Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, Illustrated by Ed Martinez Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1993 Genre: Realistic Fiction Format: Picture Book
Summary
Maria was playing with her mom's ring and helping her mother cook Christmas dinner for her family which consisted of making tamales. She realized later on during the day that the ring was missing and she and her cousins ate all the tamales trying to find the ring but couldn't. When she went to tell her mother, she realized her mom had the ring on and the entire family made tamales together again.
Personal Response
I thought this book was really great! I can relate to helping my mom cook Christmas dinners every year although I never lost anything in the food! It's a great story that kids could relate to because everyone has spent time with their family or played with their parent's things.
Illustrations
The oil paintings used for the illustrations and colors and patterns used in this book give the book a very warm and Mexican feel. The emotions on the characters faces are very lively in this book.
Classroom Connections
This could work for a math lesson. Since they are making tamales, it would require a recipe. Providing the students with a recipe and allowing them to manipulate it to feed more or less people would be a great way to have hem learn measurements.
