Yum! ¡Mmmm! ¡Qué Rico!
Americas' Sproutings
1 Paperback/1 CD (see all formats)

"In this feast of flavors, 14 haiku celebrate the origins of agriculture indigenous to the Americas. Narrator Cavallero correctly pronounces the Spanish words used. Her expressive voice can be dreamy, as for the pumpkin growing under the round luna, or spicy for green chili peppers. Often her narration is delicious enough to make a listener’s mouth water: “Fudge, cake, pie, cookies. Brown magic melts on your tongue.” There is a special lip-smacker as she lovingly reads the word dulces (“sweets”) to describe prickly pear syrup. Unique music and background sounds for each poem include a barking dog, a bird calling in the jungle, maracas shaking, children laughing, and soft music playing. Vivid art reminiscent of the Mexican muralists Rivera and Orozco illustrate each double-page spread in the accompanying book. It’s hard not to join in with foot-tapping joy as Mora reads the last infectious jump-roping rhyme, incorporating all the foods, as she celebrates the Americas’ plants’ infinite variety."

"How elegantly Mora's exploration of edibles from the Americas plays into the audiobook format! Gabriella Cavallero's narration is elegant as well. For each delicacy--whether it's blueberry, potato, or papaya, to name just a few--there is a selection of factual tidbits (easily glossed over in book format) followed by a haiku. In the audio format, one's interest is piqued by the information--700 million pounds of peanut butter consumed in the United States yearly, for example. Thus one is primed for the poetic images to follow--"a gooey party, my sandwich and me." Cavallero's interest is evident as she shares the facts, and she uses the breadth of her vocal register to present the related haikus. Her elongated phrases, staccato words, and prolonged pauses are a pleasure."