The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

February 21, 2011
Farm animals collaborate to make a pot of rice pudding in this energetic riff on "This Is the House That Jack Built." Animals and their contributions are first introduced in English ("This is the donkey/ that plucked the lime"), but ensuing verses feature Spanish translations in bold (a multitasking hen lays eggs "while grating the limón/ plucked by the burro"). López's acrylics-on-wood paintings have a burnished copper glow, while the menagerie exudes cartoonish joie de vivre. The seamless integration of Spanish vocabulary makes this a rousing primer. Ages 5–8.

Starred review from March 1, 2011

Gr 1-3-In a colorful nod to "The House That Jack Built," a young farm girl stirs her pot (cazuela) with the help of all the animals, and the resulting accumulation of ingredients and helpers produces a celebratory explosion of music and festivity. Past the first simple sentences, increased text and single images suddenly blossom into paintings of vibrantly warm and detailed graphics that quickly pull readers into the rhythmic repetition of the tale; animals (and foods) are given their Spanish names and a riot of jewel-toned colors emerge in full-page illustrations. "This is the duck/that went to the market/to buy the sugar/to flavor the leche/made fresh by the vaca/while teaching the cabra/that churned the crema/to make the mantequilla/that went into the cazuela that the farm maiden stirred." Spoons, banjo, maraca, and drum sound to tapping feet while voices sing-all as the cazuela bubbles-in anticipation of the final stir of arroz con leche (rice pudding). A recipe is appended to this delicious cumulative tale. Its images are spiced with a feast of richly colorful characters, the warmth of a Southwestern palette, and lush, swirling colors. The artistry of this book makes it a must buy for all libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 1-This colorful title is a winner of a Pura Belpre Honor award for illustration. Its fresh take on the rhyme "The House That Jack Built" chronicles the making of a delicious pot of arroz con leche, or rice pudding, in which all of the farm animals from the hen to the goat to the burro find a way to contribute. What really makes this a standout is Lopez's signature acrylic illustrations. A recipe is included.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2011
With the help of her animal friends, a farm maiden begins to cook. The goat lends some butter; the cow, fresh milk; the chicken, a few eggs--all for a pot of rice pudding. Inspired by "The House that Jack Built," Vamos offers a fresh, new twist, playfully introducing Spanish into this cumulative tale. The pot becomes the cazuela; the goat, the cabra; the butter, the matequilla; and so forth, until the text is bursting with bilingual energy. With each repetition, the momentum builds and bubbles until it reaches a boiling frenzy. Vamos then skillfully ties it all together, as each animal's Spanish name and accompanying ingredient is reiterated in a simple phrase--allowing readers to recall their meaning and relationship to the rice pudding. A party ensues, and all return to the cazuela to give thanks and share in their communal creation. L�pez's artwork, with its desert palette punctuated by brilliant primary colors and its graphic, hard edges, suggestive of folk art, is a perfect match. His sophisticated, multilayered textures create depth, give form and work together to create an image that's easily readable, humorous and harmonious. Complete with an arroz con leche recipe and glossary of Spanish words, this thoughtful work will appeal to both Spanish speakers and learners. A wonderful read-aloud, filled with merriment and conviviality. (Picture book. 4-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

April 15, 2011
Preschool-G In the cumulative style of the traditional childrens chant This Is the House That Jack Built, this joyful, bilingual picture book, set on a vibrantly colored farm, describes each step in making arroz con leche, or rice pudding. An appended glossary defines each Spanish word used in the text, but within the context of the rhythmic lines, Vamos cleverly makes the meaning of each word clear by starting with the English term: This is the pot that the farm maiden stirred. This is the butter that went into the cazuela that the farm maiden stirred. The barnyards smiling animals help to gather the ingredients until the pudding comes together, creating a moment of suspense: Will the pot bubble over? The perfectly paced words are well matched with the richly shaded, acrylic-on-board illustrations, which extend the sense of cooperation and fun as everyone works together and are reminiscent of Eric Carles art in their patchwork-collage texture, clearly defined shapes, and joyful energy. An excellent choice for interactive, multilingual read-alouds.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2011
This fresh take on the "House That Jack Built" rhyme chronicles the making of a delicious pot of arroz con leche (rice with milk). All of the farm animals, from the hen to the goat to the burro, find a way to contribute to the farm maiden's recipe (appended). Lpez's rich-hued, beautifully textured acrylic-on-grained-wood illustrations are standouts. Glos.

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)