  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2007 K-Gr 4-This lighthearted, comical version of a traditional folktale features a beautiful cockroach who is ready to give her "leg in marriage" and concludes with an amusing, unexpected twist on the familiar sad ending found in Pura Belpre's Perez and Martina (Penguin, 1961; o.p.). Deedy's text sparkles with sly humor. Martina has many suitors; fortunately, her grandmother gives her some "shocking advice" that should help her choose the right one: "-how will spilling COFFEE on a suitor's shoe help me find a good husband?" she asks. Her grandmother responds, "It will make him angry! Then you'll know how he will speak to you when he loses his temper." Martina hesitantly sets up a competition that will bring all the suitors to her home: after each one proposes to her, she follows her grandmother's advice and their reactions allow her to make the perfect choice. Her final suitor's amusing response will elicit loud chortles. The stunning acrylic illustrations are full of color, light, and humor. The artist played with perspective, and his work features oversize figures and objects, wobbly buildings that bend every which way, and animal characters that assume amusing facial expressions and postures. This wonderful book will delight children.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 10/01/2007 Martina’s Cuban grandmother advises lovely cockroach Martina to spill coffee on suitors to see examples of their personality. Martina is reluctant at first, but the test proves abuela’s point: rooster Don Gallo is “cocky”; pig Don Cerdo is “boorish”; and lizard Don Lagarto is “cold-blooded.” Martina is exasperated until abuela points out overlooked suitor Perez the mouse. Amid compliments and blushes, Perez splashes café cubano onto Martina’s shoes. “How did you know about the Coffee Test?” she asks in surprise. “Well, mi amor, my love . . . I too have a Cuban grandmother.” Deedy’s masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor. The acrylic illustrations, in a hyperrealistic 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. Unfortunately, source notes are noticeably absent. - Copyright 2007 Booklist. Loading...
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