Review
"Austin's cockroach dwelling is a desirable piece of real estate, with its stairs made of gum wrappers, its wrought-plastic comb railing, and its exclusive mid-Havana address (it's a lamppost). A friendly sprinkling of Spanish words, warmly drawn relationships and a lot of puns all widen the audience for this spirited story." --Publishers Weekly
"Deedy's masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor. The acrylic illustrations, in a hyper-realistic style reminiscent of a softer William Joyce, are rendered in a vivid tropical palette. Shifting perspectives and points of view add vitality to the compositions, and facial expressions reveal both emotions and character traits. A scattering of Spanish words adds zest to this fine read-aloud." --Booklist
"Deedy's text sparkles with sly humor...The stunning acrylic illustrations are full of color, light, and humor...This wonderful book will delight children." --School Library Journal
"Beauty and charm are not what we expect in a cockroach, but author Carmen Agra Deedy creates a sweet maiden in her re-telling of a Cuban folk tale about selecting a husband." --The Sacramento Bee
"...lively and funny...Fun to compare with other versions, this telling has magic all its own." --Kirkus
"The humorous use of language, Cuban setting, and beautiful illustrations add to the book's cultural authenticity." --REFORMA Newsletter
"The skillfully crafted acrylic illustrations capture the island's ambience... The text flows easily." --Criticas, * STARRED REVIEW *
"...a spicy original retelling...attractive and culturally evocative acrylic illustrations are an effective match with the hilarious story." --Book Links
"...gorgeously illustrated..." --Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Audio books have also gained acceptance as a type of reading, thanks to great recordings like 'Martina the Beautiful Cockroach,' written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy..." --Jon Scieszka, Ambassador for Children's Literature
About the Author
CARMEN AGRA DEEDY is an award-winning storyteller and the author of numerous bestselling books for children. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1960, she emigrated from her homeland during the Cuban Revolution, a move that has profoundly affected her life and her work. Her parents, strong proponents of human rights, decided to leave after four tumultuous years in the midst of a revolutionary environment. They took Carmen and her sister and found sanctuary in the United States under the JFK Cuban Refugee Act of 1963.
They settled in Decatur, Georgia, where they coped with the separation from loved ones still in Cuba and acclimated to cultural differences. The Agra family ultimately succeeded in starting over and rebuilding their lives. While Deedy s storytelling reflects these themes of separation and family, she is better known for her razor-sharp wit and light, entertaining style. Also essential to Deedy s experience are her strong sense of perseverance and her dual heritage, drawn from growing up steeped in the riches of both Latin American and Southern culture. As a professional storyteller for many years Deedy has shared her stories with hundreds of thousands of children and adults at festivals, schools, conferences, theaters and museums across the nation and the ocean. She has performed at the Beyond the Border International Storytelling Festival at Donat s Castle in Wales; the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC; the Disney Institute in Orlando, FL; the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN; at the New Victory Theater on Broadway; and at the 2001, 2002 (where Deedy gave the Friday night keynote), and 2003 National Book Festivals in Washington, D.C. Her stories have also aired on National Public Radio s Weekend All Things Considered.
