A bilingual celebration with a delicious ending. This is the story of how the farm maiden and all the farm animals worked together to make the rice pudding that they serve at the fiesta. With the familiarity of "The House That Jack Built," this story bubbles and builds just like the ingredients of the arroz con leche that everyone enjoys. Cleverly incorporating Spanish words, adding a new one in place of the English word from the previous page, this book makes learning the language easy and fun. Rafael Lopez covers each page with vibrant, exuberant color, celebrating tradition and community. Back matter includes a glossary of Spanish words and a recipe for arroz con leche perfect for everyone to make together and enjoy at story time. Illinois Monarch Award: Illinois K-3 Readers' Choice Award (2012) A Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor Book (2012) An ALSC 2012 Notable Children s Books Selection A 2013 Monarch Award (Illinois K-3 Readers Choice Award) Kirkus Reviews, STARRED: A wonderful read-aloud, filled with merriment and conviviality. School Library Journal, STARRED: The artistry of this book makes it a must buy for all libraries. Booklist: An excellent choice for interactive, multilingual read-alouds. A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection (2011) A Texas Library Association 2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List Selection A Fuse #8 Production 100 Magnificent Children s Books of 2011 Selection A Read On Wisconsin 2011-2012 Booklist Selection A Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2012 Selection (NCSS) A Latin Baby Book Club Favorite Books (2011) Selection Twenty by Jenny: Jenny s 2011 Picks
| ||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Review
*Starred Review* With the help of her animal friends, a farm maiden begins to cook. The goat lends some butter; the cow, fresh milk; the chicken, a few eggs all for a pot of rice pudding. Inspired by "The House that Jack Built," Vamos offers a fresh, new twist, playfully introducing Spanish into this cumulative tale. The pot becomes the cazuela; the goat, the cabra; the butter, the mantequilla; and so forth, until the text is bursting with bilingual energy. With each repetition, the momentum builds and bubbles until it reaches a boiling frenzy. Vamos then skillfully ties it all together, as each animal s Spanish name and accompanying ingredient is reiterated in a simple phrase allowing readers to recall their meaning and relationship to the rice pudding. A party ensues, and all return to the cazuela to give thanks and share in their communal creation. López s artwork, with its desert palette punctuated by brilliant primary colors and its graphic, hard edges, suggestive of folk art, is a perfect match. His sophisticated, multilayered textures create depth, give form and work together to create an image that s easily readable, humorous and harmonious. Complete with an arroz con leche recipe and glossary of Spanish words, this thoughtful work will appeal to both Spanish speakers and learners. A wonderful read-aloud, filled with merriment and conviviality. --Kirkus Reviews
From the Author
I have been writing stories since I was very young.
When I was three, my mother began encouraging me to make up stories. Without influencing subject, grammar, or length, she typed the stories exactly as I told them. My mother praised my attempts and my confidence as a beginning storyteller began to build.
While in college, I wrote my first children's chapter book (it was typed and over 300 pages long!) and submitted it to publishers. I received a lot of rejections, but several editors were kind enough to write personal replies and those responses were very motivating.
I finished college and went to law school, continuing to write stories in my spare time. Nine years after graduating from law school, I sold my first manuscript. That manuscript did not become published and I was temporarily heartbroken, yet I knew I had crossed a threshold and I became all the more determined to become published.
Every day experiences regularly prompt story threads in my mind. On occasion, I try to stitch together some of the threads into stories.
The idea for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred popped into my head one morning while making pancakes. Lacking two ingredients, I thought how much more fun it would be if I lived on a farm and the cow was kind enough to provide a cup of fresh milk and the hen offered an egg. I began walking around my kitchen making up my story based upon the rhythm and format of the familiar nursery rhyme, "The House That Jack Built."
Like the nursery rhyme, The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred is a cumulative tale. In this case, the action builds as a few Spanish words repeat.
Five different farm animals (goat, cow, duck, donkey, and hen) and their farmer each contribute ingredients to a pot (the "cazuela") stirred by the farm maiden. A surprise dish is created (rice pudding or "arroz con leche") and at the book's end, an actual recipe is provided. There is also a glossary with a pronunciation guide.
I never finished making pancakes that morning, but I did manage to write a first draft of my story! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
When I was three, my mother began encouraging me to make up stories. Without influencing subject, grammar, or length, she typed the stories exactly as I told them. My mother praised my attempts and my confidence as a beginning storyteller began to build.
While in college, I wrote my first children's chapter book (it was typed and over 300 pages long!) and submitted it to publishers. I received a lot of rejections, but several editors were kind enough to write personal replies and those responses were very motivating.
I finished college and went to law school, continuing to write stories in my spare time. Nine years after graduating from law school, I sold my first manuscript. That manuscript did not become published and I was temporarily heartbroken, yet I knew I had crossed a threshold and I became all the more determined to become published.
Every day experiences regularly prompt story threads in my mind. On occasion, I try to stitch together some of the threads into stories.
The idea for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred popped into my head one morning while making pancakes. Lacking two ingredients, I thought how much more fun it would be if I lived on a farm and the cow was kind enough to provide a cup of fresh milk and the hen offered an egg. I began walking around my kitchen making up my story based upon the rhythm and format of the familiar nursery rhyme, "The House That Jack Built."
Like the nursery rhyme, The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred is a cumulative tale. In this case, the action builds as a few Spanish words repeat.
Five different farm animals (goat, cow, duck, donkey, and hen) and their farmer each contribute ingredients to a pot (the "cazuela") stirred by the farm maiden. A surprise dish is created (rice pudding or "arroz con leche") and at the book's end, an actual recipe is provided. There is also a glossary with a pronunciation guide.
