author:
Lisa Bullard
illustrator:
Holli Conger
Lerner / Millbrook,
2011
grades
1-3
Mexican
American
In Marco’s
Cinco de Mayo, part of Cloverleaf’s “Holidays and Special Days” series,
young Marco is one of the dancers in this year’s El Cinco de Mayo celebration.
He’s nervous because he’s afraid he’ll forget the steps. His cousin, Diego,
tells him the story about the Mexican victory over the French in “a big battle”
on May 5, 1862. Thinking about the brave Mexicans, Marco “can be brave and
proud too,” and goes onstage to dance.
There’s
really no story here; it appears to have been written and illustrated to give
teachers a few scattered facts about El Cinco de Mayo. The series is advertised
as “nonfiction picture books” that “feature kid-friendly text and illustrations
to make learning fun!”
One
of the things that’s left out is the basic information about the importance of
the holiday known as El Cinco de Mayo, even the name of the Battle of Puebla,
in which a small, poorly armed force of Mexican soldiers drove back the
well-equipped French army led by Napoleon III. And the pictures here are
ridiculous.
Tacos
are featured prominently throughout the text and we learn that, this year,
Marco “[hasn’t] even had one taco.” Which is probably why he’s excited to
engage in a “taco-eating battle” with his cousin, Diego. There are pictures of
tacos scattered throughout the book. I don’t know, but tacos are pretty basic
these days, not exactly curious examples of Mexican culture. Plus the reader
never knows how many tacos Marco and his cousin eat. I wanted this information,
if only to say, “Ay, Dios mío—¡que estúpido!”
I’m
not sure where the “fun” is. There are four “chapters” in 21 pages, and each
“chapter” contains one or two “facts,” set off at the top or bottom of the
page, for older readers (grades 2-3) who’ve managed to stay awake. There’s one
craft activity, in which children can make maracas out of empty plastic
bottles, masking tape, markers, and uncooked rice or popcorn. There’s a helpful
glossary of words that have already been defined in the text, and additional
entries, such as “celebrate,” “costume,” and “instrument.”
The
illustrations, in bright, bold colors, are unattractive.
Every
time I think a picture book couldn’t get more boring, another one comes along. Marco’s
Cinco de Mayo is actually misinformation, trivialized by design. Not
recommended.
—Beverly
Slapin
(published 4/6/13)
(published 4/6/13)
