{"id":24566,"date":"2014-06-25T21:51:03","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T01:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24566"},"modified":"2014-06-25T22:15:17","modified_gmt":"2014-06-26T02:15:17","slug":"review-of-dont-say-a-word-mama-by-joe-hayes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=24566","title":{"rendered":"Review of Don’t Say a Word, Mama, by Joe Hayes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"dont_say_a_word_mama_large\"<\/a>Don\u2019t Say a Word, Mam\u00e1<\/p>\n

No Digas Nada, Mam\u00e1<\/p>\n

by Joe Hayes
\nillustrated by Esau Andrade Valencia<\/p>\n

Cinco Puntos Press, 2013. 40 pages.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a charming story told in both English and Spanish, and one that\u2019s worth telling in either language.<\/p>\n

Rosa and Blanca\u2019s mother has always been proud of how good her daughters are to each other. When they grow up and each grow a garden, each wants to share her bounty with her beloved sister.<\/p>\n

First, when their tomatoes harvest in abundance, each sister goes to Mam\u00e1 and tells her plans to share her windfall with her sister.<\/p>\n

Of course, Blanca took some of her tomatoes to her old mother too. She told her, \u201cMy poor sister Rosa has a husband and three children. There are five to feed in her house. I have only myself. I\u2019m going to give half of my tomatoes to my sister. But it will be a surprise. Don\u2019t say a word, Mam\u00e1\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Both sisters have the same idea, and they don\u2019t even notice the other sneaking to their house in the dark. Mam\u00e1 sees, but she\u2019s sworn to secrecy.<\/p>\n

In the morning, when the tomatoes have mysteriously multiplied, each sister decides to give some of the overflowing tomatoes to her mother.<\/p>\n

Mam\u00e1 now had a very big pile of tomatoes in her kitchen. She shrugged her shoulders. \u201cOh, well,\u201d she said, \u201cyou can never have too many tomatoes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The same thing happens when the corn is harvested. But when it comes time to harvest the chiles, Mam\u00e1 decides that she may not say a word, but she will have to put a stop to the silly charade her loving daughters are carrying out. Because what will she do with all those hot chiles?<\/p>\n

This has the humor and charm of a tale worth telling, no matter which language you choose to tell it in.<\/p>\n

cincopuntos.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/dont_say_a_word_mama.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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