Book Review: JUST A MINUTE: A TRICKSTER TALE AND COUNTING BOOK by Yuyi Morales

 

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Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 22, 2013.

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Morales, Yuyi. 2003. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811837583

                A clever tale of Grandma Beetle, who extends her life just a little longer, is found in this story by Pura Belpre Award winner (2004) Yuyi Morales. The plot is advanced, but children will find humor in the skeleton visitor as he seeks to take Grandma, but she replies with repetitive use of the phrase “…just a minute!”  The story allows children to count from one to ten using beautiful, colorful illustrations heavily based in the Mexican culture. Piñatas in bright colors suggest joy and celebration, which is the opposite message one typically associates with the approach of death.

        There is additional bilingualism in the names, while Grandma Beetle is an English language name; the skeleton is named Señor Calavera.  The illustrations of Señor Calavera are heavy in cultural aspect, typical of the images seen in celebration of the Mexican observance of El Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. An excellent resource for use in bilingual story time, children can count along and recognize that Grandma Beetle is like many grandmothers who celebrate birthdays with grandchildren.   

  

         Many children in the United States are bilingual in English and Spanish and may have grandmothers that actually look and speak just like Grandma Beetle.  An entertaining literacy activity can include counting from one to ten in both languages as each child draws a picture of Señor Calavera.  As commented by Catherine Threadgill for the School Library Journal (Books in Print, 2003), the story has “…has as many layers as an onion, and is every bit as savory.”  This flavorful, trickster tale also is the winner of the American Library Association Notable Books for Children (2004).

References:

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 22, 2013.

http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|11543169|8008984&mc=USA

Morales, Yuyi. 2003. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book.  San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780811837583

Book Review: THE THREE PIGS by David Wiesner

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Wiesner, David. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN  9780618007011

                The story The Three Pigs by Caldecott medalist (2002) David Wiesner delivers a magical version of the traditional tale of The Three Pigs. This clever beast tale introduces three pigs who avoid the big, bad wolf by literally exiting the story. While the story is being told, the pigs make separate commentary.  Through the illustrations and text, we see the wolf is unaware of what is taking place. Good triumphs over evil by leaving the story. Pages are left blank, and leave the reader wondering about the adventure. Although the pigs have indeed been threatened by the wolf, there is a sense of humor and comic nature to the words and facial expressions of the pigs.

                In an almost eerie fashion, one page is a close-up of one pig that appears to have “seen” the reader of the story. This adds to the supernatural atmosphere of the tale. The three pigs visit the classic nursery rhyme The Cat and the Fiddle, and the cat escapes his story and joins the pigs. The language of the story is in simple phrases, but when they come across a dragon he speaks in Old English style.  Children of all ages will enjoy the twists and turns of this tale that ends in a happy, albeit peculiar fashion.  The letters of the end of the story are sprinkled about the pages, as if a typewriter had exploded!

                Additional awards for this wonderful story include American Library Association Notable Books for Children (2001), ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award (2002), and School Library Journal Best Books of the Year (2001). Adults and children can appreciate the story, although young children will not quite grasp the nuances of meaning included in some of the comments. A children's activity may include creating a paper airplane, just as the pigs did in the story. Using the practice of narrative skill, they can once again tell how the pigs went flying on their own paper plane. As commented in a School Library Journal review by Wendy Lukehart, "Wiesner has proven that pigs can indeed fly." (Books in Print, 2001).

References:

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 19, 2013.         http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|9003244|6888098&mc=USA

Wiesner, David. (2001). The Three Pigs. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN  9780618007011

Book Review: THE THREE LITTLE JAVELINAS/ LOS TRES PEQUEÑOS JABALÍES by Susan Lowell

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Lowell, Susan. 1996. The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes. Ill. by Jim Harris. Trans. by Northland Publishing. Flagstaff: Luna Rising. ISBN13 9780873586610

                The delightfully diverse variant of The Three Little Pigs titled The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes by Susan Lowell is a bilingual English / Spanish treasure. Illustrated by Jim Harris, the characters come to life as the text and images bring out the culturally diverse region of the Southwestern portion of the United States.  Set in the desert, three javelinas, two male and one female, take separate journeys to create the ideal homestead. Unfortunately, the sinister coyote has another plan. He is looking to have them for a meal!

                The plot is one of humor and cultural encounter, as we join the javelinas in meeting members of the indigenous tribe of the Tohono O’odham or Desert People. The archetype of the big, bad wolf is represented by the coyote, and we find him losing the battle. The two male javelinas have a wise sister, who builds the adobe home where everyone ends up safe and sound.

