Martina Has Too Many Tías

by Emma Otheguy (Author) Sara Palacios (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A quiet girl overwhelmed by her rambunctious family finds a magical land of solitude only to discover what truly makes a home a home in this lively and magical bilingual picture book that reimagines the beloved Caribbean folktale "La Cucaracha Martina."

Martina does not like parties. Parties are full of tías with their flashy fashions and boom-and-bellow laughter that's too much for quiet Martina. At least with all that noise, no one notices when she slips away. She finds herself in a magical place: a warm, familiar island where she can finally play in peace and quiet. Martina is home at last--or is she?

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
An affirming story that feels like a warm hug from a beloved relative. 

Hornbook

Palacios's visual representation of the cacophony of sounds in the overlays -- in particular the page with all three tias -- is bright and loud; you can feel the noise pop off the page. An author's note explains the folktale tie-in and explores the trope of the loud Latina. 

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781534445369
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date
June 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV012070 - Juvenile Fiction | Legends, Myths, Fables | Caribbean & Latin American
Library of Congress categories
Imagination
Hispanic Americans
Folk tales
Quietude

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