Rice and Beans, a colorful story

It is stereotypical to paint all Latina abuelitas as little, old ladies with white buns, big bosoms and a killer bean recipe My daughter’s Cuban abuelita has never so much as opened a can of frijoles and she would likely rather go bald than ever be canosa (grey).

That said, there is comfort in reading about traditional Latina abuelitas, they with their ability to feed armies in minutes and envelope you in thick, warm arms. My own grandmother, who actually liked showing off her ample bosom, was like that.

"Rosa María lived in a tiny house with a tiny yard, but she had a big heart, a big family, and more than anything else, she loved to cook big meals for them,'' says the first line of Mice and Beans by Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrator Joe Cepeda.

The book was a gift to me when Maria was still the size of a soda can with frog feet inside my body. We’ve been reading it regularly since she was around 3, though the book is recommended for ages 4 to 7.

What she loves most are the sneaky mice who swipe the mouse traps and take things from Rosa María’s house, leading her to believe she’s just being forgetful. Rosa María, you see, has a lot on her mind. She’s planning granddaughter Catalina’s 7^th birthday party. In the end, la abuelita discovers the band of mice actually helped her pull off the party and created a raucous party of their own with all the stolen goods. I won’t ruin it for you with details.

The book has some repeated lines, which Maria loves. She makes sure I give her the floor when it’s time to say the lines each time. Illustrator Cepeda’s images are funny, rich and bright. Rosa María’s house is pink. Her walls are orange and blue and green and yellow. She wears big earrings and red glasses. The angles are cool, often making you feel like you’re watching from the mouse’s perspective.

I love that while the book is in English, it captures the flavor of Latin heritage. (A Spanish version is available.) Sprinkled throughout are words like casita (little house), fíjate (imagine that) and pastelería (bakery). Every child descended from Spanish DNA should know the word pastelería.

And, while I prefer to read books strictly in Spanish to Maria, she sometimes rejects the Spanish books in favor of the English. So books like Mice and Beans are an excellent compromise. I get to share colorful and culturally relevant stories and she gets to learn pastelería and other delicious Spanish words.

Buen provecho.