Yum! MmMm! Que Rico! Americas' Sproutings

 Bibliography: Mora, P. (2007).  Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico!: Americas’ Sproutings. Ill. by Rafael Lopez. Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN : 978-1-584-30271-1

Plot Summary: Various agriculture from all over the Americas is described in  haiku form using bright, colorful pictures and fun figurative language. The author then shares the history and culture surrounding the food.

Critical Analysis: Mora uses haiku and vivid figurative language to introduce different foods from the Americas. An example when talking about chilies (7) : "Dad bites green mouthfire/Laughs when tears fill his eyes, sighs/MMM this heat tastes good." The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, allowing the reader to further appreciate the diverse foods of the Americas. The book does a great job of sharing the cultures behind the foods, especially focusing on foods native to the Americas, by showing the traditions and history behind each item. The use of haiku makes the story more fun and entertaining. 

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews: "More interesting as social science than as poetry, but visually gorgeous."

Amazon.com: "Brimming with imagination and fun, these poems capture the tasty essence of foods...."

Awards: 

Americas Award for Children's Literature, 2008

Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2008

ALA Notable Book, 2008

Connections:

Use as a read-aloud in a Kindergarten through 1st grade classroom.  Show students the cover and ask what they think the book might be about. What might they learn from this book? While reading, stop and ask students how different foods appeal to the five senses. After reading, have students draw a picture of their favorite food. Each student then shares the picture with the class and talks about how it appeals to their senses.

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