Monday, April 23, 2012

Children's Book Review: The Three Little Tamales

The Three Little Tamales
The Three Little Tamales
Written by: Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrated by: Valeria Docampo
Published by: Marshall Cavendish Children, 2009

from goodreads.com:
While three little tamales cool off on a windowsill, a tortilla rolls by. "You'll be eaten. You'd better run," he tells them. And so the tamales jump out the window. The first runs to the prairie and builds a house of sagebrush. The second runs to a cornfield and builds a house of cornstalks. The third runs to the desert and builds a house of cactus. Then who should come along but Senor Lobo, the Big Bad Wolf, with plans to blow their houses down. Valeria Docampo's oil-and-pencil illustrations add zest and humor to this rollicking southwestern version of a popular tale.

* If your children are familiar with the tale of The Three Little Pigs then they will probably enjoy this Mexican variation.  This story takes place in Texas, where three little tamales run away from a tacqueria to avoid being eaten.  Each tamale built a house out of a different material and lived happily until Senor Lobo, the Big Bad Wolf, came around, looking for some dinner.  I enjoyed the addition of Spanish words, with an included definition, in the text.  The kids enjoyed it and were able to recognize that it was similar to The Three Little Pigs.  Kimmel is the author of over eighty children's books.  We will definitely be checking out more of his stories!

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.

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