Published by Charlesbridge

Summary:  Anita is excited to be learning how to make flan with Abuelito as they prepare the treat for Abuelo’s birthday.  But before they can even get started, Anita accidentally drops the beloved glass flan plate.  She sweeps up the pieces, hoping no one will notice.  She and Abuelita have a great time working their way through the flan-making process, but at last the moment comes when it’s time to get out the plate.  Anita tearfully confesses what happened, to which Abuelita replies, “A plate is a plate, but YOU are irreplaceable.”  Turns out that Abuelo broke the first flan plate years ago, and the one Anita dropped was a replacement.  They end up using a plate Anita made for grandparents’ day, and the birthday celebration goes off without a hitch.  Includes a recipe for cheese flan and English translations of the Spanish words used in the story.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A heartwarming intergenerational story about a shared love of food and cooking.  The illustrations are appealing with their cartoon bubbles and labeling of items around the kitchen, activities Abuelita needs help with due to arthritis, etc.

Cons:  Making flan looks pretty complicated
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August 28, 2022 at 03:29PM Janet Dawson