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Three Little Tamales, The (2009)

by Eric A. Kimmel(Favorite Author)

3.83 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0761455191 (ISBN13: 9780761455196)

languge

English

genre

Food & Cookbooks

publisher

Two Lions

review 1: Plot SummaryWith a light-hearted cultural twist on The Three Little Pigs, Kimmel proves he has accomplished yet again, the transformation of a traditional tale into flavorful story of its own. The Three Little Tamales opens and closes with the familiar tortilla character from The Runaway Tortilla, Kimmel’s previous tale variant of The Gingerbread Man.The story follows the basic formula in this traditional tale. Somewhere in Texas, three tamales are warned by the passing tortilla that they will be eaten if they stay at the taqueria. Embracing their opportunity for freedom, the tamales flee into the vast landscape of Texas. Arriving in the prairieland, the first tamale builds herself a home of sagebrush. The second tamale spies a cornfield and builds his home from cornsta... morelks. Finally, upon arriving in the desert the third tamale builds her home with thick tough cactus. In time, Senor Lobo, the big bad wolf came along.As can be expected, a familiar pattern develops with each of the tamales. The ensuing conversations between the tamales and wolf take place in well-structured rhythmic verse, mixing English and Spanish (translations provided) matching the flavor of the book. With all three tamales safely ensconced in the house of prickly cactus, the third tamale leads her compadres in preparations to cook wolf tamales in a pot below the chimney. The thought of becoming a tamale himself is enough for the wolf to jump from the pot, never to return. In celebration, the tamales hold a fiesta and invite their friends, the runaway tortillas!AnalysisWith this rendition of the Three Little Pigs, the three tamales capture the Tex-Mex flare through both text and illustration. The book features a variety of southwestern patterns, chilies, sombreros and vibrant colors invoking a feeling of celebration throughout the book. Two of the three innocent and good tamales featured are female, including the wisest tamale of all who not only builds the strongest house, but devises the plan to permanently rid themselves of the evil Senor Lobo.The story moves at a brisk pace, not pausing to belabor details or cause the reader to mentally skip ahead knowing the story will inevitably end in a delightful resolution. The author so expertly contrives the story that although the reader knows how the general ending occurs, suspense still remains in how the wolf will be foiled.Set in Texas, the tale exhibits the flair and diversity found within such a vast region. The illustrations capture the scenery and senses of the reader. The smell of sagebrush, the rustle of cornstalks and the dry desert night air are almost perceptible within each page of the story.Lesson IdeasExcellent opportunity to review desert and prairie biomes highlighting facts and actual pictures of the scenes and items found in the book.A Venn diagram could be used showing similarities and differences between The Three Little Tamales and a traditional version of the Three Little Pigs.Students could create their own version of the story matching different foods and related settings.
review 2: this book is a fun inventive version of the three little pigs. I really enjoyed how this book has a very cultural connection. This book is a great introduction to Spanish culture. It was great when I asked my students what they thought a tamale was. There were a few students who could really give the class a wonderful depiction of what a tamale was. I liked how it made a cross cultural experience for the whole class. My students absolutely loved this story, and wanted to hear it again and again. I created a lesson about sequencing beginning, middle, and end using this book, the three little pigs, and the real story of the three little pigs told by the wolf. This book is amazing! It will be used again, and a favorite on my library shelf. less

Download links for: Three Little Tamales, The

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