Global Story Box: Mexico Synopsis

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. Morales, Yuyi (2003). San Francisco, CA: Chronicle. ISBN: 9780811837583.

Text mainly in English with some Spanish. Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life. After helping her count in English and Spanish as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind.

M is for Mexico. Cordero, Flor de María (2008). Photographs. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN: 9781845075934.

Presents an aspect of Mexico's culture for each letter of the alphabet, exploring foods, games, celebrations, and other topics.

My Abuelita. Johnston, Tony(2009). Illustrated by Morales, Yuyi.NY: Harcourt.

ISBN: 9780152163303.

With great gusto, a child's grandmother performs deep knee bends, consumes a breakfast of "huevos estrellados," and practices vocal exercises before going to work as a storyteller.

My Big Book of Spanish Words. Emberley, Rebecca (2008). NY: LB Kids. ISBN: 9780316118033.

Labeled illustrations provides the English and Spanish words for a variety of things, including colors, food, toys, clothes, animals, numbers, shapes, and more.

Playing Loteria/El juego de la Lotería. Laínez, René Colato (2005). Illustrated by Arena, Jill. Flagstaff, AZ: Luna Rising. ISBN: 9780873588812.

Set in Guanajuato. A young boy and his grandmother discover the fun of learning a new language. The boy visits his grandmother in Mexico and helps her at her loteria stand. As villagers try their luck in the game, the boy learns Spanish vocabulary, which he translates into English to teach his abuela.

The Tortilla Factory. Paulsen, Gary (1995). Illustrated by Paulsen, Ruth Wright. NY: Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152016982.

Shows a cycle from seed to plant to tortilla, as workers till the soil, operate the clanking machinery of the factory, and drive the trucks that deliver the tortillas back into the hands that will plant the yellow seeds.

Uno, dos, tres: One, Two, Three. Mora, Pat (2000). Illustrated byLavalee, Barbara(Aztec inspired illustrations). NY: Clarion. ISBN: 9780618054688.

Pictures depict two sisters going from shop to shop buying birthday presents for their mother. Rhyming text presents numbers from one to ten in English and Spanish.

What Are You Doing? Amado, Elisa (2011). Illustrated by Monroy ,Manuel. Berkeley, CA: Groundwood.

ISBN: 9781554980703.

Before he leaves on his first day of school, Chepito plays outside and encounters many different people in his neighborhood who are all reading. Each person has a different response when Chepito asks them "Why?"

What Can You Do with a Rebozo?Tafolla, Carmen (2008). Illustrated by Cordova, Amy. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press. ISBN: 9781582462707.

A spunky, young Mexican girl explains the many uses of her mother's red rebozo, or long scarf. Bilingual Spanish/English text.

Artifacts: Rebozo and La Lotería game.