Mice and Beans

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2001. MICE AND BEANS. Ill. by Joe Cepeda. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439183030

PLOT SUMMARY
To Rosa Maria family means everything. >“She had a big heart, a big family and more than anything, she loved to cook big meals for them.” Even though Rosa Maria had a big heart, she had no room for a mouse in her house. She had important things to prepare for, like a special birthday for her soon to be seven year old granddaughter. Rosa Maria made her plans for each day in order to get ready for the celebration. But each day would not be complete until she set an ever disappearing mousetrap before she went to bed. Little by little things were disappearing or were they, Rosa Maria just didn’t know? The day of the party comes and Rosa Maria thinks she has everything ready until….the children yell for the piñata. She rushes to the piñata because she hadn’t filled it with candy yet, as it cracks open candy spills to the ground. How could this be? Rosa Maria soon realizes she must have had help from small friends. As she wraps up her day , Rosa Maria decides that >“there’s room in the house….EVEN for a mouse!”/em>strong>

Critical Analysis
Pam Munoz Ryan brings readers a charming, celebration tale that all readers can cherish. Her story has a dual story line; one that depicts Rosa Maria’s day by day account of preparation for her granddaughter’s birthday party while she has a quiet undertone of the mice’s own celebration going unnoticed. Children will giggle at the character’s seemingly forgetfulness "I am so busy that I'm forgetting to remember!" knowing the real truth of her sneaky house companions.

Cultural Markers are present in the dialogue with phrases like >“Que boba soy! Silly me or by providing readers with context clues in the text like “stopping at the “pasteleria to order the cake”. Munoz describes authentic foods and even informs the reader of how the food it is made >“ She dipped the tortillas in red sauce, filled them with cheese, and rolled them into fat little bundles.” Illustrator Cepeda helps show cultural images if the reader looks closely at the street signs they will notice surnames like >“Silva”/em>strong> and >“Arvelo”. The author provides a brief glossary and pronunciation guide is follows the story.

Joe Cepeda bright, colorful pages match the author’s humor filled story. Children will enjoy turning each page searching to see what the mice are up to next, enjoying the small details such as Rosa Maria’s brightly painted finger nails and inferring the point of view of the mice by watching the eyes of the mice.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book- “Readers of this clever story will chuckle at the skillful collaboration between author and artist.”

Booklist - “The story is charming, but what makes it special is the quiet authenticity of the Hispanic characterizations.”

Other Books by Pam Munoz Ryan
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride: based on a true story. ISBN 9780590960755.
Ryan, Pam Munoz. Riding Freedom. ISBN 9780590957663.