Reviews
Janye Killelea, Chicago media professional and mom
“Laggie and Grillo” is a sweet story about an unlikely friendship that will delight young readers. It has wonderful messages about kindness and acceptance plus kids will identify with the main character Yoshi and her wish for a pet. Readers will also learn a little bit of Spanish and Yiddish as they follow the story. “Laggie and Grillo” is beautifully illustrated and a perfect book for bedtime or story time especially if your kids love animals.
Mary M
This is a colorful children's book which features Japanese, Spanish, and Yiddish words throughout the story. I love this style of book, and so do my children.
Meg Bouher, Mom and Child Therapist
In Phyllis Schwartz’s newest children’s book, Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship, young Yoshi is assigned to write a poem about something that’s bothering her. She knows just what her subject will be: her parents won’t let her have a pet!
With cheerful assurance she befriends two unique “pets” from her garden and writes a poem about how they become part of her multi-cultural family.
Yoshi’s world is enriched by the language and cultures of her parents and her community. Perhaps that’s why she is determined to help these two very different critters co-exist, and even become fast friends.
Yoshi completes her poem, gets a good grade from her teacher, and her parents agree she’s ready for a pet.
With delightful illustrations by Siska Kalla, Laggie and Grillo; An Unlikely Friendship is a terrific book to read aloud, with words from Japanese, Yiddish, and Spanish. Yoshi — and Phyllis Schwartz— certainly deserve an A+ for this story of joyful and creative optimism!
Jennifer Caveza - Toy Design and Product Design Otis College of Art and Design
Laggie and Grillo is an adorable tale of an unlikely friendship that will delight every critter lover! Phyllis Schwartz has crafted a clever multi-cultural story that introduces children to Japanese, Yiddish and Spanish words in a fun and memorable way.
Kori Chambers, Dad and Anchor WPIX-TV New York
"After reading Laggie and Grillo, my daughter told me she really enjoyed the 'cricket guy.' I really enjoyed the way the story blended cultures—a worthwhile message for any child to hear.”
KAMERON BROOK, REEDSY DISCOVERY
Yoshi wants a pet so badly she befriends some backyard critters who aren’t likely to get along and brings them into her circle of family and friends for fun and frolic.
She aces a school writing assignment in the process by telling the tale in a poem that uses words from all over the world.
LAGGIE AND GRILLO: AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP not only helps children think about the responsibilities of keeping a pet, but also about the importance of helping opposites get along. It’s a multicultural friendship story so full of rhyming fun you’ll want to be a part of it!
Yoshi has been assigned to write a poem revolving around something that is bothering them. Their teacher wants them to use a few words from different cultures. Since Yoshi's dad is Japanese and her mom is Jewish, the little girl understands Japanese and Yiddish and plans to work both languages into the verses. She also plans to incorporate Spanish words, which she learned living in San Diego, a city close to Mexico.
As Yoshi held her pencil to the paper, she knew exactly what she would write about— how her parents wouldn't let her have a pet. The first stanza starts with Yoshi sharing her mom's frustration over being asked about getting a pet. Based on the parents' reaction, I sense it was not the first time the mother heard the request. She warned Yoshi to stop bugging her about it, or Yoshi wouldn't be playing with her friends today. Yoshi didn't understand why she couldn't play with a cute un perrito (Spanish for dog) instead of her Japanese doll (Ningyo). Upset by her mom's response, Yoshi kicked a garden elf (gnome) over and moped around the yard. It was during her moping session that a quick lizard zipped by. She thought if I couldn't have a dog, she would adopt the lizard as her pet.
Laggie, the little garden lizard, was a low-maintenance pet; it nibbled on insects in Yoshi's yard. However, there was one insect that Yoshi preferred that Laggie didn't dine on: the cute cricket or Grillo in Spanish. That night, she took it inside her house to ensure the Lagartigo (Spanish for a small lizard) didn't make Grillo their next un bocadillo (Spanish for a snack). The illustration showing wide-eyed and frazzled Yoshi surrounded by numerous "chirp" words was hilarious. Many people lose sleep to similar unwanted outdoor guests every spring and summer, so many of us can most definitely feel her pain!
Yoshi could've taken Grillo outside and let nature take its course, but instead, she built her two new friends their very own homes. How sweet, and I love the drawings! These two unlikeliest of friends made beautiful music together...literally because she instructed them to create a "Best Friend" song. Funny and cute!
Did Yoshi's poem change her mom's mind about having an indoor pet? Did it earn a perfect score? To find out, be sure to read the book's conclusion. And don't miss the final pages, where you'll find a glossary of all the Spanish, Yiddish, and Japanese words used in the story, their definitions, and their punctuation. Plus, the author has included the Inari Sushi Recipe, a simple and delicious dish that young kids can help an adult make for lunch or dinner!
Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship is more than just a delightful picture book. It's a valuable educational tool that introduces children to several Spanish, Yiddish, and Japanese words. As Yoshi crafts her poem, readers are not only entertained but also enriched with new words and their meanings.