The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred - Hardcover

Vamos, Samantha R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580892426 ISBN 13: 9781580892421

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2011

Synopsis

WINNER: Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor Book 2012

“A wonderful read-aloud, filled with merriment and conviviality” — Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

“The artistry of this book makes it a must buy for all libraries" — School Library Journal, STARRED review

This is the story of how the farm maiden and all the farm animals worked together to make the rice pudding that they serve at the fiesta. With the familiarity of "The House That Jack Built," this story bubbles and builds just like the ingredients of the arroz con leche that everyone enjoys. Cleverly incorporating Spanish words, adding a new one in place of the English word from the previous page, this book makes learning the language easy and fun.

Rafael Lopez covers each page with vibrant, exuberant color, celebrating tradition and community.

Back matter includes a glossary of Spanish words and a recipe for arroz con leche—perfect for everyone to make together and enjoy at story time.

· Scholastic Reading Club Selection
· Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People 2012 (NCSS)
· Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts 2012 (NCTE)
· NYPL’s list of “100 Titles for Reading and Sharing” in 2011

About this title

From the Author:

I have been writing stories since I was very young.
 
When I was three, my mother began encouraging me to make up stories. Without influencing subject, grammar, or length, she typed the stories exactly as I told them.  My mother praised my attempts and my confidence as a beginning storyteller began to build.
 
While in college, I wrote my first children's chapter book (it was typed and over 300 pages long!) and submitted it to publishers.  I received a lot of rejections, but several editors were kind enough to write personal replies and those responses were very motivating.   
 
I finished college and went to law school, continuing to write stories in my spare time.  Nine years after graduating from law school, I sold my first manuscript. That manuscript did not become published and I was temporarily heartbroken, yet I knew I had crossed a threshold and I became all the more determined to become published. 
 
Every day experiences regularly prompt story threads in my mind.  On occasion, I try to stitch together some of the threads into stories.    
 
The idea for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred popped into my head one morning while making pancakes.  Lacking two ingredients, I thought how much more fun it would be if I lived on a farm and the cow was kind enough to provide a cup of fresh milk and the hen offered an egg.  I began walking around my kitchen making up my story based upon the rhythm and format of the familiar nursery rhyme, "The House That Jack Built."
 
Like the nursery rhyme, The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred is a cumulative tale.  In this case, the action builds as a few Spanish words repeat.
 
Five different farm animals (goat, cow, duck, donkey, and hen) and their farmer each contribute ingredients to a pot (the "cazuela") stirred by the farm maiden.  A surprise dish is created (rice pudding or "arroz con leche") and at the book's end, an actual recipe is provided.  There is also a glossary with a pronunciation guide.
 
I never finished making pancakes that morning, but I did manage to write a first draft of my story!

About the Author:

Samantha R. Vamos is the author of Alphabet Boats, Alphabet Trains, Alphabet Trucks (illustrated by Ryan O’Rourke), The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred (illustrated by Rafael López) – 2012 Pura Belpré Illustration Honor – its companion book, The Piñata That The Farm Maiden Hung (illustrated by Sebastià Serra), and Before You Were Here, Mi Amor (2009, illustrated by Santiago Cohen). Samantha previously worked as an attorney, practicing in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL.  Samantha was born in the Midwest, grew up on the east coast, and lived in the Pacific Northwest before moving to the Bay Area with her husband, son, and their rescue puppy, Bowie. Visit Samantha online at www.samanthavamos.com.
   

For many years Ryan O'Rourke's illustrations have appeared in galleries, newspapers, and magazines, including a weekly illustration for the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. One Big Rain marks Ryan's foray into children's picture books. He makes his home in Connecticut.

About this edition

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1580892426
• ISBN 13: 9781580892421
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: López Rafael