I never finished making pancakes that morning, but I did manage to write a first draft of my story! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fantastic book! It is beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. I am not sure whether my kids or I enjoy it more! The bilingual aspect is great - my 12 year old (the self-identified Spanish expert) has read it to my 8 year old over and over again, and then they compete over how many Spanish words they know. But the book is much more than that, it's extremely creative, innovative, and fun to read. It's so refreshing to see work like this in the children's book market. This book has it all. I recommend it highly!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Children's book seamlessly blends both English and Spanish words together
May 20, 2011
Format:Hardcover
Samantha Vamos, in her newest bilingual picture book, cleverly combines both Spanish and English words together to tell the story of a farm maiden who makes a delicious batch of Arroz con Leche in a big pot (the cazuela). With the help of several helpful farm animals and a farmer, she adds all the rice pudding ingredients in a pot. While waiting for the pudding to cook the whole colorful group of characters dance and play instruments and they forget to tend the bubbling, burbling pot. Ay! Apparently the farm maiden needs to stir her pot more often. Who knew that making a pot of rice pudding could result in such a fantastic, flavorful fiesta?
Much like in the familiar tale The House That Jack Built, Vamos' cumulative story builds and builds upon itself as each ingredient gets added to the simmering pot. The repetition and sequencing really helps young readers learn new animal and cooking themed Spanish words like cow/vacha, goat/cabra, duck/pato, donkey/burro, milk/leche and egg/huevo. Each new term is first introduced in English and then appears in the following verses in Spanish. A glossary in the back of the book provides a helpful pronunciation key and printable flashcards can be found online on Vamos' website in the Activity and Discussion Guide. My kids use the flashcards to interact with the story and place the cards on the floor sequentially as I read the cumulating verses.
I honestly don't think Vamos could have found a better suited illustrator for her book than Rafael López. He creates his bold, vivid illustrations by painting with acrylics on grained wood. His illustrations infused with orange-red backgrounds perfectly parallel the story. The pictures build in excitement, exhibit movement and vibrancy and López evens adds in a dash of humor.
We own Vamos' other bilingual book, Before You Were Here, Mi Amor, and I adore how the talented author seamlessly blends both English and Spanish together in her books. If you are trying to teach your child basic Spanish terms, I highly recommend both of Vamos' lovely picture books.
*Review copy provided by publisher
Much like in the familiar tale The House That Jack Built, Vamos' cumulative story builds and builds upon itself as each ingredient gets added to the simmering pot. The repetition and sequencing really helps young readers learn new animal and cooking themed Spanish words like cow/vacha, goat/cabra, duck/pato, donkey/burro, milk/leche and egg/huevo. Each new term is first introduced in English and then appears in the following verses in Spanish. A glossary in the back of the book provides a helpful pronunciation key and printable flashcards can be found online on Vamos' website in the Activity and Discussion Guide. My kids use the flashcards to interact with the story and place the cards on the floor sequentially as I read the cumulating verses.
I honestly don't think Vamos could have found a better suited illustrator for her book than Rafael López. He creates his bold, vivid illustrations by painting with acrylics on grained wood. His illustrations infused with orange-red backgrounds perfectly parallel the story. The pictures build in excitement, exhibit movement and vibrancy and López evens adds in a dash of humor.
We own Vamos' other bilingual book, Before You Were Here, Mi Amor, and I adore how the talented author seamlessly blends both English and Spanish together in her books. If you are trying to teach your child basic Spanish terms, I highly recommend both of Vamos' lovely picture books.
*Review copy provided by publisher
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By 3 Boys' Mom
Format:Hardcover
We loved her first book, Before You Were Here, Mi Amor and this book by Samantha Vamos is just as wonderful. The story is a delight to read with my boys, ages 6, 4 and 2 as it has an enchanting rhythm to it, and having a chance to expose them to Spanish words that they can easily learn is the icing on the cake. The illustrations are beautifully done; the boys like to stare at the pages to notice the vibrant colors and details. We love this book and I've given it as a gift to several friends - highly recommend!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dessert in the Desert
I think this is a great book because it introduces children to Spanish and challenges them to remember a sequence. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Bookworm Jess
5.0 out of 5 stars
Makes learning Spanish easy
My four-year old daughter could not stop giggling as we read this book. By the second reading, she remembered what each Spanish word meant, and after four readings she could say... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Maria S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deliciously Repetitive
Although I was out of breath when I finished reading it to my stepson, we both enjoyed it! It is great beacuse it is one of those books that repeats what was on the previous page... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Roxana
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!!!
We are a Spanish and English speaking household. We are always looking for really good books in both languages. This book has great illustrations as well as a great story. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Xavi007
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Pictures, Delightful Read - Excellent Gift Idea!
Although we are taking classes to practice speaking Spanish, my 6 year old is not usually excited about bilingual books. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jennifer Juday
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous Pictures, Delightful Read - Excellent Gift Idea!
Although we are taking classes to practice speaking Spanish, my 6 year old is not usually excited about bilingual books. Read more
Published 11 months ago
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a wonderful book!
This is a wonderful book that my six year old loves to read to me. We both love the illustrations and the story. The bilingual aspect is so fun for us. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Kirtan Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stirring Up a Sensational Story
The farm maiden stirs up a big pot of arroz con leche with the help of the cabra and the vaca and the pato and the burro in this new version of the old classic, The House that Jack... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Debnance at Readerbuzz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Food for thought
I am lucky to work in a children's room with a significantly sized bilingual section. The books you'll find there cover a wide range of languages. Read more
Published 21 months ago by E. R. Bird
5.0 out of 5 stars
I am 7 years old and I LOVE this book!
I am seven years old. This book is fun to read and it helps me learn more Spanish. I love the story and how the animal friends come together to help the farm maiden cook. Read more
Published 22 months ago
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
