Just In Case

Review by Ariadna Sánchez

Can you imagine a birthday party without presents?

Gifts are one way to demonstrate how much you care for a person. The perfect gift you can give to a friend, son, daughter, husband or wife is your love and sincere friendship.

Just In Case by Yuyi Morales is a great story that teaches the importance of love over the material goods.  Presents are complements that shine when you give them from the bottom of your heart. True friends give you respect, honesty, and help you succeed in life.

Just In Case is another trickster tale that will help your children learn the alphabet in Spanish. In this splendid story, Señor Calavera and Zelmiro the Ghost will catch your attention from A to Z. Señor Calavera is invited to Grandma Beetle’s Birthday Party. On his way to the party, Señor Calavera forgets to buy a special treat for Grandma Beetle, but do not panic because Zelmiro the Ghost appears to help Señor Calavera to find the perfect gift for her.

Señor Calavera and Zelmiro the Ghost begin their adventure to find presents for Grandma Beetle. Señor Calavera ABC’s journey is a rollercoaster of fun. From a melodious acordeón or a delicious granizado or maybe a fancy moño or some yerbabuena for a cup of tea. The clock is ticking, and Señor Calavera is running out of time to select the gifts for Grandma Beetle. When Señor Calavera finally grabs everything he wants, he trips and falls off the he bike letting all he gifts fly into the air.  Poor Señor Calavera, so much work for nothing. He is definitely feeling upset. Then an idea pops-up from his brain and right before Grandma Beetle blows her candles on the cake, Señor Calavera arrives with Grandpa Zelmiro representing the best birthday present Abuelita Beetle could have.

Gifts do not necessarily have to be expensive, luxurious, or extravagant. The gifts that really matter are the ones that come from the bottom of one’s heart. Less is more. Remember that reading gives you wings. Read this amazing book soon!

Who is Señor Calavera?

Video by Yuyi Morales/ A Puritito Corazon Production

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.