Three Little Tamales (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Valeria Docampo (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: little tamale, Señor Lobo

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Tía Lupe and Tío José and their taquería in Texas are back, and this time Tía Lupe is making her famous tamales in this “Three Little Pigs” takeoff. The three tamales are encouraged to run for their lives by a runaway tortilla rolling by. Since the little tamales do not want to be eaten, they flee and seek safer places to live. The first tamale runs to a prairie where she builds a casita out of sagebrush. The second tamale builds his casita out of cornstalks. The third tamale finds herself in the desert where she builds a casita out of a cactus with prickly thorns. All is well with the tamales until Señor Lobo, the Big Bad Wolf, comes calling at their doorsteps, threatening to blow their casitas from “here to Laredo.” Docampo’s oil-on-paper illustrations add dimension to the story and bring the three little tamales to life. An excellent addition to collections of fairy-tale retellings. Grades K-3. --Shauna Yusko

Product Description

While three little tamales cool off on a windowsill, a tortilla rolls
by. "You'll be eaten. You'd better run," he tells them. And so the
tamales jump out the window. The first runs to the prairie and
builds a house of sagebrush. The second runs to a cornfield and builds a
house of cornstalks. The third runs to the desert and builds a house of cactus.
Then who should come along but Señor Lobo, the Big Bad Wolf, with plans to
blow their houses down. Valeria Docampo's oil-and-pencil illustrations add
zest and humor to this rollicking southwestern version of a popular tale.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761455191
• ISBN-13: 978-0761455196
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,647 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Three Little Tamales, October 29, 2009

By	M. J. Joyce - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My five year old son loves this book. He loves to repeat the dialogue between the wolf and the tamales...so funny. And it is a great book to read aloud to your children 'cause you can make the characters have more personality...my son is rolling by the time we finish this book each night. Nice way to end the day -laughing together :)

4.0 out of 5 stars My 3yo loves it!, August 7, 2009

By	Maya (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews

My daughter always liked the story of the 3 little pigs but she _loves_ this story - she loves the little rhymes the wolf and tamales say. She has this book pretty much memorized - I think the pictures are wonderfully done and helped her really get into the story as well. Definitely recommend. We borrowed it at the library and now I think I have to buy it to add to our collection :-)

5.0 out of 5 stars The Three Little Pigs tale is given a Mexican flavor!, July 19, 2009

By	z hayes (plano,texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

"The Three Little Tamales" is basically a retelling of the classic Three Little Pigs tale, with a Mexican flavor. It is cute, and the illustrations by Valeria Docampo add a lot of life and color to the tale. Three little tamales see a runaway tortilla, who warns them that they should run away too if they do not wish to be eaten. So the three little tamales make their way in the desert, choosing to set up individual homes ala the three little pigs. And just like that classic tale, the Big Bad Wolf comes along, i.e. Senor Lobo, and the rest follows pretty close to the classic tale.

I loved the Mexican flavor to this classic tale, and it is refreshing to see a beloved fairy tale given a new spin. The story is enhanced by the beautiful, full color illustrations, and there is even a glossary at the beginning of the book which gives the English translation & pronunciation guide of the Spanish words used in the text, e.g. lobo (LOH-bo) - wolf, etc. This makes a perfect read-aloud picture book for children aged 4-8. Highly recommended!