non-Spanish speakers quickly understand and pronounce Spanish words used in the story. In addition, names are phonetically pronounced to make reading aloud easier for children.

The tale begins with the Martinez children, Rico, Diego, and little sister, Araceli, in a virtual world as snowy owls of the Arctic. Returning to reality and their home, they are confronted with a serious problem when a friend, Dona Rosa, is trapped in a mysterious shed used by the top-secret scientist, Don Tono, who is believed to have gone to Ecuador and can't be reached.

With the help of magic sunglasses, the three children, in animal form, search for their Don Tono, the scientist, to learn the code to open his shed and rescue Dona Rosa. The children encounter penguins, lizards, a blue-footed booby bird, and iguanas, as well as tortoises who speak to them. While enjoying the illustrated, intriguing story, readers will learn about the tropical islands and the characteristics of the strange animals. The children encounter many situations that challenge their sense of values and understanding of others. Finally, as fate has it, they rescue two friends instead of just one.

Envision this book being read aloud to children and leading to discussions about language, values of courage, loyalty, sportsmanship, selflessness, multicultural families, and the bonus of geography lessons.  Add some unusual animals, many only briefly seen in a zoo. Adults and children learning Spanish will appreciate the chart of Spanish vocabulary with the English translation and a pronunciation guide. Independent Spanish language readers will be fascinated to find a book that includes their native language.

 Additional bonus features are a Mexican birthday song, a recipe for a Mexican fruit punch, and an online guide for discussion.

This enjoyable book joins the author's previous books, The Secret Door and The Arctic Quest. Readers will anxiously anticipate more books in the series.  "The Island Rescue" is an adorable, captivating story with vibrant illustrations that captivate your senses and immerse you and your child in a surprisingly educational and thrilling adventure.