NONFICTION - ELEMENTARY

Tay Naja Nitajtaketzki Achtu Tik Nawat: Mis Primeras Palabras en ­Nahuat/My First Words in Nahuat‌

by Jorge Argueta (text) & illus. by El Aleph ­Sánchez
Groundwood. Apr. 2026. 60p. tr. from from ­Spanish by Juan Valentin Ramírez ­García & ­Elizabeth Bell . Tr $21.99. ISBN 9781773067810. Gr 2-5
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Gr 2-5–In this collection, poems are used to share the beauty and wonder of the ­Nahuat‌ language and celebrate its history and culture through the eyes of a young child sharing the first words he learned from his grandmother. The text features English, Spanish, and Nahuat. The artwork evokes a sense of culture and places readers where the Nahuat language is revered as a part of nature and daily life. It seems reminiscent of Spanish mosaics with natural depictions of people and bright colors in watercolor paintings. The English version of the poetry is in verse and has a free-flowing tone. The back matter includes a glossary in all three ­languages.
VERDICT A must-purchase for the elementary shelves, offering aspects of under-represented ­languages and cultures for well-rounded collections.
Reviewed by Molly Dettmann , Feb 01, 2026

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