I was lucky enough to win a copy of today’s Perfect Picture Book from a giveaway by Pragmatic Mom last fall. As I’m traveling to see my own grandson this weekend and as this is National Hispanic Heritage Month, I thought it’s the perfect time to feature it. Enjoy!
Title: Abuelita and I Make Flan
Written & Illustrated By: Adriana Hernández Bergstrom
Publisher/Date: Charlesbridge/2022
Suitable for Ages: 5-8
Themes/Topics: cooking, intergenerational, celebrations, Cuban-American
Opening:
Today is going to be amazing. I’ve never actually made flan before, but I know it will be great…
Brief Synopsis:
Anita is excited to help her Abuelita make flan for her Abeulo’s birthday. But when Anita accidentally breaks a precious platter, she worries that she has spoiled the day.
Links to Resources:
- Try preparing Flan, using the recipe in the back matter;
- Do you have a recipe that is special in your family? Ask an adult to teach you to make it;
- Abuelita plates the Flan using a special platter from Cuba. Ask a grandparent or older relative to share the story of belongings that are special in your family;
- Discover more fun in this Activity Kit.
Why I Like this Book:
In Abuelita and I Make Flan, Hernández Bergstrom introduces a loving intergenerational family and a very kid-relatable situation: young Anita is so excited to help her Abuelita make flan that she accidentally breaks a precious platter and is too afraid to tell her grandparents. As the day progresses, readers experience the joys of preparing a special dish together, and Anita’s growing anxiety. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think readers will enjoy discovering how the apology spills from Anita and the understanding and love her grandparents display.
With Spanish sprinkled throughout (and a glossary at the back), I think this is a wonderful book to share in classroom and home settings. For those fortunate enough to have grandparents or other elderly relatives in their lives, Abuelita and I Make Flan presents a wonderful opportunity to talk about family traditions, keepsakes, and history.
An author-illustrator, Hernández Bergstrom combines colorful full-page spreads with smaller graphic-novel-like vignettes to portray the love and joy of this family.
A Note about Craft:
In the back matter, Hernández Bergstrom includes a photo from her childhood with her Abuelita and a photo of her Abuelo in Cuba. It’s clear from the text and the expressive illustrations that Hernández Bergstrom has mined her memories to create this story. She uses first-person POV, which, I think, will help children relate to Anita and her dilemma of how, and when, to confess to breaking the platter.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 