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Synopsis
Iguana, Conejo, Tortuga, and Culebra are excited about having a spring party, but only Iguana is willing to do any of the work. Includes a glossary of Spanish words used.
Publishers Weekly
The little red hen goes south of the border-and takes on the guise of an iguana-for this bilingual twist on an old favorite. "On Monday, lunes," Iguana decides to have a fiesta on s bado to celebrate spring. But each day when she asks her friends Conejo (rabbit) and Tortuga (turtle) to help with the preparations-writing the invitations, stuffing the pi ata, etc., they respond, "Yo no. Not I." Culebra (snake) is no better-his pat answer is to flash a friendly smile and promise "If I grow arms tonight, I'll help you ma ana, Iguana." When party day arrives, it's not too hard to guess who isn't on the guest list. But unlike the original tale, Paul (Eight Hands Round) and Long (The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away) don't end the story there. The three lazy friends have a pang of conscience, and while the pooped reptile hostess sleeps, they clean up the party mess. When grateful Iguana offers them leftovers, the response is " Yo si!" Paul's inclusion of Spanish words into the largely English text can be clunky, coming off as a thinly veiled lesson ("Conejo hopped up and down.... Tortuga poked out of his shell"). But the running joke of Culebra's empty promise is a hoot, and Long's cartoons comically play up the three friend's empty-headed idleness (at one point, they're found turning a cactus into a desert equivalent of a snowman), and Iguana's slow boil. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
The little red hen goes south of the border-and takes on the guise of an iguana-for this bilingual twist on an old favorite. "On Monday, lunes," Iguana decides to have a fiesta on s bado to celebrate spring. But each day when she asks her friends Conejo (rabbit) and Tortuga (turtle) to help with the preparations-writing the invitations, stuffing the pi ata, etc., they respond, "Yo no. Not I." Culebra (snake) is no better-his pat answer is to flash a friendly smile and promise "If I grow arms tonight, I'll help you ma ana, Iguana." When party day arrives, it's not too hard to guess who isn't on the guest list. But unlike the original tale, Paul (Eight Hands Round) and Long (The Day My Runny Nose Ran Away) don't end the story there. The three lazy friends have a pang of conscience, and while the pooped reptile hostess sleeps, they clean up the party mess. When grateful Iguana offers them leftovers, the response is " Yo si!" Paul's inclusion of Spanish words into the largely English text can be clunky, coming off as a thinly veiled lesson ("Conejo hopped up and down.... Tortuga poked out of his shell"). But the running joke of Culebra's empty promise is a hoot, and Long's cartoons comically play up the three friend's empty-headed idleness (at one point, they're found turning a cactus into a desert equivalent of a snowman), and Iguana's slow boil. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The title is catchy and the illustrations colorful in this amusing version of The Little Red Hen with a Mexican flavor. Spanish words and phrases are sprinkled throughout in such a way as to promote understanding by context, although there is a glossary in the front of the book. Iguana decides on Monday to plan a party for Saturday to celebrate the arrival of spring. Iguana asks for help with the invitations. She gets the same answer from each one of her three friends and the answer is "Yo no. Not I." This is the answer she gets when asking for help with all the preparations for the big day. Conejo claims that he moves too fast, Tortuga insists that he moves too slow and Culebra offers to help after he grows arms. So, Iguana does everything herself, but when it is time for the party, her three friends want to join in. When she tells them they cannot attend because they never helped, they slink away in embarrassment. They make it up to Iguana after the party when they do all the cleaning up and then she shares the leftovers with them. A nice turn on an old story. 2004, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 8.—Carolyn Mott Ford