The Tongue Twister Tournament by N. Kanellos

Abstract

Kanellos, Nicolás. El Torneo De Trabalenguas = The Tongue Twister Tournament. Illustrated by Anne Vega, Arte Publico Press-Piñata Books, 2016.

This is a children’s picture book that takes the form of a tongue twister competition. Each page introduces a contestant and the tongue twister (in both English and Spanish) that they are reciting in the competition. Sometimes, the translations of the tongue twisters lend themselves to very different meanings depending on the language. On the left page of each pair are the tongue-twisters. On the facing page, a surreal, cartoon-like illustration of the contestant is shown. Each illustration integrates elements of the tongue twister. The illustrations also incorporate visual jokes, especially in the shadows behind each participant. For example, Grumpy Granny, the second competitor, presents a tongue twister about a cat whose “tail was on the wrong end”. The cat in the picture has a normal tail, but the cat in the shadow has a tail on the wrong end. Forte Fortisimo, the strongman competitor reciting a tongue twister about cockroaches has a cockroach as his shadow. The book concludes with an anthology containing tongue twisters in their original languages.

This is an elementary level book that would be useful for language learning, enunciation and elocution practice in both English and Spanish. The tongue twisters would be appropriate for both first and second language learners. Children can have fun trying the tongue twisters themselves, or a class could have its own tongue twister tournament. This kind of interactivity helps children be more engaged in language learning.

I recommend this book for public libraries and elementary school libraries, particularly where there are Spanish speaking populations. 

Highly Recommended: 4 stars out of 4
Reviewer: Stephanie Borle

Stephanie Borle is a University of Alberta student of linguistics who enjoys working with children and new immigrants. She spent a year teaching English as a Second Language in Japan to kindergarten and junior high school students.