Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. Yuyi Morales. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2008. 32 pages. $17.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-1-59643-329-8. Grades K-3. English with some Spanish.
Señor Calavera has been looking forward to Grandma’s Beetle’s birthday since he first met the fiesta throwing character in Morale’s previous Pura Belpré Award winning trickster tale Just A Minute. Although Señor Calavera spends all morning getting spiffed up for the party he forgets one important detail: a present for Grandma Beetle. Fortunately the wise ghost of Zelmiro helps him find “the thing she would love the most.” Morales uses Señor Calavera’s quest for the perfect gift to teach the Spanish alphabet to readers in a fun and culturally enlightening way. The Spanish vocabulary introduced as gifts are defined in text as well as in the colorful, detailed illustrations. Both the fun story and beautiful illustrations not only entertain the readers, but serve as a cultural and linguistic smorgasbord for all readers; introducing complex vocabulary and unique cultural items like una historieta, una lotería, and rayuela. Highly Recommended.
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