Born in the Gravy - Hardcover

Cazet, Denys

3.43

7 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0531054888 ISBN 13: 9780531054888

Publisher: Orchard Books, 1993

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A young Mexican American girl tells her father all the things she did on her first day in kindergarten

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From Publishers Weekly:

Reminiscent of "Never Spit on Your Shoes " in its style and narrative technique, Cazet's latest school story is sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases. After her first day of kindergarten, Margarita has much to share with her proud Papa. Margarita's "amigos nuevos" include classmates Susie, who cries all day and can even "cry and sing at the same time," and Juan Alberto, whose face balloons when he discovers "allergies in the beans." Attentive Papa reassures Margarita that she is not, as the arrogant first graders would have it, a "kindergarten baby, born in the gravy"; on the contrary, she was born in Guadalajara. Energetic drawings depict a variety of comical and near-calamitous events, giving the reader a school day that's as packed with action as a three-ring circus. The perky pictures are liberally accompanied by dialogue balloons, which add dimension to the story and frequently aim their humor at a grown-up audience. The snippets of Spanish tucked into the text are never translated outright; the context, and the clever use of dialogue, allow readers to grasp the meaning of unfamiliar words. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 1-Celebrating at an ice-cream parlor, Mexican-American Margarita tells her father all about her first day at school-how kindergarteners are called "babies born in the gravy" by the first graders, and how Susie cried all day for her mama. Susie and her mother are also at the parlor, and she and Margarita end up singing the "Goodbye" school song and sitting together. Cazet has filled several needs with this title. A book with Hispanic characters is always welcome, as is one on going to school for the first time. The story also touches on making a new friend-a reassuring theme for preschoolers. Best of all, it presents a tender, sympathetic, and caring relationship between a father and daughter. The author cleverly intersperses Spanish words and phrases with the English without losing the thread of the conversation. The cartoon illustrations are adequate and portray the children humorously. This book is sure to become a favorite, especially in communities that have a large Hispanic population.
Judy Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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