Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas’ Sproutings

Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas’ Sproutings. Pat Mora. Illus. by Rafael López. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc., 2007.  30 pages. $16.95 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-1-58430-271-1. Grades K-4. English with some Spanish.

Blueberries, chile, chocolate, and papaya are four of the fourteen delicious foods from the Americas that Pat Mora introduces to readers in the delectable Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué rico! Americas’ Sproutings. Mora engages readers’ silly sides and curiosity with haikus for each food while feeding their intellect with background knowledge. She discusses word origin, cultural significance, and past present uses. The beautifully colored illustrations of Rafael López tell readers another story as children and adults from different cultures interact with the food in their own way. The illustrations also incorporate cultural images and fantastical ones to create a world that teaches readers and enriches their imagination. Eating is fun, and the innovative mixture of poetry, art and facts is too. Readers will find their mouths watering and hoping their peanut butter sandwich can play the trumpet too. Highly Recommended.