Review by Booklist Review
In this Tex-Mex-flavored retelling of The Little Gingerbread Man, Senorita Gordita, a little corn cake, puts the pedal to the metal as, with a flip and a skip and a zip-zoom-zip, she leaves Javalina (a warthog), Crotolo (a rattlesnake), and other desert creatures who all want to eat her in the dust. Senorita Gordita is sure nobody can catch her, but one very smart creature has a trick up his sleeve. Ketteman playfully mixes English and Spanish throughout the book, making it a perfect selection for bilingual families, new Spanish speakers, and anyone who enjoys a delicioso variation on an old favorite. As with Rubia and the Three Osos (2010), by Susan Middleton Elya, this includes a Spanish glossary to support English readers. The desert landscapes, digitally designed by Terry, embellish the high-spirited and spicy chase, which ends with a few wise words: Being zip-zoom-fast is good but being smart is better. Ends with a recipe for gorditas.--Zapata, Angie Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Gordita," a word that is both a Mexican endearment (it's the equivalent of calling someone a "little dumpling") and the name of tortilla-based street food, inspires this Spanish language-seasoned variation on "The Gingerbread Man" from the duo behind The Three Little Gators and Armadilly Chili. Ketteman's text skitters along thanks to the feisty, catchphrase-laden declarations of the taunting, deep-fried antiheroine. "I am rather fine-looking, aren't I?" Gordita tells one potential nemesis. "But I airstreamed Arana, gassed past Lagarto, and cruised past Crotolo. So put down your zinger of a stinger, Escorpion. You'll never catch me!" Terry's illustrations are sometimes undermined by an odd and at times frustrating haziness, but for the most part they have the vivacity of graffiti and Mexican street art, rendered with exaggerated dimensionality and spray-paint colors. As for his long-lashed, sassy Gordita (who is stylish to boot in her cowboy hat with pink ribbon trim), she exudes just enough snark that children won't mind her gustatory comeuppance. A recipe for gorditas and a glossary of Spanish terms are included. Ages 4-7. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Ketteman continues her run of appealing fractured folktales. When the story begins, it's quickly apparent that this is a retelling of "The Gingerbread Man" set in the Southwest. Arana, a spider, is cooking herself a treat when one of the gorditas (little fried homemade tortillas) hops up and starts running. The chase is on, and several desert animals join in on the hunt for the tasty morsel. Will Senorita Gordita survive or will one of those crafty animals catch her? The refrain is different from the traditional one but still catchy, and listeners will be chanting along. Ketteman incorporates Spanish terms and phrases, and each animal takes center stage in Terry's illustrations. This way, readers can make connections between the name Crotolo and the enormous, threatening rattlesnake. But if confusion persists, a glossary (along with a recipe for gorditas) is appended. The art is full of Southwestern charm and depicts the setting accurately. Gordita is sassy, the other animals shifty and speedy, and these elements all add up to a yummy folktale. Definitely a hit in regional libraries, but it should be popular anywhere.-Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
In this Gingerbread Man takeoff, Seqorita Gordita eludes Lagarto (lizard, misspelled Largarto in the appended glossary), Crstolo (rattlesnake), and Javalina (who looks like a wild boar but isnt listed in the back), then is bamboozled by Bzho (owl). The text has some energy, but a repeated refrain grows stale. The illustrations, while lively, lean toward garish. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
gordita attempts to outwit a bevy of desert creatures in this retelling of "The Gingerbread Man." Ketteman and Terry (The Three Little Gators, 2009) reteam for this cumulative tale centered on the escapades of a fleet-footed, deep-fried corn cake. From her humble beginnings in the oven of Araa (spider), Seorita Gordita sets off across the Southwestern desert, besting the spider, a lizard, a rattlesnake, a scorpion, a javalina and a coyote. All of these animals are eager to enjoy a taste of the feisty, chatty snack, but "with a flip and a skip and a zip-zoom-zip," Seorita Gordita manages to escape them all. When she arrives at the saguaro where Bho (owl) awaits, she may have finally met her match. The author introduces young readers to Spanish vocabulary through desert geography, flora and fauna, including all of the animals in the tale. Although saguaros and regional clichs abound, the illustrator's use of brilliant colors and humor will hold the attention of younger and older readers, as will Seorita Gordita's parting words to each of the animals she escapes. The author's inclusion of a recipe for gorditas rectifies the story's abrupt ending. A welcome retelling, particularly suited for reading aloud to groups. (Spanish glossary, recipe) (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
