Abuelito Eats with His Fingers [Hardcover]

Janice Levy (Author), Layne Johnson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Cristina is uncomfortable around her Spanish-speaking grandfather until she spends the day with him and he helps her to begin to understand his culture and her family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3 According to Tina, her grandfather is different. Abuelito doesn't speak English, his hands are rough and gnarled from cutting sugar cane, and he doesn't drive. And, horrors, he eats with his fingers. Tina's friend's grandfather drives a red Corvette and has a swimming pool in his living room; he makes her ashamed of Abuelito. However, when her mother unexpectedly leaves the two alone one afternoon, Tina's attitude changes. She looks at old photographs of her long dead grandmother. She finds that she and her grandfather share a talent for and love of art. And, the two make tortillas from scratch and eat them with their fingers. By day's end, granddaughter and grandfather have started on a journey of friendship, free of invidious comparisons. Except for one double-page spread in the middle, each full-page painting faces a page of text accompanied by a small illustration. Words and pictures are framed in a lovely design of seemingly old photograph-album pages with deckle edges. An interesting addition to intergenerational collections. Ruth Semrau, formerly at Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum; 1st edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571681779
• ISBN-13: 978-1571681775
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,610,549 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting addition to intergenerational collections, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Abuelito Eats with His Fingers (Hardcover)

According to Tina, her grandfather is different. Abuelito doesn't speak English, his hands are rough and gnarled from cutting sugar cane, and he doesn't drive. And horrors, he eats with his fingers. Later, Tina's attitude changes as she looks at old photographs of her dead grandmother. She finds that she and her grandfather share a talent for art. They make tortillas- from scratch- and eat them with their fingers. By day's end, they have started on a journey of friendship. Words and pictures are framed in a lovely design of seemingly old photograph-album pages with deckle edges. An interesting addition to intergenerational collections.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars getting to know grandpa can be tricky- what a good read!, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Abuelito Eats with His Fingers (Hardcover)

Everyone can relate to the little girl who doesn't like to visit her grandfather. "My grandfather ruins my day! I don't like to look at him. Water leaks out of his eyes." I followed with interest as the girl's curiosity leads her to get to know the real Abuelito. "Abuelito gave me a necklace and the santos switched places and I can count in Spanish and guess what? Abuelito eats with his fingers and so do I." The story is warm and caring; the pictures are lovely and realistically portray the range of emotions the girl and her grandfather go through. A good book for teachers to keep in their classroom libraries. I plan on giving it as a gift.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sweet book, vibrant illustrations, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Abuelito Eats with His Fingers (Hardcover)

This charming picture book is about a young girl who hates to visit her grandpa. But one day, when her mother leaves her with him, the girl learns that her grandpa can make delicious tortillas and is quite an artist. This sweet book, filled with vibrant illustration would make a good read-aloud for any child.