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A review by Kirkus :
Sabrina’s much-loved grandmother’s latest visit from Mexico is filled with gifts and interesting tidbits about chocolate, Mayan culture and history. Musical instruments, a traditional blouse (huipil) and pretty ribbons to weave in her hair allow Sabrina to play, dress and feel like a Mayan princess. Sabrina is mostly intrigued by the chocolate bars, which come from the all-important cacao tree, the seeds of which were used by the Mayans in their religious observances, bartering practices and, of course, the making of hot and cold chocolate treats. A gentle, well-translated bilingual text infused with a wise and loving family elder’s teaching is accompanied by earthy, gouache paintings of a round-figured abuelita with her beautiful, Mayan-featured granddaughter. Loose, tan-colored drawings of ancient Mayan scenes are frequently juxtaposed against the full-color modern settings to emphasize Sabrina’s cultural heritage; when she and her abuelita go to the market, for instance, they are depicted straddling two worlds, a monochromatic ancient Mexico on the left, and a modern supermarket on the right. A sweet and loving way to introduce history through family connections. (Picture book. 5-9)
School Library Journal:
In Mara Price's Grandma's Chocolate/El chocolate de abuelita (Arte Público Press, 2010; Gr 3-5), translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura, it's abuelita who travels to visit her granddaughter in the United States. Grandma introduces Sabrina to her pre-Columbian roots and the customs and traditions that are still alive today. Readers will learn about hot chocolate made with a molinillo, about articles of clothing such as the huipil,and about other aspects of Mesoamerican culture, as they enjoy the family story and Lisa Fields's spot-art illustrations.
A review by Publishers Weekly:
There’s no shortage of princess books on the shelves, but few, if any, like this. In Price’s bilingual story, Sabrina’s visiting grandmother tells her stories about her Mexican heritage, braids ribbons into her hair, and gives her gifts, such a huipil, a traditional blouse. “When you put on this huipil, you will look like a Mayan Princess,” she tells Sabrina. After some lessons about the history of cacao, they make hot chocolate (just like Mayan princesses used to drink, to Sabrina’s delight).
Fields’ strongest paintings are those of the rosy–cheeked family, which make evident the influence of their cultural roots and the strength of their intergenerational bonds. Ages 4-8.
Library Journal
Gr 3-5-Sabrina recalls a visit from her Mexican grandmother. Abuelita tells her about the history and culture of the Mayans and Aztecs through such activities as unpacking her suitcase with “surprises from México,” shopping at the market, eating ice cream, and taking the girl to school. Children will enjoy reading about their own customs or learning about new ones, such as making hot chocolate with a molinillo, braiding colorful ribbons into their hair, wearing a huipil, and playing with traditional Mexican toys. Fields does a wonderful job of blending images from the pre-Columbian past with Sabrina’s modern present. The emphasis on the characters through the use of warm colors set against dark yellow backgrounds helps to convey the caring relationship between the main characters. The English text is printed on the top of the page with an excellent Spanish version at the bottom. Both languages are enjoyable reading and easy to understand. A spot illustration dividing the two texts highlights important elements from the story. Pair this book with Braids/Trencitas (Lectorum, 2009) for a family storytime honoring abuelas.–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
There’s no shortage of princess books on the shelves, but few, if any, like this. In Price’s bilingual story, Sabrina’s visiting grandmother tells her stories about her Mexican heritage, braids ribbons into her hair, and gives her gifts, such a huipil, a traditional blouse. “When you put on this huipil, you will look like a Mayan Princess,” she tells Sabrina. After some lessons about the history of cacao, they make hot chocolate (just like Mayan princesses used to drink, to Sabrina’s delight).
Fields’ strongest paintings are those of the rosy–cheeked family, which make evident the influence of their cultural roots and the strength of their intergenerational bonds. Ages 4-8.
