Children's Book Specials

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

"Martina the Beautiful Cockroach" Review

A Cuban Folktale
Retold by Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by Michael Austin
Illustrations created in acrylic.
Publisher: Scholastic
Copyright: 2007
 ISBN:0-545-17210-1
Accelerated Reader Book, reading level 3.1
Pura Belpre' Honor Book
2010-2011 Virginia Reader's Choice Nominee

How would you pick a husband?


Has anyone in your family ever given you advice you didn't understand?  


What does coffee have to do with anything??



This story will reveal to you a wise method to use while choosing a mate.  But, watch out you may upset some people along the way!

Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha was a beautiful cockroach in search of a mate.  After being courted by a rooster, a pig and a lizard; Martina finds that love had been close by all the while.  And that Cuban grandmothers are very wise!


This book is a little bit of a higher level for my children, and I'm not sure they exactly understood the story. But, they both seemed to enjoy the rhythm of the book and the illustrations.  (As well as finding the coffee test to be funny!)

A story about a cockroach?  The detailed and charming illustrations in this book truly beautify this repulsive-type insect.  

The only drawback for me about this book is there are 10-15 Spanish words...which is neat, but there isn't a glossary to tell you the meaning of these words. Or the correct pronunciation.

Review by Christy F. @ PrincessPinkk's Ponderings.