Review by Booklist Review
One of the world's more unique and messy festivals happens every August in Buñol, in the Spanish province of Valencia, when tens of thousands of people honor the town's patron saints by throwing tomatoes at one another. Introducing this exciting-sounding event is an American eighth-grade Spanish teacher writing in a singsong style: The crowd is soon covered in bright, crimson juice. / ¡Caramba! Tomatoes are still on the loose! Rather than cloying, these rhymes are a good fit for a hectic food fight, which is accompanied by accordingly frenetic illustrations by a Madrid-based artist. There are a few questionable choices a confusing map highlighting Portugal, not depicting the required goggles on all of the kids, and allowing the final couplet to depend on a boy cuddling a tomato in his sleep, which doesn't seem like the wisest thing to do. All that aside and barring any attempts at a cafeteria reenactment this is a good time, and an author's note, glossary, and bibliography anchor this fun and widely unknown romp in fact.--Andrew Medlar Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An American child travels to Buol, Spain, to take part in the town's annual raucous celebration of the tomato.La Tomatina is a large organized food fight in which residents wear goggles and spend the day throwing crushed ripe tomatoes until the streets are covered in one ruby red, pulpy mess. In an easy flowing rhyme, the narrator describes their enthusiastic participation. " Tomate, tomate,' we hear the crowd sing. // We're ready to squash the tomatoes and fling! / The truck moves in closer. Ole?! Here we go! / Grab a tomato. Get readynow THROW!" Cartoon illustrations depict the rowdy, frenzied event as everyone and everything is splattered and splashed in the fruit's squishy juices. And when the loud "BOOM!" of the cannon signals the end of the fun, everyone cleans up, happy to have enjoyed another festival of the tomato. Adults and children alike may notice that despite the glee with which the text describes the mess, characters' clothes are remarkably unstained by the end. The narrator presents white, as does much of the crowd, though it is definitely a multiethnic affair. An author's note explains the increasingly popular event, where tourists and locals alike enjoy parades, music, fireworks, and paella, the saffron-based dish of rice and seafood.A high-spirited celebration of a unique experience. (glossary, bibliography, websites) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
