Author/Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Plot Summary: A skeleton puts on his tie and hat and rides his bike to a friend's birthday party. On the way, he considers a variety of gifts for her. The gifts are presented in Spanish but he has a hard time deciding which would be the best. He is advised by the friend's dead husband with an interesting turn of events in the end.
Comments: This is a strange story with illustrations that are even more bizarre. As a non-Spanish speaker, this would be a difficult story to read aloud as the Spanish vocabulary used are not commonly used, simple words. Our Spanish teachers would not like it as it has too much English. I would say it is an interesting book despite the Spanish; it would be equally interesting using only the English translations and pictures.
Extensions:
1. This would be an interesting book for a Jackdaw. I would consider gathering the following objects: a fake mustache, a flute made from bamboo, fake teeth, a weight, a skeleton key, a hair bow, a sock puppet, a seed, a vanilla pod, and some herbs.
2. The gift ideas in the book are both tangible and non-tangible. Students would list and/or illustrate items they would like to receive on their next birthday. A distinction would be made between the different types of gifts.
3. Use the Predictions Machine on the author's website and do some of the activities. I thought this was the title of a book but it seems to be an interactive part of the website.
Themes/keywords: birthdays, gifts, ghosts, Spanish language materials, bilingual, alphabet
Age/Reading Level: K-3; Follett - 2.3
Standards:
ELA3R3 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text.
ELA3W1 The student demonstrates competency in the writing process.
ELA3W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.
ELA3C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.
Publisher's Info: Roaring Book Press, New York. 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1-59643-329-8
ISBN-10: 1-59643-329-9
Awards/Review Sources:
| School Library Journal 09/01/08 | Booklist 09/15/08 |
| Horn Book 04/01/09 | Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 12/01/08 |
| Library Media Connection 05/01/09 | Pura Belpre Award/Honor 01/26/09 |
Websites:
Author wins 2009 Pura Belpre Award
Author's website
Latin Baby Book Club Blog. Designed for parents who are raising bi-lingual children
Notes for Booktalk:
Vocabulary: Spanish vocabulary words
Comments