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*Just a Minute!: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book* by Yuyi Morales





 

Just a Minute!: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
by Yuyi Morales
Baby-preschool 36 pages Chronicle Books September 2003 Hardcover    

One in a series of bilingual language books, Just a Minute combines lively graphics, a learning skill and two languages (English and Spanish), featuring the skeleton Senor Calavera and Grandma Beetle.

Grandma Beetle is preparing for her birthday celebration and refuses to fall for the enticements of the trickster, who would cheat her out of the party and deliver her to the next world.

Grandma Beetle has a few tricks of her own up her sleeve, putting off Senor Calavera with all she must do before the guests arrive. After all, children are invited to a birthday party and a party they shall have! Grandma says, “I will go with you right away, I have just one (uno) house to sweep…two (dos) pots of tea to boil… three (tres) pounds of corn to make into tortillas.”

And so it goes, the day filled with all the tasks that must be completed in time for the party. Finally, all the guests arrive, including number ten (diaz), Senor Calavera himself. After the celebration, Grandma Beetle is ready to leave with the trickster only to find him missing, a note left behind: “I wouldn’t miss your next birthday party for anything in the world.”

The graphics are fabulous, brilliantly colored and animated, vivid reflections of family and celebration, even the inevitable visit of the trickster. Humorous and educational, this lively book is a delight to share with a child, a mix of culture, language, math and the sheer exuberance of the illustrations.
   


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