Las Aguas Frescas de Alicia (Alicia's Fruity Drinks)

by Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Laura Lacámara (Illustrator), Gabriela Baeza Ventura (Translator)

Overview

Seven-year-old Alicia and her parents are enjoying the annual festival celebrating Mexico's independence. There are mariachis strolling across the festival grounds, folkloric dancers twirling in their colorful costumes and brightly colored booths lining the plaza. But the hot day has made Alicia thirsty. Her mother suggests aguas frescas and points to a booth lined with jars of brightly colored fruit juice: there's watermelon, strawberry, mango and even papaya. The watermelon juice is so delicious that Alicia drinks it all. "Mami, this tastes better than that red soda I drink after soccer practice. Can we make some of these at home?" Soon, Alicia is perfecting her own recipe and sharing it with her teammates after soccer practices and games. In this bilingual picture book for children ages 5-8, a young girl discovers a treat from her mother's Mexican-American childhood and becomes her friends' favorite player with her healthy, frothy fruit drinks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781558857056
Publisher:	Arte Publico Press
Publication date:	05/31/2012
Edition description:	Bilingual
Pages:	1
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Language:	Spanish
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

Editorial Reviews

The fruit-blended juice drinks known as aguas frescas offered at a fair inspire a little girl and her mother to serve their own version after soccer practice. Alicia really likes the taste of these fruit drinks and learns from her mother that they can easily be made at home with a blender, fresh fruit, ice cubes and water. Mimicking the aguas frescas stand with all its flavors, they try out strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple. Alicia wonders if sugar should be added to the recipe, but mother says that the fruit itself provides enough sweetness and is much healthier than sodas. When a soccer teammate needs testing for diabetes, Alicia's invitation to have the team over for her fruity drinks also encourages everyone to avoid drinking the canned soda by trying a delicious substitute. The dual English/Spanish text is augmented by summery scenes in opaque, rich colors. The not-so-subtle message that diabetes, sugar and lack of exercise can all be related adds a didactic, cautionary tone to the otherwise pleasant story of sisterhood through soccer. The simplicity of the suggested idea that homemade fruit juice will always be fun to make and delicious to drink is appealing. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews