Amazon Rene Colato Lainez- My Books Category:  Children Publisher: Arte Publico Press- Piñata Books ISBN-10:  1558853782 Pages: 32 Copyright: May 31, 2005 ISBN-13: 9781558853782 When Rene learns that in the United States his name is also a girl's name, he does some research and relates the name's meaning and letters to his homeland of El Salvador and the things that make him special.

I Am Rene, the Boy
Humorous illustrations, marked by oversized heads, mildly Cubist perspectives and rich pastels, combine with a wry narrative tone to fashion a marvelous look not simply at names shared by boys and girls, but also the transformation required of Spanish-speaking children as they remake themselves into English speakers. Rene the boy, a native El Salvadoran, is taken aback and then relieved to learn the name of the new girl in his class: taken aback that it's pronounced the same as his, relieved that it's spelled Renee. His discomfort leads him to research his name and write about it for a school essay contest, which he wins. The text moves swiftly forward in both English and Spanish, and Rene's essay provides a convincing and pertinent way for the author to point out the strong benefits of being bilingual and bi-national. A winner all-around. -Kirkus Review


I Am Rene, the Boy
This book unmistakably expresses the adventure Rene embarks on, discovering his self-identity while ultimately finding great pride in his name. -Foreword Magazine

Soy René, el niño
Soy René, el niño escrito por René Colato Laínez es un lindo cuento en el cual el personaje principal, René, descubre el significado de su nombre. La llegada de Renee, una nueva estudiante, motiva a René a averiguar los orígenes de su nombre. René afirma su identidad y se da cuenta de cómo sus dos países, El Salvador y los Estados Unidos, han contribuido a su persona. Colato Laínez ha escrito un libro que ayuda a los niños a sentirse orgullosos de quienes son y de donde vienen. -Christianne Meneses Jacobs, Revista Iguana.