Growing Up with Tamales

Book:   Zepeda, G.Z. (2008). Growing up with Tamales. Illustrations by April Ward. Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. Houston, TX: Piñata Books.

Summary:            Ana is always compared to her older sister, Lidia. Lidia is allowed to do things that Ana is not, like prepare the family’s favorite Mexican dish, Tamales.

Impression:            I really like the bi-lingual approach to this story. The English paragraphs are followed by the Spanish and the colorful pictures show the actions. This is a great book for ELL students or students learning Spanish. The story centers around making a favorite Mexican dish that the family enjoys. Ana dreams of being old enough one day to make some for her sweet grandmother and starting her own business.             The younger sister shows her competitive side and how she wants to be grown up like her older sister. Sibling rivalry is a universal theme and will surely hook many student readers. Students will enjoy the surprise ending of Ana’s plan for sweet revenge, when she dreams that her older sister will work for her one day. Students will learn about the priority of family live in Mexican culture with kid-friendly activities and delicious home cooked meals.

Library use:             This is a fun story to get elementary students thinking about their futures. Students could create a fun list of things they hope to accomplish in the future, like driving a car, playing in the school band and visiting relatives in another state. If they choose, they could make a list that compares their future goals to a sibling’s goals. I would post the lists around the library and let students enjoy a gallery walk and view the lists.