  | Dona Esmeralda, who ate everything! Author: De la Cruz, Melissa | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Once upon a time, in the middle of a group of seven thousand happy islands named after King Philip of Spain, there lived a lady named Dona Esmeralda. She had a big bouffant hairdo and was much smaller than you. And she was always hungry.
| Illustrator: | Gallanosa, Primo |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.80 Points: .5 Quiz: 517928 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/22)
School Library Journal (07/01/22)
Booklist (06/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/01/2022 K-Gr 2—Inspired by elements of Filipino folktales, this quirky story tells of little Doña Esmeralda, who greedily uses a straw to devour every morsel of food left over by naughty children who refuse what's on their plates. One day, she decides to suck up food that children seem to adore and finds she cannot stop her overindulgence. Pieces of the story, like Doña Esmeralda's magical straw and disastrous zoo adventure, seem offbeat without prior knowledge of Filipino folklore or an early perusal of the author's note, but readers will devour the narrator's mesmerizing voice and bubbly illustrations. Through these comical, wildly animated events, filled with bold colors as well as American and Filipino cuisine, Doña Esmeralda's fate will feed readers' appetites for surprise and silliness. VERDICT This fantastical and memorable character offers an eccentric story with modern tastes meant for a purely entertaining read-aloud experience.—Rachel Mulligan - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 06/01/2022 Prolific author de la Cruz explores the Filipino folktales she heard while growing up in Manila in this rendition of Nick Joaquin’s story about Lilit Bulilit, a woman who eats until she explodes. In this retelling, Lilit is Doña Esmeralda, a tiny, swankily dressed woman with an impressive black bouffant who uses a straw to gobble up all the food children leave behind—brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, asparagus. Eventually, she grows tired of the discarded food and sets her sights on all the yummy treats. She goes on an eating binge, during which she swallows pizza, burgers, samosas, and pancit before moving onto more adventurous fare—zoo animals, naughty and good children, and even their parents. Then Doña Esmeralda feels a rumble in her tummy and a swelling in her belly. BOOM! They all come tumbling out. Gallanosa’s colorful illustrations energetically capture tiny Doña Esmeralda’s larger-than-life antics. This silly story will pair perfectly with a telling of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” An author’s note and recipe for lumpia round out this appetizing offering. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
