Who would bring the door, la puerta, to a picnic instead of the pig, el puerco? An old man who’s great at gardening but lousy at listening to his wife! “In the universal tradition of the wise-fool story, this gentle disaster tale is funny and affectionate….The combination is great for reading aloud.” — Booklist
Americas
Materials from the Americas
Chato Y Los Amigos Pachangueros
This lively tale of a party-loving barrio cat who throws a surprise celebration for his friend Novio Boy. With a lively text, bold art, and a setting and theme with Latinx flavor, this is an ideal choice for Spanish readers.
Carlos And The Squash Plant / Carlos Y La Planta De Calabaza
Having ignored his mother’s warnings about what will happen if he doesn’t bathe after working on his family’s New Mexican farm, Carlos awakens one morning to find a squash growing out of his ear.
Chato Y Su Cena
To get the “ratoncitos,” little mice who have moved into the barrio, to come to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food: fajitas, frijoles, salsa, enchiladas, and more. Wisely, the mice bring along a canine friend who ensures that Chato eats tortillas and not them for dinner.
La Noche Buena
Nina is visiting her grandmother in Miami for Christmas. Usually she spends it in snowy New England with her mother and her family, but this year is different. She isn’t certain what to make of a hot and humid holiday, until she learns the traditions of her father’s side of the family from her Cuban grandmother. She helps prepare for the evening and takes part in all their traditions—the intricate cooking for the feast, the dancing, the music, and the gathering of relatives and neighbors. It all comes together for a Noche Buena that Nina will never forget. Antonio Sacre and Angela Dominguez have created a wonderful story that everyone who celebrates Christmas will enjoy. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.
Nacho and Lolita
A very rare pitacoche bird falls in love with a swallow and plucks his colorful feathers to transform dry, barren San Juan Capistrano into a haven of flowers and flowing water, which the swallows can easily find when returning from their annual migration.
Sergio Makes a Splash
Even though he loves water, Sergio the penguin is afraid to swim in the deep water until he learns how.
Una Canasta De Cumpleaños Para Tía
With the help and interference of her cat Chica, Cecilia prepares a surprise gift for her great-aunt’s ninetieth birthday.
Lights On The River
Teresa, the young daughter of Mexican American migrant workers, has a hard life but keeps memories of her grandmother and Mexico alive in her heart.
Marta’s Magnets
Marta’s sister Rosa calls her magnet collection junk, but Marta’s magnets help her make friends in her new home and help her retrieve a lost key for Rosa’s new friend.