Mediopollito: Cuento Tradicional en Espanol e Ingles/Half-Chicken: A Folktale in Spanish and English - Hardcover

Alma Flor Ada; Kim Howard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385320442 ISBN 13: 9780385320443

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 1995

Synopsis

With Mexican inspired artwork and a bilingual text in Spanish and English, the origins of the weather vane come to life when Half-Chicken sets out to explore the world on his one leg, with one eye and wing.

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Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2?An adaptation of a Spanish folktale that explains the origin of weather vanes. The hatching of a chick with only one wing, one leg, one eye, and half the usual number of feathers raises quite a stir on a colonial Mexican ranch. All of the attention encourages the vain Mediopollito, Half-Chicken (as he is called), to seek his fortune. He encounters, in turn, fire, water, and wind and assists each of them during the course of his trip "to Mexico City to see the court of the viceroy!" In return, the elements come to the fowl's aid and Half-Chicken finds his rightful place in the scheme of things. The repetitive and predictable nature of the tale makes it an appropriate read-aloud choice. The translation retains the meaning and flavor of the original Spanish, which appears alongside the English on each double-page spread. The folksy and brightly colored illustrations, "inspired by the patterns and texture of Mexican murals," provide lively and interesting visual information. While the characters are at times a bit caricatured, this title remains a good addition to folklore collections.?Graciela Italiano, Weber State University, Ogden, UT
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4^-8. Hip hop hip hop, Half-Chicken is off to Mexico City to see the court of the viceroy. Along the way, he helps the stream, the fire, and the wind, and they, in turn, help Half-Chicken when the viceroy's cook tries to turn him into chicken soup. Finally, the wind blows Half-Chicken to safety atop a palace tower. "And from that day on, weathercocks have stood on their only leg, seeing everything that happens below, and pointing whichever way their friend the wind blows." Ada gives her riotous retelling of this traditional folktale about the vain but helpful Half-Chicken a flavorful colonial Mexican setting. Howard matches the frolicsome mood and Hispanic setting with exuberant and glowing illustrations inspired by the patterns and textures of Mexican murals. Presented in a bilingual format and brimming with silliness and the simple repetition that children savor, this picture book is a jewel that will add a spicy sparkle to any folktale collection. Annie Ayres

Edition details

• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0385320442
• ISBN 13: 9780385320443
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 40