Morales, Yuyi, Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, Chronicle Books, 2003, 30 pgs.
Summary: It is the day of Grandma Beetle’s and she has much to do. Death has a different idea when he comes knocking early in the morning. Grandma Beetle is determined to have her birthday party though so she insists she will go with Death right after she sweeps uno (1) house. Death agrees, thinking he has a little extra time. He is in for a big surprise when Grandma Beetle continues on counting off the different tasks she must do before she can go with Death. Death begins to get very impatient and angry until he realizes he is the diez (10th) guest at the birthday party. Did Grandma Beetle’s trick work or will Death still insist that she join him after the party?
Evaluation: I can see why this won an illustrator award. The pictures are so warm and colorful. Even the depiction of death, although a haunting skeleton, is almost comical and made me laugh. The Hispanic and Mexican culture is so rich in color that the colors literally popped off the page so this story was just as much a visual experience as it was literary. I can see how this would be a fun book to read out loud at a story time or with a group of young children.
Annotation: What would you do if Death came knocking at your door? It is as easy as counting to ten.
Significance of Book: This book is significant because it not only highlights another language, but also another culture and its traditions. The format is fun and playful, but still teaches a lot about another culture.
Genre/subject: fiction, folklore, culture, counting
Awards:
National:
· ALA Notable Children's Books: 2004
· Americas Book Award: 2003
· Pura Belpre Illustrator Award: 2004
· Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award: 2003
State:
· Nevada: Young Readers' Award Nominees: 2006
Why I selected the book: I selected this book because the youth librarian in my library system recommended it and because it was one of the few Pura Belpre award winners in the collection.
Price: $15.99
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