Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When the weather changes, but way before the Christmas tree is decorated, Grandma prepares." Inspired, per an author's note, by his own grandmother, Briseño chronicles a matriarch's tamale production leading up to Christmas, as "with masa in one hand, corn husks in the other," she makes enough tamales to sell--finding a way "to fill the space underneath the tree." Via energetic, reiterative text that tracks the woman's incredible progress, spreads note first how the initial 15 dozen are sold by the speaker's father "in the cool of the morning... to his co-workers and friends." At Halloween, Grandma works between trick-or-treaters, reaching 150 dozen tamales. As winter arrives, she's "just warming up," her count soon reaching 850 dozen, and then, by Christmas, a whopping 1,000 dozen. In illustrations rendered digitally with handmade brushes and textures, Sánchez uses warm hues for bustling domestic scenes, while text affectionately details the woman's attributes (giving, funny, tenacious) and helps readers track the tamale count. It's a triumphant work jam-packed with activity and pure familial love. The Latinx-cued family is portrayed with various skin tones. A tamale recipe concludes. Publishes simultaneously in English and Spanish. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--The newest picture book from Briseño (The Notebook Keeper) is based on a true story from his own family. Before Christmas, Grandma prepares tamales in her kitchen at home to earn money for presents for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As Halloween and Thanksgiving pass, she works hard, preparing the tamales night and day. The family helps when they can: Dad sells them to coworkers and friends, and other relatives pitch in to do chores so Grandma has more time for her work. As the story progresses, the number of tamales rises from 15 dozen to 1000 dozen. Painterly illustrations throughout show big smiles and lots of love within the family. Sánchez makes the work look fun and the tamales look delicious. Readers will be happy the tamale recipe is included at the end, along with a note and photograph from the author that provides more detail about his family's holiday traditions with his grandmother. VERDICT This picture book about family food traditions around the holidays would be a welcome addition to any library.--Tanya Boudreau
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Grandma makes tamales by the dozens to bring Christmas cheer for la familia. In her kitchen, "loud and cramped and perfumed with delicious smells," Grandma prepares for the task that awaits. She intends to "sell as many tamales as she can before Christmas" so she can purchase gifts for her many children and grandchildren. Inspired by his real-life grandmother's seasonal efforts, Briseño presents a series of cozy vignettes that focus on Latine familial love, narrated by an unnamed young child. In the crisp morning, Dad sells tamales from a cooler to co-workers and friends. When the days become colder, Mom and the tías bustle around the kitchen to lend a hand. Holidays and festivities unfold. On Halloween, Grandpa greets trick-or-treaters with candies, and on Thanksgiving, la familia gathers round to feast on turkey and other favorites. Grandma stands at the center of it all, with masa and corn husks in each hand. Boasting a vibrant palette of rich, earthy colors, Sánchez's digital artwork superbly captures the tenderness and serenity of each scene. Grandma's tamale milestones ("150 DOZEN TAMALES," "850 DOZEN TAMALES") crop up in bold and all caps throughout. Soon enough, the Christmas tree comes out, and lights fill each room. When Grandma wraps up her last tamales for the season, the real significance of the holiday emerges. A dazzling Yuletide remembrance. (author's note, tamale recipe) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
