Just In Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

 

1. Bibliography

Morales, Y. 2018. Just in case: A trickster tale and Spanish alphabet book. Square Fish. ISBN 978-1250188496

2. Plot Summary

Senor Calvera is excited for Grandma Beetle’s birthday but has forgotten to get her present. Zelmiro the Ghost suggests that the best present to give is the thing that they love the most but he doesn’t know what that is. Together they hunt down to find the best gift by collecting something from every letter of the Spanish alphabet. Rushing to get to the party, Senor Calvera is in an accident that ruins all the gifts but when he arrives he finds out that he has brought the greatest gift to Grandam Beetle. 

3. Critical Analysis

This heartwarming story will have you cheering on the characters to be successful while laughing. The surprise ending will pull at your heartstrings. The book has bright, colorful and detailed illustrations show Mexican culture and traditions that help to bring out the humor of the story.

4. Review Excerpts

Pura Belpre Honor 

Kirkus- “Richly hued and filled with action, the illustrations capture the tale’s humor and Latin flavor perfectly, leading on to an entirely logical, hilarious and heartwarming surprise at the end. As gifted an artist as she is a storyteller, Morales is in top form here.”

School Library Journal- “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.”

5. Connections

Using the alphabet, create gifts that you would collect for a loved one.

Read other works by Yuyi Morales: Just a Minute, Little Night/Nochecita, and Nino Wrestles the World