                Many cultural markers are displayed through language, dress and custom. The woman gives the female javelina some saguaro ribs from the cacti traditionally harvested by the Desert People. Southwestern style clothing is worn by the javelinas with a cowboy hat, boots and even an umbrella to protect from the hot summer afternoon. Also, presenting this story in Spanish reaches the many inhabitants of the United States who speak both English and Spanish, or primarily Spanish as a first language.

                The style is also magical, as the coyote has powers to make himself “thin” and slide down the chimney, and also disguise his voice to sound just like a javelina. Thick with adjectives, the text supports the attention to detail represented in the images. A painting of the classic Mona Lisa hangs in the female javelina’s home, which suggests a bit of European influence. The images and text work together perfectly. As Donna Murray notes in her School Library Journal review, "... rich earthy tones that evoke the setting as faithfully as the text." (Books in Print, 1996).

                Children’s librarians across the state of Texas can entertain and teach children using this elaborate tale. Many have heard the cries of coyotes at dusk, and seen indigenous peoples, and those like the cowboy who speaks Spanish to the little female javelina. The heat of a summer’s day is no stranger to children in Texas, and they will truly enjoy the illustrations of the little javelinas sweating in the desert heat. One literacy activity may involve pointing out the differences between a pig and a javelina. Bringing illustrations of pigs and javelinas can allow for a non-fiction discussion of these related animals.

References:

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 18, 2013.         http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/SearchResults.aspx?q=quicksearch- all%3A[9780873586610]&op=1&qs=1

Lowell, Susan. 1996. The Three Little Javelinas / Los tres pequeños jabalíes. Ill. by Jim Harris. Trans. by Northland Publishing. Flagstaff: Luna Rising. ISBN 9780873586610

Book Review: UNO, DOS, TRES; ONE, TWO, THREE by Pat Mora

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 22, 2013.         http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|11543169|8008984&mc=USA

Mora, Pat. 1996. Uno, dos, tres; One, Two, Three. Ill. by Barbara Lavallee. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN-13   9780395672945

            Pat Mora’s picture book Uno, dos, tres; One, Two, Three is a bilingual, counting story set in a Mexican marketplace. Illustrator Barbara Lavallee uses watercolor images to bring to life lively colors stylized in the fashion of traditional indigenous dress. The backdrop of the setting includes a focus upon the Aztec Sun Stone, and even the people’s faces appear as if dual-colored masks from the ancient Mexican population. There is an allusion to “buying Mamá a sun” and the corresponding Aztec Sun Stone appearing on numerous pages.

            The main characters are two girls clothed in bright red and cool blue-colored dresses. A secondary character is the mother, appearing at the beginning and close of the story. The musicality of the text, as we count in both English and Spanish, is enhanced by the presence of marionettes. The rhythm of the words “five, alive” bring movement to the images. The text alternates between counting in sequence in one language, and mixing the languages together. Alliteration is skillfully used, as the “marching men” are strewn across two pages in intense red, blue and yellow.

            The story appears to be in chronological order, as the two girls travel through the marketplace to buy something for their mother. It contains a closed ending, as the girls bring the gifts to celebrate their mother’s birthday. A comment to note on this picture book’s use strictly for counting is that made by a School Library Journal review stating, “…the items to be counted are difficult to discern” (Books in Print, 2010).

            However, when used as a story time tool in my role with Fort Worth Library, I find pointing out the items to be counted is an effective method of associating the count in both languages with the illustrations. The rhythm used in counting can also be incorporated into a simple children’s song. It has been enjoyed by many children in Fort Worth, and the Early Childhood Matters Division of Fort Worth Library is proud to have some of our photos displayed on Pat Mora’s Web site for Uno, dos, tres; One, Two, Three where our preschool aged children practice their math skills. Celebrating 15 years since it was first published, this bilingual picture book is a valuable asset to any bilingual collection.

Mora, Pat. 1996. Uno, dos, tres; One, Two, Three. Ill. by Barbara Lavallee. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Aztecs at Mexicolore.  Accessed on September 9, 2013. http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/

Books in Print (via TWU Databases). Accessed September 8, 2013. http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2125/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|13738136|1667617&mc=USA

Pat Mora: Author, Presenter, Literacy Advocate. Accessed September 8, 2013. http://www.patmora.com/books/uno-dos-tres/