Pura Belpre Honor Award 2015
Little Roja's Abuela is not feeling so good. Mother has made her some soup but her telenova has just begun so it is up to Little Roja to take it to Abuela's. Armed with her red cloak and the keys to the family's ATV Roja drives off into the forest to help Grandma. Along the way she meets a bandana and skull wearing lobo that is more annoying than scary. While Roja is picking flowers the wolf steals her cloak and runs off to Abuela's house. But this isn't the grandmother from fairy tales of old- this grandmother is ready to hit the wolf over the head with a statue of Jesus. Roja arrives just in time to douse the Lobo with her mother's soup, burning him, and forcing him to run away never to return. For if he does, Abuela's new gun and security system will be waiting!
Elya's blend of familiar fairy tale and Spanish culture are a wonderful way of introducing non-Spanish children to a way of life different from their own. It is also a great way to make those who Spanish heritage and up bringing feel more included in the Anglo heavy world of Grimm's dominated fairy tales. The glossary at the beginning of the book gives straight forward definitions and pronunciation guides for the included Spanish vocabulary, however, Elya's context clues within the story almost make the glossary unnecessary.
Other books that blend Spanish with well known children's tales are Rubia and the Three Osos also by Susan Middleton Elya and Tortuga In Trouble by Ann Whitford Paul.
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