Senorita Gordita
In this Tex-Mex-flavored retelling of “The Little Gingerbread Man,” Señorita Gordita, a little corn cake, puts the pedal to the metal as, “with a flip and a skip and a zip-zoom-zip,” she leaves Javalina (a warthog), Crótolo (a rattlesnake), and other desert creatures—who all want to eat her—in the dust. Señorita Gordita is sure nobody can catch her, but one very smart creature has a trick up his sleeve. Ketteman playfully mixes English and Spanish throughout the book, making it a perfect selection for bilingual families, new Spanish speakers, and anyone who enjoys a delicioso variation on an old favorite. As with Rubia and the Three Osos (2010), by Susan Middleton Elya, this includes a Spanish glossary to support English readers. The desert landscapes, digitally designed by Terry, embellish the high-spirited and spicy chase, which ends with a few wise words: “Being zip-zoom-fast is good” but “being smart is better.” Ends with a recipe for gorditas. Grades K-3. --Angie Zapata