Customer Reviews

Just In Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a wonderful book with endearing characters who teach the Spanish alphabet in a fun and interesting way! The vivid illustrations will engage any young reader. The book is a great way to incorporate the Spanish alphabet and vocabulary into the elementary classroom!

Just In Case

Written and Illustrated By: Yuyi Morales

Pura Belpre Award - Picture Book



Great asset to any early childhood classroom! Just In Case is a unique book that incorporates learning the ABC's from the Spanish speaking cultures point of view. The illustrations are creative and fun and it promotes learning the alphabet in a fun and festive way. It's a great way to incorporate Spanish words into the classroom as well as the home. It may be hard for some young readers to read on their own as it is a little wordy. A great read aloud!

Morales, Y (2008). Just In Case. New York: Roaring Book Press.

Just in case is an exceptional Spanish Alphabet book. I really enjoyed reading this book; it has very bright colors and excellent illustrations! I can imagine reading this book to a classroom and I believe that children would really enjoy listening to this book. Although, there is one thing that I wish this book had, and that is a pronunciation section for the Spanish words. I don't speak fluent Spanish and some of the words in this book I was a little unsure how to say correctly so I think that the book should have had a section where they had all the pronunciation for the Spanish words. This book is very beneficial for children though, not only because it's a Spanish alphabet but also because after every Spanish word they give the definition of it in English, and a picture of the object. This really helps children relate the certain word to the correct meaning. I think this is a great way to bring Spanish into the classroom and for children to have fun and enjoy a good book!

While the illustrations and the flow of the book are great it is not a traditional alphabet book they way one is used to. It is an English book that provides just the words of the alphabet in Spanish. While the story has a point, it is not overpowering at all: It's not what or how much you bring to the party, but that you come at all". Some of the alphabet words chosen are not words that will be used by children learning their ABC's in either language. It is definitely not an "I can read it all by myself" kind of book.

This follow-up to Just a Minute is as charming and beautiful as the first. I just adore Sr. Calavera!

When I look at the artwork of Yuyi Morales I say, "How does she DO it?!" She brings such magic, movement and color to each page in such a fresh and unique way. She weaves this wonderful love story (following Just a Minute) through the alphabet. The kindly ghost of Zelmiro tricks Senor Calavera into doing just that right thing.
Magic, amazing and wonderful. How could you not LOVE this story!

Another perfect picture book from Yuyi Morales. This book is a sequel to her clever and funny "Just a Minute" but Morales' mastery has grown in the intervening years since she published that book. The vibrant colors in JIC practically leap off the page. Sr. Calavera is still there, apparently no longer wishing to "take Grandma Beetle" he is now invited to her birthday. And he's as gullible as ever, letting Zelmiro the ghost guide him into bringing her the perfect gift. A fabulous, fun ending kids will enjoy. Buy this book now!

I saw the artwork for this book on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, and I've started giving it for children's birthdays. It's gorgeous.

Just In Case by Yuyi Morales is probably the best children's alphabet picture book I have ever read! The illustrations are truly sensational with Morales's use o f vibrant colors and personal twist of Mexican skull art. When I finished the book, I went back through it again just to admire the art one more time. This book is a Spanish alphabet book and is perfect for a bilingual classroom (as well as a monolingual one). A skeleton named Senor Calavera is on his way to a woman named Grandma Beetle's birthday party when a ghost named Zelmiro stops him and asks if Calavera is forgetting something. Calavera then remembers that he forgot to get a present for Grandma Beetle. Calavera then proceeds to get Grandma Beetle one item for every letter of the alphabet. The book goes takes the reader through all of the creative items in Spanish, with English translations underneath. Although the alphabet part of the book is told in Spanish, the rest of the story is told in English. After Calavera has finally gotten all of the gifts he wants to get for Grandma Beetle, he realizes that it took him so much time that he might miss the whole party so he begins to rush to her house on his bike. Calavera then has an accident and all the presents go flying, ruined! Yuyi Morales does an incredible job creating an alphabet story that is much more than just that. This story provides children with a moral lesson on materialism and gift giving without being up front or preachy. It is a lesson children can learn subconsciously and enjoyably through this easy read. To find out what Calavera does to fix the ruined presents, you will have to read for yourself!