Written by Alma Sanchez Illustrated by Cesar Devera

MARCMARCLearns to Fly

Marc Aprende a Volar

The mission of Read Conmigo is to enrich the learning environment for children by providing parents with tools and resources to improve their families’ reading habits and to foster a lifelong love of reading.

The most valuable gift you can give a child is your time. Reading together in any language lays a foundation for future success. Teachers know that support and involvement from parents pave the way for children to earn good grades.

Read Conmigo is a simple first step. Please accept this invitation to read with your child.

This Read Conmigo book belongs to

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La misión de Read Conmigo es enriquecer el ambiente de aprendizaje para los niños, ofreciendo a los padres las herramientas y los recursos para fomentar el hábito de leer e inculcar el amor por la lectura.

El regalo más valioso que le puede dar a un hijo es su tiempo. Leer juntos, en cualquier idioma, establece la base para un futuro con éxito. Los maestros saben que el apoyo y la participación de los padres ayudan a construir el camino para que los niños obtengan buenas calificaciones.

Read Conmigo es un primer paso, simple, para el éxito. Por favor, acepte esta invitación a leer con su hijo.

Written by Alma SanchezIllustrated by Cesar Devera

Illustrations copyright © 2012 by Cesar DeveraPublished by

Monarca PressInfinity Insurance

PO Box 830189Birmingham, AL 35282-9801

ReadConmigo.org

First Monarca Press edition: May 2012

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review in a newspaper, magazine, or electronic publication; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-0-09854221-5-8

Cover illustration by Cesar DeveraPrinted in the United States of America

MARCMARCLearns to Fly

Marc Aprende a Volar

1

2

On a soft, fuzzy leaf rested a tiny silver egg named Marc. Marc enjoyed be-ing rocked to sleep by the cool breeze. One morning, he awoke to the sound of children’s laughter. Marc peeked outside his egg and discovered that his home was in front of a school.

En una hoja suave, descansaba un huevecillo llamado Marc. Marc disfrutaba ser mecido por la brisa fresca. Una mañana, se despertó al sonido de la risa de unos niños. Marc se asomó afuera de su huevecillo y descubrió que su casa estaba enfrente de una escuela.

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Marc crawled out of his egg. He was so excited. He wiggled his caterpillar feet all around. His stomach was growling, so he started munching on a nearby leaf. It was delicious.

Marc salió de su huevecillo. ¡Estaba tan emocionado! Meneó sus pies de oruga a su alrededor. Su estómago estaba gruñendo de hambre, así que co-menzó a masticar una hoja cercana. ¡Estaba deliciosa!

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After finishing his breakfast, Marc climbed onto the windowsill of the school. He heard the teacher reading a story to the class. It sounded interesting, but he could not understand a single word.

Después de terminar su desayuno, Marc se subió a la ventana de la escuela. Él escuchó a la maestra que le estaba leyendo un cuento a la clase. Le parecía interesante, pero no podía entender ni una sola palabra.

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Then Marc saw a new kind of leaf. It had colors and letters. He took a bite. Soon, he was devouring page after page - book after book. He ate through math problems, science experiments, and history lessons. The more he ate, the more he learned. The more he learned, the more he grew! Now he understood the teacher. Marc felt really smart.

Entonces, Marc vio una hoja diferente. Tenía colores y letras. Le dio una mordida. En poco tiempo, se fue devorando hoja por hoja; libro tras libro. Él se fue comiendo los problemas de matemáticas, experimentos de ciencia, y lecciones de historia. Mientras más comía, más aprendía. Mientras más aprendía, más crecía. Ahora ya podía entender a la maestra. Marc sentía que realmente era muy inteligente.

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Marc liked eating leaves, but he liked book pages even more. He loved pages about animals, cars, rockets and most of all insects. Later that week, a new teacher came to read a special story to the class. Marc was eager to hear the story.

A Marc le gustaba comer hojas, pero prefería comerse las páginas de los li-bros. Le encantaban las páginas acerca de animales, carros, cohetes y sobre todo de insectos. Durante esa semana, una nueva maestra llegó a leer un cuento especial a la clase. Marc estaba ansioso por escuchar el cuento.

11

Cuando terminó de leer el cuento, la maestra colocó el libro sobre la repisa. Determinado a resolver este misterio, Marc se acercó al libro y le dio una mordida. Este libro estaba escrito de una forma diferente. A Marc le encantó el maravilloso sabor nuevo del español. ¡Ahora ya era el doble de grande!

When story time was over, the teacher placed the book on the windowsill. Determined to solve this mystery, Marc crawled over to the book and took a bite. This book was written in a new way. Marc loved the wonderful new flavor of Spanish. Now, he was twice as big!

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Exhausted from all the learning, Marc returned to his leaf to take a nap. He made himself a nice, comfortable chrysalis. Marc slept for a long time. He dreamt about the things he had read about like astronauts and rockets……Oh how he wished he could fly like a rocket.

Agotado por todo el aprendizaje, Marc regresó a su hoja para tomar una siesta. Se hizo una crisálida bonita y cómoda. Marc durmió por un largo tiempo. Soñaba sobre las cosas que había leído como: astronautas y cohetes…¡Ah y como deseaba volar como un cohete!

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When Marc awoke, he opened his chrysalis to let the bright sunlight in. He felt different and lighter. Marc had transformed into a beautiful monarch butterfly! He looked at his new wings and flapped them. He was very happy.

Cuando Marc se despertó, abrió su crisálida para dejar entrar la luz brillante del sol. Él se sintió diferente y más ligero. ¡Marc se había transformado en una hermosa mariposa monarca! Miró sus alas nuevas y las agitó. ¡Estaba muy contento!

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Marc’s dream had come true. He could fly! His wings would take him anywhere.

El sueño de Marc se había hecho realidad. ¡Él podía volar! Sus alas lo llevarían a cualquier lugar.

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tiny egg un huevecillo

caterpillar una oruga

grow crecer

chrysalis una crisálida

monarchbutterfly

una mariposamonarca

tiny egg un huevecillo

caterpillar una oruga

grow crecer

chrysalis una crisálida

ALMA SANCHEz currently resides in Houston, TX with her husband, Juan. They have four remarkable children: Diana, Esther, Johnny and Moises plus two cats. She volunteers as a director for the New Life Kids Ministry at her church. As a homeschooling mom, she has the opportunity to spend valuable time with her children who motivate her to create stories that embrace moral lessons. This book is dedicated to Marc De La Garza who at the young age of twelve inspired others to grow and learn with his positive attitude and zest for life. In April of 2011, Marc passed away. He will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

CESAR DEVERA is a native of Long Beach, California. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in advertising design. He currently works as an advertising designer for a major newspaper in Torrance, CA. His passion as an artist is to recreate nature and life through his pieces. Cesar loves to paint landscapes, still life, and portraits. He has received numerous awards in painting competitions and graphic design.

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When story time was over, the teacher placed the book on the windowsill. Determined to solve this mystery, Marc crawled over to the book and took a bite. This book was written in a new way. Marc loved the wonderful new flavor of Spanish. Now, he was twice as big!

Cuando terminó de leer el cuento, la maestra colocó el libro sobre la repisa. Determinado a resolver este misterio, Marc se acercó al libro y le dio una mordida. Este libro estaba escrito de una forma diferente. A Marc le encantó el maravilloso sabor nuevo del español. ¡Ahora ya era el doble de grande!