The Fiesta Dress: A Quinceanera Tale

by Caren McNelly McCormack, Martha Aviles (Illustrator)

Overview

It’s the day of Lolo’s big sister’s quinceañera party, and suddenly everyone is too busy to play with Lolo. But when she lets her dog Gobi run free, everyone notices. Vivid illustrations in acrylics and watercolor by Martha Avilés skillfully portray Lolo using her fast feet and wits to outsmart Gobi and save her big sister’s special day!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761462361
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	04/12/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	42
Sales rank:	356,846
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Growing up in Texas, Caren McNelly McCormack watched many friends celebrate their quinceañeras (fifteenth birthday parties). She is an award-winning author for Highlights for Children and other publications. This is her first picture book. She lives in Los Altos, California, with her husband and two daughters, who all love a good fiesta.

Martha Avilés was born and grew up in Mexico City. She studied graphic design at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and has illustrated picture books, such as The Fisherman and the Turtle by Eric A. Kimmel and Amelia’s Show-and-Tell Fiesta by Mimi Chapra. She lives in Mexico City with her daughter.

Editorial Reviews

04/01/2014
With so much focus on the quinceañera herself, both before and during the actual celebration and in topical literature, younger siblings can easily feel left out. This picture book may ease the tension, helping siblings feel like a valuable part of the process. Eva's little sister Lolo overcomes her jealousy and saves the day when she rescues Eva's dress sash from the family dog. (SLJ 3/09)

Library Journal

An adorable collaboration of two talented artists creates a memorable tale celebrating Hispanic tradition and family life. A nameless little girl feels invisible to her family as her sister Eva prepares for her quinceañera (15th birthday party). She plays with her dog, Gobi, until she makes a big mistake, causing the entire family to notice her and the dog. The text provides cultural authenticity by interjecting Spanish words throughout. A glossary is provided in the back of the book. The vibrant color illustrations created with acrylic and liquid watercolor capture the setting of the Southwest and the celebratory mood in the story. The author/artist team makes magic in reality and should consider other books focusing on family culture. This is a fun and engaging story all can relate to, perfect for primary grade students. Recommended.

Library Media Connection

Young Lolo, the baby of the family, is used to getting lots of positive attention, but when the time comes for her big sister Eva's quinceañera , Lolo suddenly finds herself out of the spotlight. The entire extended family has gathered to prepare for the event: the girls are getting into their elaborate gowns, the tías are busy making tamales, the tíos are hanging strands of lights in the backyard. Amid all the bustle, Lolo goes unnoticed—until when she accidentally lets the family dog out and he romps disruptively through the preparations, stealing the sash to Eva's dress. Lolo comes to the rescue by retrieving the sash, and she finds herself in the spotlight once more. This could have easily become the story of an annoying, attention-seeking little sister trying to ruin her big sister's big day; fortunately, Lolo is too spirited and spunky a little protagonist to resent; even when the spotlight on her ostensibly dims, she vivaciously flies from group to group, doing her own thing with a big grin on her face. The story is honest about the fact that Lolo is the source of both the conflict and the resolution, a detail that gives her character dimension and presents her as someone who learns from mistakes and tries her hardest to right wrongs. Avilés incorporates a warm palette of roses, aquas, deep oranges, and springy greens to illustrate the story; her acrylic and watercolor compositions have a somewhat old-fashioned feel, with the wide-faced, big-eyed figure (reminiscent of Vera Rosenberry's characters) looking almost doll-like. There is abundant joy in this tale of a big extended family preparing for an exciting special event, and audiencemembers will relish being included. A Spanish glossary is included.

The Bulletin

K-Gr 1

Everyone is preparing for Eva's quinceañera (15th birthday) party. No one is paying attention to little sister Lola. In her boredom, she lets the dog out of the laundry room. Gobi quickly runs off with Eva's white sash and it's up to Lola to get it back. When she saves the day, everyone finally notices her. The upbeat acrylics and liquid watercolor on Arches paper capture the excitement and gaiety of the family gathering and this special occasion. Everyone is smiling and upbeat. Even the dilemma is dealt with in a positive manner. Avilés's style is similar to the one she used in Mimi Chapra's Amelia's Show-and-Tell Fiesta (HarperCollins, 2004), and the two stories would complement each other nicely. Children will enjoy this offering and understand Lola's frustration and eventual delight in her sister's celebration.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

School Library Journal

Everyone is busy getting ready for Eva's important quincea-era celebration, while younger sister, Lolo, once the lovable baby of the family, feels ignored. When she accidentally lets their scruffy mutt run out of the laundry room and down the street with the sash to Eva's gown clenched between his teeth, hysteria interrupts the preparations. Lolo boldly finds a way to save the dress, the day's festivities and her appreciated status in the family by engineering a tamale exchange with the pup. But it is Eva who is most grateful to her little sister, who feels pride and happiness on this special day. Muted acrylics and watercolors reflect a brown-skinned, rotund and cheerful extended Latino family, with t'os decorating, apron-covered t'as cooking and primos (cousins) playing video games in multicolored clothes. Lolo's first-person narration includes key Spanish words as she recounts the joy and frenzy of the milestone birthday. A well-defined glossary includes a succinct explanation of the quincea-era observance. (Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews