Tortuga in Trouble


Author/Illustrator: Ann Whitford Paul/Ethan Long

Plot Summary: A "bi-lingual" rendition of "Little Red Riding Hood" featuring a turtle carrying a basket on his back. His friends help by following him through the desert to his grandmother's(abuela) and scaring away the big bad coyote.

Comments: A glossary of the Spanish vocabulary used in the book is provided at the beginning. This is helpful as the Spanish wording of the book is not always intuitive. I also thought the illustrations were visually distracting on some pages.

Extensions:
1. Read this book and a more traditional telling of "Little Red Riding Hood." Students will identify the differences either as a class - for younger children, or on paper as a writing or drawing assignment for older children.
2. The book will be read as a way to introduce children to Mexican food. Tamales, salad, and flan would be served.
3. A classroom activity guide is available here for this book as well as the other three books in this series. It looks great !!

Themes/keywords: fairy tales, turtle, desert animals, grandmothers, bilingual

Age/Reading Level: K-3; ATOS - 1.8; Follett - 2.1

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.

See similar standards for first and second grade.


Publisher's Info: Holiday House, New York. 2009

ISBN-13: 978-0-8234-2180-0
ISBN-10: 0-8234-2180-5


Awards/Review Sources:

Wilson's Children 07/01/09

School Library Journal 02/01/09

Booklist 05/01/09

Horn Book 03/01/09

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 03/01/09

Library Media Connection 10/01/09


Genre/Dewey: K-3; Easy/Everybody

Websites:
Author's website and Activity Guide

Notes for Booktalk: There are ideas in the activity guide.

Vocabulary: Spanish vocabulary listed in a glossary at the beginning of the book.

Comments

Unknown said…
I really like the idea of acting out this story. Just like Cinderella, nearly every country has a version of Little Red Riding Hood, so most of your children would have some advance knowledge of that story.
Unknown said…
I really like the idea of acting out this story. Just like Cinderella, nearly every country has a version of Little Red Riding Hood, so most of your children would have some advance knowledge of that story.