Jalapeno Bagels

by Natasha Wing, Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

Overview

Jalapeno Bagels is Natasha Wing's tale of cultural celebration—illustrated by Robert Casilla.

While trying to decide what to take for his school's International Day, Pablo helps his Mexican mother and Jewish father at their bakery and discovers a food that represents both his parents' backgrounds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780689805301
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/01/1996
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Natasha Wing has been publishing children’s books since 1994. She is the author of the popular Night Before series based on “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”; When Jackie Saved Grand Central: The True Story of Jacqueline Kennedy’s Fight for an American Icon illustrated by Alexandra Boiger; and An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers illustrated by Julia Breckenreid, which was a Junior Library Guild selection and an ALA Notable Book. Natasha lives in Colorado with her husband, Dan, and cat, Purrsia. She collects squished pennies and loves hiking, skiing, and traveling. She also dabbles with watercolors. Learn more at NatashaWing.com.

Editorial Reviews

It's International Day at school, and Pablo wants to bring a treat from his parents' "panderia" to share with his classmates. Should he bring his mother's wonderful "pan dulce" or a "challah", which his father has shown him how to braid? What about his favorite "chango" bars or some of the "jalapeno" bagels he and his parents make together? Pablo's final choice isn't much of a surprise, but Wing's simple, affectionate portrait of a mixed family should have wide general appeal and be of great interest to grown-ups in search of good books that show ethnically diverse families. Casilla's warm, glowing paintings capture the individuality of each character with both subtlety and expression. A glossary of Spanish and Yiddish terms (which have been italicized in the text) is an added bonus.

Stephanie Zvirin