Hill of Fire [Library Binding]

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1971

"El Monstruo!"

Every day is the same for Pablo's father. Then one afternoon the ground growls, hisses smoke, and swallows up his plow. A volcano is erupting in the middle of his cornfield!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3–Thomas Lewis's beginning reader (HarperCollins, 1971) is based on actual accounts of the 1943 eruption of the Paricutin volcano in Mexico. Pablo's father, a farmer, has grown bored with his daily routine. One day, shortly after the boy arrives in the field to assist his father and their ox with the plowing, the volcano begins to erupt in the middle of the cornfield. Their village becomes covered with lava and rock, and Pablo's family and the other villagers must relocate and rebuild. With the smoldering volcano called “El Monstruo,” or “The Monster,” in the distance, life continues much as before. Brian Amador's narration and Spanish intonations add authenticity to the tale and bring the setting and the characters to life. Gentle guitar strumming and subtle sound effects set the mood. Page-turn signals are optional. Listeners will be drawn into the story.–Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NYα(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Harpercollins Juvenile Books (March 1971)
• ISBN-10: 0685421546
• ISBN-13: 978-0685421543
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,257,378 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Story!, January 4, 2000

By 

Corrien Mateo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hill of Fire (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

I use this book with my ESL students 2nd-8th grade. What really makes it interesting is that it is a true story! I've been there, seen the church (what's left of it) and met the people. The only thing not true is there is no hot dog stand. Excellent book and easy to read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple and Good, August 4, 2002

By 

Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Hill of Fire (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

"Hill of Fire" tells the true story of a Mexican farmer who encounters the beginnings of a volcano in his corn field. The vocabulary is very easy, and yet the author captures the mood of the sleepy village that was changed forever by El Monstruo. I recommend this book to teachers of grades K-3 and to children who are just moving away from picture books.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Interest For ESL Learners, 2nd grade to adult., December 7, 1999

By 

MARIA STOVER (Paso Robles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hill of Fire (I Can Read Book 3) (Paperback)

This historical fiction story relates to those who lead a hum-drum existence in meeting daily responsibilities. A dirt farmer in a small village in Mexico complains that nothing every happens in his life. Then, one eventful day, his ox-drawn plow buries itself so deep in the earth that smoke (the smoke of a volcano) begins to escape. Older students from Mexico will especially enjoy that cultural's influence in the story sequence (written like a simplified proverbial folktale) and illustations. If read aloud and read well, your students's laughter will tell you they understand the story.