What Can You Do With a Paleta? ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta?

By Carmen Tafolla.
Illustrated by Magaly Morales


Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Pub. Date: April 2009
ISBN-13: 9781582462899

From the Publisher

In her second book for Tricycle Press, Latina author Carmen Tafolla
takes young readers into a thriving and colorful barrio to introduce them to the frozen, fruit-flavored treat known to Mexican-American and Mexican children as a paleta.

Where the paleta wagon
rings its tinkly bell
and carries a treasure of icy paletas
in every color of the sarape…
THAT’s my barrio.

As she strolls through her neighborhood, a young girl finds that there are many things she can do with a paleta before she eats it. She can make tough decisions—strawberry or coconut?, she can draw inspiration from the paleta’s colors to create a masterpiece, startle her brother with her paleta-painted tongue, or even make new friends by sharing one.

Featuring newcomer Magaly Morales’ vivid illustrations, What Can You Do with a Paleta? is a fitting follow-up to What Can You Do with a Rebozo?, the book that showed youngsters the many ways in which the traditional Mexican shawl could be used.

• Includes backmatter about paletas
• Also available in a hardcover English/Spanish bilingual edition



CARMEN TAFOLLA’s poems and stories have appeared in more than two hundred poetry anthologies. She lives in San Antionio, Texas. Visit www.carmentafolla.com

MAGALY MORALES is known for the bright colors and infectious sense of play in her illustrations. She lives in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.




By J.D. Smith.
Illustrated by Dani Jones.
Translated by Eida de la Vega.


Publisher: Raven Tree Press, LLC
Pub. Date: September 2008
SBN-13: 9780977090617

From the Publisher

The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor mariachi del mundo is bilingual (English/Spanish) embedded text picture book that incorporates cultural tradition, wishes, and the happiness that can be found when a person's talent is valued. Spunk and determination set in lovely desert surroundings. The story is told primarily in English with Spanish sprinkled in context throughout. A keyword vocabulary page is included in the back of the book.

Everyone in Gustavo's family is in a mariachi band. Everyone except Gustavo, that is. They all play violíns, trompetas and guitarrones. They all make wonderful music in restaurants and at wedding parties. Gustavo would love to join the band, but he can't play any of the instruments. What's a wannabe mariachi to do?

Illustrator Dani Jones uses bright, warm colors to show the hot desert landscape. She also incorporates the styles of art and patterns from the Southwestern area (the setting of The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor mariachi del mundo) to help illustrate the story. Her bold, graphic style combined with comic interpretation portrays Gustavo's full range of emotions as he pursues his mariachi dream.