Just a minute

Review by Ariadna Sánchez

Just a minute by Yuyi Morales is an engaging book to read with your children and relatives this Day of the Death.

The celebration of this important Mexican festivity will be complete when you count up to ten sizzling and smart excuses along with Grandma Beetle to avoid Señor Calavera. Señor Calavera, who represents the death, comes for Grandma Beetle.  Grandma Beetle is a lovely abuela who is preparing her birthday party. Señor Calavera arrives at Grandma’s house, but she is too busy cooking and taking care of all the goodies for the afternoon gathering. Grandma Beetle is very smart. She fools Señor Calavera ten times in a row. Señor Calavera at the beginning of the story is impatience. As the day goes on, he decides to join the party and cheer. Grandma’s Beetle charming party changes Señor Calavera’s plans. He has such a great time in Grandma’s Beetle house that he leaves without saying goodbye. Señor Calavera leaves a note expressing how much fun he had and assuring he will not miss next birthday party for anything in the world.

After you finish reading this stupendous book, remember to eat some tamales with a warm cup of hot chocolate surrounded by the sweet smell of yellow marigolds. Remember that reading gives you wings. Read this book soon!

Another Señor Calavera Book

Just In Case: 

A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book 

Overview:

Yuyi Morales takes us on a new journey with Señor Calvera, the skeleton from Day of the Dead celebrations. Señor Calvera is worried. He can’t figure out what to give Grandma Beetle for her birthday. Misunderstanding the advice of Zelmiro the Ghost, Señor Calvera decides not to get her one gift, but instead one gift for every letter of the alphabet, just in case. Una Acordéon: An accordion for her to dance to. Bigotes: A mustache because she has none. Cosquillas: Tickles to make her laugh…only to find out at the end of the alphabet that the best gift of all is seeing her friends. Morales’s art glows in this heart-warming original tale with folklore themes, a companion book to her Pura Belpré-winning JUST A MINUTE.

Just In Case is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year, the winner of the 2009 Pura Belpre Medal for Illustration and a Pura Belpre Honor Book for Narrative.