Starred review from April 28, 2014
Elya remains a master at blending Spanish and English to create clever, lively verse, and she and Guevara give the story of Little Red Riding Hood an entertaining and thoroughly modern spin. Roja’s mother is busy watching telenovelas, so she sends her daughter to deliver sopa to her ailing Abuela. Riding on an ATV, Roja meets a wolf (“¡Cuidado! !Cuidado!” wail the forest birds in a kind of Greek chorus), who beats her to Abuela’s house. Guevara tucks fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters throughout her watercolor-and-gouche paintings, and Roja’s tech-driven solution to prevent future break-ins will leave readers smiling. Ages 5–8. Illustrator’s agent: Kendra Marcus, BookStop Literary Agency.
March 1, 2014
Elya presents a modern twist on a familiar fairy tale in her signature style using rhyming, predominantly English text that skillfully incorporates Spanish words and phrases. Red travels through the woods to take hot soup to her sick abuela. Along the way, she is tricked by a sly wolf. Roja must act quickly to rescue Grandma, and then the two devise a technologically enhanced plan to prevent visits from unwelcome predators in the future. The playful illustrations elevate the book, blending a whimsical fairy-tale land with contemporary Latino-American life. In the kitchen, where Mama watches telenovelas while chopping peppers and garlic, three blind mice scamper about, a pair of mischievous goblins lurk outside the window, and symbols reminiscent of milagros, or prayer charms, rise up in the steam from the clay pot of bean soup. As Red travels through the forest, the birds call out warnings to her in Spanish--"Cuidado!" Throughout the text, the Spanish words appear in bold and italicized print. Context and an opening glossary provide the definitions rather than simultaneous translation. This results in a story that avoids becoming repetitive for bilingual readers and that readers who do not speak Spanish will also easily understand. This spirited interpretation of a classic fairy tale successfully mixes magic and reality, as well as Spanish and English words. (Picture book. 3-7)
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April 1, 2014
PreS-Gr 2-Elya follows up Rubia and the Three Osos (her version of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears") with this Mexican influenced and modern take on "Little Red Riding Hood." The book has a flair all its own: Little Roja's mother watches telenovas, Little Roja drives an ATV, the wolf wears a bandana and skull necklace, Grandma has a laptop and a statue of Jesus, and when Little Roja saves the day, Grandma ends up investing in a good lock and security camera. Elya's engaging text features snappy rhymes and plenty of contextual clues for Spanish words, which are in easy-to-find bold type. Her rhyming scheme is essential in helping non-Spanish speakers with pronunciation. A glossary at the beginning of the book provides straightforward pronunciations and definitions for Spanish words. The main characters are well depicted and follow the story nicely. Guevara's illustrations provide a lot to see, such as the three blind mice and Roja's cat, who tag along for the entire adventure; slightly menacing sunflowers with eyes; talking magpies; and some very busy Spanish trickster elves, who are unexplained, except in Guevara's bio. Overall, the story shines through, and this is a must-have where Elya's other books have been popular.-Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH
Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
February 15, 2014
Grades K-3 The author of Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos (2012) offers here another rhyming bilingual picture bookthis one based on a classic folktale. Readers meet sassy Little Roja, her computer-savvy abuela, and a big-eyed, furry-eared, pointy-toothed lobo, who is more annoying than terrifying. Mama is busy watching telenovelas, so she sends Roja through the woods (riding an ATV) with hot soup for Abuela. When Roja stops to pick flowers, Lobo absconds with her cape and arrives first at Abuela's. As granny prepares to strike the intruder with her Jesus statue, Roja enters, flinging hot soup at Lobo and causing his hasty retreat. Guevara's sunny watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations employ some of the same techniques she used so successfully in Chato's Kitchen (1995): magical realism (here tiny fairies assist Roja and Abuela), symbols of Latino (and fairy tale) culture, and subtle humor. A helpful glossary precedes the text, but contextual clues will suffice for many. Pair with Ann Whitford Paul's Tortuga in Trouble (2009) for another Spanish version of this tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2014
Little Red rides an ATV to deliver la canasta (basket) to her abuela in this hip version of the traditional tale. Liberally sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases, the rhyming text is fresh and funny. Just as clever as the quirky text are the watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations that contain plenty of humor and multiple layers of meaning. Glos.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from July 1, 2014
Little Red rides an ATV to deliver la canasta (basket) to her ailing abuela in this hip updated version of the traditional tale. Liberally sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases, the rhyming text is fresh and funny ("'Abue, ' he said in a high squeaky voz, / 'I'm sorry to hear of your terrible tos'") and often unexpected. (For example, "basket" is rhymed with "who asked it?") And just as clever as the quirky text are the watercolor, ink, and gouache illustrations that contain plenty of humor and multiple layers of meaning. The Three Blind Mice accompany Little Roja on her journey, while three magpies follow and call out warnings that appear in flowing ribbons that act as dialogue bubbles. Two little trickster elves make mischief throughout. But best of all is Abuela herself, shown here as an aging hippie who appears to be working on a manuscript revision in her sick bed. She doesn't really need rescuing -- she protects herself by holding up a statue of St. Jude; Little Roja joins in by throwing a pot of hot sopa at the wolf. Once the wolf is vanquished, capable Abuela discourages future intruders by installing a security sistema, while Little Roja trades in her red hood for one with tiger stripes. An inventive spin on a familiar tale, this will stand up to repeated readings and viewings. kathleen t. horning
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)