Too Many Tamales

Soto, G. (1996). Too Many Tamales. Illustrated by Ed Martinez. New York, New York: Putnam Juvenile Publisher

Brief Annotation: It is Christmas time and Maria is so excited to be in the kitchen with her mother making the tamales for the family feast. Maria’s mother takes off her diamond ring so it doesn’t get dirty in the masa used to make the tamales. Maria loves her mom’s diamond ring, so when her mother steps out of the kitchen Maria tries it on. Maria forgets she had the ring on until she is upstairs playing when she notices it gone. She has her cousins help her eat the entire batch of tomales in search for the diamond ring. Will she find the ring?

Genre: Culturally Diverse Picturebook

Grade Level: Pre K-2

Readers who will like this: Readers who enjoy a delightful story of forgiveness and togetherness. Children learning about other cultures traditions.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4. Great book to discuss what it means to forgive and to talk about traditions in families.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: What does family mean to you?