Library Journal
Gr 3-5-Sabrina recalls a visit from her Mexican grandmother. Abuelita tells her about the history and culture of the Mayans and Aztecs through such activities as unpacking her suitcase with “surprises from México,” shopping at the market, eating ice cream, and taking the girl to school. Children will enjoy reading about their own customs or learning about new ones, such as making hot chocolate with a molinillo, braiding colorful ribbons into their hair, wearing a huipil, and playing with traditional Mexican toys. Fields does a wonderful job of blending images from the pre-Columbian past with Sabrina’s modern present. The emphasis on the characters through the use of warm colors set against dark yellow backgrounds helps to convey the caring relationship between the main characters. The English text is printed on the top of the page with an excellent Spanish version at the bottom. Both languages are enjoyable reading and easy to understand. A spot illustration dividing the two texts highlights important elements from the story. Pair this book with Braids/Trencitas (Lectorum, 2009) for a family storytime honoring abuelas.–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
A review by Jose B. Gonzalez
LatinoStories.com
There is a reason why Arte Publico is one of the leading publishers of quality children's literature in the country. And this book is proof that this tradition will not be going away anytime soon. It's impossible to read Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita by Mara Price without getting a craving for some authentic chocolate made by Grandma.
This book is told from the chocolate brown-eyed girl, Sabrina, who welcomes her grandmother home upon her visit from Mexico. As children are wont to do, Sabrina asks her grandmother what she has brought for her. And as grandmothers are wont to do, Sabrina's grandmother goes through her suitcase and shares the various gifts she has brought from Mexico. Among this assortment are: drums, a whistle shaped like a dove, colorful hair ribbons, a huipil, and Mexican chocolate.
The huipil, "a traditional blouse worn by Mayan and Aztec women," sets off a series of questions from Sabrina about these cultures and their traditions. Sabrina gets a lesson from her grandmother on Mayan princesses, cacao seeds and most notably, chocolate. This section of the book is what gives it its identity. Combined with the colorful illustrations by Lisa Fields, the story is sure to appeal to children. Aztec and Mayan images are juxtaposed against images of Sabrina and her grandmother in various settings--at school, at the outdoor market, and at the dinner table. The reader gets fascinating lessons on the process of making chocolate, and the author describes it in a manner that would make any reader crave for more.
Sometimes, it's fairly easy to predict a book's future, and in this case, I can't help but think that Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita will win awards. The bilingual book is unique, the character interactions are touching, and most importantly, the plot will captivate any child who has ever taken a joyous bite of chocolate. Mara Price has written a delightfully delicious tale that will educate and entertain.
Midwest Book Review
Reviewer's Choice
The bilingual shelf A grandmother is a great source of wisdom for many children. "Grandma's Chocolate" tells a story of young Sabrina as she learns much about Mexican heritage from her grandmother over something every little girl and perhaps every grandmother enjoys too, chocolate. The book is presented in both English and Spanish and provides a charming read with detailed and thoughtful artwork from Lisa Fields, making "Grandma's Chocolate" a choice pick for multilingual children's collections.
The Children's Bookshelf
Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita, written by Mara Price and Illustrated by Lisa Fields is a bi-lingual picture book that pays tribute to the relationship shared between a grandmother (abuelita) and her granddaughter. This lovely book shares with its readers the importance of the sharing of time, stories, and in this case—chocolate. The story introduces us to Sabrina and her Abuelita who has come from Mexico for a visit. Sabrina is excited to see her grandmother and just as excited to see all of the gifts she has brought with her. To Sabrina, the suitcase was like opening a treasure chest, filled with beautiful ribbons, a whistle, a drum, and the wonderful smell of chocolate. Sabrina and her Abuelita first spend time playing the drum and the clay whistle that is shaped like a dove. Then, when her grandmother is finished weaving the ribbons into Sabrina’s braids, she tells her that she looks like a Mayan princess. Sabrina is fascinated by the stories about Mayan and Aztec princesses who lived long ago and had plantations of cacao and how the Olmecs and Mayas were the first to make chocolate.
She learns too about how the cacao seeds were used for money to exchange for other goods needed. When Abuelita walks Sabrina to school, she tells her about the children of Mayan rulers who learned to read and write and later she shares more stories about the importance of chocolate in the culture—from melted toppings to hot chocolate served in “jarros” or clay cups. That evening, Sabrina, her mother, and her grandmother work together to break up the pieces of Mexican chocolate and stir it into the hot milk and watch it melt into a dark aromatic mixture. As Abuelita pours the chocolate back and forth between cups to create a delicious foamy treat, she tells Sabrina that this is how the Mayas and Aztec made their delicious drink long ago. As the visit draws to an end and Abuelita prepares for her return to Mexico, Sabrina expresses her sadness at her grandmother’s departure, but both promise to think of one another often--especially when they drink their hot chocolate. The story line is a simple one and the colorful illustrations blend images of the past and present in way that entertains and informs young readers. Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita, written by Mara Price and illustrated by Lisa Fields is appropriate for ages 4-8. This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf. Price, Mara. Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita. Illustrated by Lisa Fields. Houston, Texas: Arte Publica Press, 2010.
