Growing Up with Tamales / Los Tamales de Ana (Hardcover w/CD) [Hardcover]

Gwendolyn Zepeda (Author), April Ward (Illustrator)

Book Description

This sweet and funny story about sibling rivalry and the tradition of making tamales is told from the perspective of Ana, who yearns to be like her big sister. Stage actress Gabriella Cavallero's voice brings the rhythmic prose to life with her tenderhearted reading in flawless English and Spanish.

Illustrated by April Ward. Read by Gabriela Cavallero

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3—Ana is six. That means that she is in first grade and learning to read and write. At home, it means that she can mix the masa for the Christmas tamales. Her eight-year-old sister Linda is old enough to spread the masa on the cornhusks. Ana dreams of being eight, so that she will be able to "...spread the dough just right—not too thick and not too thin." But by the time she is eight, Linda will be ten, old enough to fill and roll the tamales. And so, this clever pattern book continues through the years, noting what things Ana believes she will learn each year and the task that will become hers when making the Christmas tamales. By the time Ana has imagined herself at 18, readers/listeners have been given complete directions for assembling and cooking tamales—and Ana has decided that she wants to start her own business making tamales. This charming book by Gwendolyn Zepeda is expressively read by Gabriela Cavallero. The text can to be listened to in bilingual format or in Spanish or English only. Page-turn signals are optional. The book's acrylic illustrations by April Ward make up in verve and vibrancy what they lack in execution. A lovely complement to Gary Soto's Too Many Tamales (Putnam, 1993), it also has some of the same family feel as Becky Chavarria-Chairez's Magda's Tortillas/Las tortillas de Magda (Pinata, 2000).—Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA
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Review

"[This] charming story celebrates the satisfaction found in accomplishing a goal-no matter how big or small-and the trust new responsibility engenders. Young readers will delight in Zepeda's use of repetition and will giggle over the story's jocular ending." --Kirkus Reviews

"This is an involving look at what it means to earn responsibilities-with just a little soupcon of sibling rivalry thrown in. A lovely complement to Gary Soto's Too Many Tamales... Recommended for school and public libraries." --Criticas

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Art Pr; Har/Com Bl edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0981568696
• ISBN-13: 978-0981568690
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 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: #512,763 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gwendolyn Zepeda was born in Houston, Texas in 1971 and attended the University of Texas at Austin. She began her writing career on the Web in 1997, with her long-running site gwendolynzepeda.com and as one of the founding writers of entertainment site Television Without Pity. Her first book was a short-story collection called To the Last Man I Slept with and All the Jerks Just Like Him (Arte Público Press, 2004).

Zepeda's first children's book, Growing Up with Tamales (Piñata Books) is a 2009 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title. Her first novel, Houston, We Have a Problema (Grand Central Publishing, 2009) won praise from Publisher's Weekly and Booklist for its wit and upbeat story.

A two-time Houston Arts Alliance literary fellowship winner and award-winning poet, Zepeda regularly lectures at universities throughout Texas.

Her latest books include another children's book - Sunflowers (Piñata Books, 2009) - and a new novel from Grand Central Publishing called Lone Star Legend.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have For the Classroom, June 19, 2008

By 

Dot Cobb (DeRidder, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up With Tamales / Los tamales de Ana (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

Excellent! I read this book to more than 70 elementary students (preschool through 6th grade - many with language and reading weaknesses. My students were glued to the story and beautiful illustrations! Written in both English and Spanish, this book is a great way to bring culture to the classroom. It also serves as a learning tool to help children think about their own goals and desires.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from Gwendolyn Zepeda, May 30, 2008

By 

Leticia D. Manzano - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Up With Tamales / Los tamales de Ana (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

I have been following Gwendolyn Zepeda's writing for quite a number of years and ordered her new book, Growing Up with Tamales, as soon as it became available on Amazon. The five month wait was worth it!

I ordered a second copy for my niece who teaches a dual language kindergarten classroom because finding such wonderful books to teach with is difficult. I'm sure Growing Up with Tamales will become a favorite at Sheldon ISD as it has in my home.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, May 21, 2008

By 

D. Lam - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Up With Tamales / Los tamales de Ana (English and Spanish Edition) (Hardcover)

This isn't your run-of-the-mill picture book. Gwen gives the character, Ana, an inspiring personality that kids can look up to.

We all know of the story of a younger sibling who wants to be just like their older brother/sister. This tale of Ana following in her older sister's footsteps, as she learns more about making tamales, gives the reader a sense of ambition that makes it a joy to read.

I recently saw Gwen at an event, reading this book to a group of elementary students and their reactions were very delightful. I witnessed the kids connecting with the character and being able to relate to, "wishing they were older," in order to experience something more grown up.

The illustrations have a unique personality about them that doesn't immediately scream out "kids book," but has an artistic quality that makes you want to find out what happens next.

This book would be great for any child, as the story is so relatable.