Synopses & Reviews
In this new cooking poem, Jorge Argueta brings us a fun and easy recipe for a yummy salsa. A young boy and his sister gather the ingredients and grind them up in a molcajete, just like their ancestors used to do, singing and dancing all the while. The children imagine that their ingredients are different parts of an orchestra and#8212; the tomatoes are bongos and kettledrums, the onion, a maraca, the cloves of garlic, trumpets and the cilantro, the conductor. They chop and then grind these ingredients in the molcajete, along with red chili peppers for the and#8220;hotnessand#8221; that is so delicious, finally adding a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of salt. When they are finished, their mother warms tortillas and their father lays out plates, as the whole family, including the cat and dog, dance salsa in mouth-watering anticipation.
Winner of the International Latino Book Award for Guacamole, Jorge Argueta's text is complemented by the rich, earthy illustrations of Duncan Tonatiuh, winner of the Pura Belprand#233; Award. His interest in honoring the art of the past in contemporary contexts is evident in these wonderful illustrations, which evoke the pre-Columbian Mixtec codex.
Review
"Ya tengo listos cuatro tomates.
Son bongos y timbales.
La cebolla es una maraca.
Los ajos son trompetas
y el cilantro un director de orquesta
con su pelo verde todo despeinado.
I am ready with four tomatoes.
They are bongos and kettledrums.
The onion is a maraca.
Cloves of garlic are trumpets,
and the cilantro is the orchestra conductor
with his shaggy, green hair."and#160;and#8212; from the book
Review
"Music, dancing and food unite in this giddy bilingual whirl." andmdash; Kirkus Reviews
Review
"A completely satisfying offering. A delectable work of art perfect for food-themed, bilingual, and Dand#237;a story times." and#151; School Library Journal, starred review
"Music, dancing and food unite in this giddy bilingual whirl." and#151; Kirkus Reviews
"In earthly tones of browns, greens, and reds, the energy surges through every page, inspiring your own chefs-to-be toward savory delights. Of course, youand#8217;ll want to join in!" and#151; BookDragon
"[The] important message of love and family gathering to create something special shines through." andmdash; Horn Book
About the Author
Jorge Argueta is an award-winning author of picture books and poetry for young children. He has won the International Latino Book Award, the Amand#233;ricas Book Award, the NAPPA Gold Award and the Independent Publisher Book Award for Multicultural Fiction for Juveniles. His books have also been named to the Amand#233;ricas Award Commended List, the USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List, Kirkus Reviews Best Childrenand#8217;s Books and the Cooperative Childrenand#8217;s Book Center Choices. A native Salvadoran and Pipil Nahua Indian,and#160;he spent much of his life in rural El Salvador. He now lives in San Francisco, California.
Duncan Tonatiuh is an author and illustrator of several highly acclaimed books for young readers, including Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin, Diego Rivera: His World and Ours and Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrantand#8217;s Tale. His most recent book is Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Familyand#8217;s Fight for Desegregation. He has won the Pura Belprand#233; Illustration Award (and three honorable mentions), the Tomand#225;s Rivera Mexican American Childrenand#8217;s Book Award (twice), and his books are among the Amand#233;ricas Award Commended Titles and Notable Books for a Global Society. He lives in San Miguel Allende, Mexico.and#160;Elisa Amado lives in Toronto.