Ever since reading in The Storyteller’s Candle that one of the stories Pura Belpré tells to the children at the library is about “a beautiful Spanish cockroach named Martina and a gallant little mouse, Ratoncito Pérez”, I have wanted to know that story! So I was delighted to get hold of it recently as one of the stories included in Señor Cat’s Romance: and Other Favorite Stories from Latin America (first published 1997, reissued by Scholastic, 2001), which I think is set to become a classic. It’s by the same author/illustrator team as The Storyteller’s Candle – Lucia Gonzalez and Lulu Delacre, so my expectations were high (The Storyteller’s Candle is one of our Spirit of PaperTigers bookset; read our interview with Lucia and view Lulu’s PaperTigers Gallery). I certainly wasn’t disappointed: it’s a joy… Although I have to say I didn’t get a look-in for a while because both Older Brother and Little Brother purloined it to read for themselves!
There are six stories in all, each one a delight for sharing with young children. “Martina the Little Cockroach” did not disappoint, though I was mightily relieved to realise that there was one extra page-turn to the story. “The Billy Goat and the Vegetable Garden” also has a connection with Pura Belpré since it is based on her retelling of the Puerto Rican version, included in her book The Tiger and the Rabbit and Other Tales. One of the many Latin American trickster tales about “How Uncle Rabbit Tricked Uncle Tiger” is also included. Then there’s a cheeky wee “Half-Chick” with only one wing and one leg – what a lovely story to weave around the everyday sight of a weather-vane; “Juan Bobo and the Three-Legged Pot”, one of many stories about this character, which translates as Foolish John – and maybe he’s not so foolish… And finally, at the end is the exuberant song abut the Señor Cat of the book’s title.
Lucia’s Foreward and Lulu’s Afterword both make clear the love that has gone into the creation of this vibrant book: but, in fact, that also comes through very clearly via the narration and illustrations themselves. The notes accompanying each story provide insight and connections with other story-telling traditions – and don’t miss the mouthwatering recipe for arroz con pollo Lulu has included in one of her goegeous illustrations!