The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

by Samantha R. Vamos

“The CAZUELA the Farm Maiden Stirred” is a cumulative story imitating the format of the traditional nursery rhyme “The House that Jack Built.” It also reminds me of storyline in “The Little Red Hen” but with a twist.

In “Cazuela,” the animals eagerly collaborate and cooperate to cook ARROZ CON LECHE. The visual narrative of this CUENTO is very appealing to me. The stunning illustrations bring alive the vibrant colors of Rafael Lopez’s cultural heritage. The illustrations add humorous details to the story. Furthermore, I like how Samantha Vamos has moved on of embedding Spanish vocabulary randomly in the story. Her approach is to introduce first the term in English. In the next page, the term is substituted and capitalized in ESPAÑOL and subsequently repeated it in the cumulative tale. ARROZ CON LECHE is a very delicious sweet treat in the Latino Culture. Help yourself to a couple of servings to CELEBRATE Hispanic Heritage Month this year.

“The Cazuela that the farm maiden stirred” uses a catchy and familiar rhyming scheme along with colorful visuals that are sure to appeal to children of all ages. It is just one of the great books on the 101 Picture Book Challenge list.

Borrow it from the Library:

Book | eBook (hoopla or Overdrive) | Read-along Audiobook

Audience:

Ages 5-8 | Grades K-3

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If you like “The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred” you may also enjoy these other stories:

Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach : A Cuban Folktale retold by Carmen Agra Deedy In this humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale, a cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry. Borrow it from the Library: Book Ages 4-8 | Grades PreK-3

Just a Minute : A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle’s door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count, in English and Spanish, as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind. Borrow it from the Library: Book Ages 5-8 | Grades K-3

Maria Had a Little Llama = María Tenía una Llamita by Angela Dominguez Everyone knows about Mary and her little lamb. But do you know Maria? With gorgeous, Peruvian-inspired illustrations and English and Spanish retellings, Angela Dominguez gives a fresh new twist to the classic rhyme. Maria and her mischievous little llama will steal your heart. Borrow it from the Library: Book or eBook Ages 4-7 | Grades PreK-2

What is the 101 Picture Book Challenge?

The 101 Picture Book Challenge is for anyone at any age. Librarians hand picked the titles on the list which includes classics, new titles and everything in between.

To get started, register online. You can track your progress online or if you prefer a paper log booklet, pick one up at your neighborhood Library. The books are organized into categories but you can read the books in any order and at your own pace. When you read all 101 titles, you earn a free picture book (while supplies last).

This is the latest in a series of blog posts exploring some of the things we love about these books.