Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
"Austin's cockroach dwelling is a desirable piece of real estate, with its stairs made of gum wrappers, its wrought-plastic comb railing, and its exclusive mid-Havana address (it's a lamppost). A friendly sprinkling of Spanish words, warmly drawn relationships and a lot of puns all widen the audience for this spirited story." --Publishers Weekly"Deedy's masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor. The acrylic illustrations, in a hyper-realistic style reminiscent of a softer William Joyce, are rendered in a vivid tropical palette. Shifting perspectives and points of view add vitality to the compositions, and facial expressions reveal both emotions and character traits. A scattering of Spanish words adds zest to this fine read-aloud." --Booklist"Deedy's text sparkles with sly humor...The stunning acrylic illustrations are full of color, light, and humor...This wonderful book will delight children." --School Library Journal"Beauty and charm are not what we expect in a cockroach, but author Carmen Agra Deedy creates a sweet maiden in her re-telling of a Cuban folk tale about selecting a husband." --The Sacramento Bee"...lively and funny...Fun to compare with other versions, this telling has magic all its own." --Kirkus"The humorous use of language, Cuban setting, and beautiful illustrations add to the book's cultural authenticity." --REFORMA Newsletter"The skillfully crafted acrylic illustrations capture the island's ambience... The text flows easily." --Criticas, * STARRED REVIEW *"...a spicy original retelling...attractive and culturally evocative acrylic illustrations are an effective match with the hilarious story." --Book Links"...gorgeously illustrated..." --Fort Worth Star-Telegram"Audio books have also gained acceptance as a type of reading, thanks to great recordings like 'Martina the Beautiful Cockroach,' written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy..." --Jon Scieszka, Ambassador for Children's Literature