LatinoStories.com
There is a reason why Arte Publico is one of the leading publishers of quality children's literature in the country. And this book is proof that this tradition will not be going away anytime soon. It's impossible to read Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita by Mara Price without getting a craving for some authentic chocolate made by Grandma.
This book is told from the chocolate brown-eyed girl, Sabrina, who welcomes her grandmother home upon her visit from Mexico. As children are wont to do, Sabrina asks her grandmother what she has brought for her. And as grandmothers are wont to do, Sabrina's grandmother goes through her suitcase and shares the various gifts she has brought from Mexico. Among this assortment are: drums, a whistle shaped like a dove, colorful hair ribbons, a huipil, and Mexican chocolate.
The huipil, "a traditional blouse worn by Mayan and Aztec women," sets off a series of questions from Sabrina about these cultures and their traditions. Sabrina gets a lesson from her grandmother on Mayan princesses, cacao seeds and most notably, chocolate. This section of the book is what gives it its identity. Combined with the colorful illustrations by Lisa Fields, the story is sure to appeal to children. Aztec and Mayan images are juxtaposed against images of Sabrina and her grandmother in various settings--at school, at the outdoor market, and at the dinner table. The reader gets fascinating lessons on the process of making chocolate, and the author describes it in a manner that would make any reader crave for more.
Sometimes, it's fairly easy to predict a book's future, and in this case, I can't help but think that Grandma's Chocolate/El Chocolate de Abuelita will win awards. The bilingual book is unique, the character interactions are touching, and most importantly, the plot will captivate any child who has ever taken a joyous bite of chocolate. Mara Price has written a delightfully delicious tale that will educate and entertain.
Midwest Book Review
Reviewer's Choice
The bilingual shelf A grandmother is a great source of wisdom for many children. "Grandma's Chocolate" tells a story of young Sabrina as she learns much about Mexican heritage from her grandmother over something every little girl and perhaps every grandmother enjoys too, chocolate. The book is presented in both English and Spanish and provides a charming read with detailed and thoughtful artwork from Lisa Fields, making "Grandma's Chocolate" a choice pick for multilingual children's collections.
The Children's Bookshelf
Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita, written by Mara Price and Illustrated by Lisa Fields is a bi-lingual picture book that pays tribute to the relationship shared between a grandmother (abuelita) and her granddaughter. This lovely book shares with its readers the importance of the sharing of time, stories, and in this case—chocolate. The story introduces us to Sabrina and her Abuelita who has come from Mexico for a visit. Sabrina is excited to see her grandmother and just as excited to see all of the gifts she has brought with her. To Sabrina, the suitcase was like opening a treasure chest, filled with beautiful ribbons, a whistle, a drum, and the wonderful smell of chocolate. Sabrina and her Abuelita first spend time playing the drum and the clay whistle that is shaped like a dove. Then, when her grandmother is finished weaving the ribbons into Sabrina’s braids, she tells her that she looks like a Mayan princess. Sabrina is fascinated by the stories about Mayan and Aztec princesses who lived long ago and had plantations of cacao and how the Olmecs and Mayas were the first to make chocolate.
She learns too about how the cacao seeds were used for money to exchange for other goods needed. When Abuelita walks Sabrina to school, she tells her about the children of Mayan rulers who learned to read and write and later she shares more stories about the importance of chocolate in the culture—from melted toppings to hot chocolate served in “jarros” or clay cups. That evening, Sabrina, her mother, and her grandmother work together to break up the pieces of Mexican chocolate and stir it into the hot milk and watch it melt into a dark aromatic mixture. As Abuelita pours the chocolate back and forth between cups to create a delicious foamy treat, she tells Sabrina that this is how the Mayas and Aztec made their delicious drink long ago. As the visit draws to an end and Abuelita prepares for her return to Mexico, Sabrina expresses her sadness at her grandmother’s departure, but both promise to think of one another often--especially when they drink their hot chocolate. The story line is a simple one and the colorful illustrations blend images of the past and present in way that entertains and informs young readers. Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita, written by Mara Price and illustrated by Lisa Fields is appropriate for ages 4-8. This is Pamela Gates for the Children’s Bookshelf. Price, Mara. Grandma’s Chocolate or El Chocolate de Abuelita. Illustrated by Lisa Fields. Houston, Texas: Arte Publica Press, 2010.
