Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales

From the Publisher

THREE-TIME PURA BELPRÉ WINNER

Yuyi Morales takes us on a new journey with Señor Calvera, the skeleton from Day of the Dead celebrations. Señor Calvera is worried. He can’t figure out what to give Grandma Beetle for her birthday. Misunderstanding the advice of Zelmiro the Ghost, Señor Calvera decides not to get her one gift, but instead one gift for every letter of the alphabet, just in case. Una Acordéon: An accordion for her to dance to. Bigotes: A mustache because she has none. Cosquillas: Tickles to make her laugh…only to find out at the end of the alphabet that the best gift of all is seeing her friends. Morales’s art glows in this heart-warming original tale with folklore themes, a companion book to her Pura Belpré-winning JUST A MINUTE.

Children's Literature

Senor Calavera, the traditional Mexican skeleton character, prepares eagerly for Grandma Beetle's birthday party. Bicycling on his way, he is abruptly stopped by Zelmiro the Ghost, who reminds him that he has forgotten a present. Since "the best present to give a friend is the thing she would love the most," Senor Calavera seeks out gifts he knows she will love. Cheered on by Zelmiro, he picks items in the Spanish alphabet all the way from A, "un Acordeon … for her to dance to," to Y, "Yerbabuena … to soothe her day." He then realizes that he may be late and miss the party. In his haste, he crashes and the presents are ruined, but he finally arrives with what Grandma Beetle loves most; he finishes the alphabet with Grandpa Zelmiro. Why Zelmiro is no longer a ghost does not seem important to the happy ending of this breezily told tale, rich in Spanish vocabulary and Mexican atmosphere. The alphabetically ordered collected presents are cleverly integrated into the double pages, each with a different color background. Each spread includes amusing details to study in the fantasy-like but clearly painted illustrations. The end pages display illustrated playing cards with additional Spanish vocabulary. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3

Señor Calavera, a dapper skeleton wearing a fedora and striped tie, receives an invitation to Grandma Beetle's birthday party. Zelmiro the Ghost reminds him that he needs to take a present and suggests that "the best present to give a friend is the thing she would love the most." The silent Señor Calavera collects gifts alphabetically, including an accordion (una acordeón ) to make music for her, a jaguar to protect her (un jaguar ), and 15 more years to add to her life (quince años ). As these thoughtful gifts fill his bicycle basket to overflowing, the shimmering ghost encourages him to keep looking. When the skeleton loses control of his bike on the very hill where Zelmiro was buried, all the beautiful gifts are ruined. Grandma Beetle is blowing out her candles when the Señor finally arrives with the perfect tribute-Grandpa Zelmiro, who is a ghost no longer. Luminous, jewel-tone spreads chronicle the collection of gifts and pay homage to a rich Mexican culture. A comic book (una historieta ) cleverly recalls Señor Calavera's first meeting with Grandma Beetle in Just a Minute (Chronicle, 2003). The floating, semitransparent form of Zelmiro the Ghost becomes the solidly human form of Grandpa Zelmiro, who lovingly embraces his wife. Part ghost story and part alphabet book, this trickster tale transcends both. Librarians will want to share it for the beautiful language, the spirited artwork, and the rightness of the ending.-Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

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