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Three Stalks of Corn
When Angelica's grandmother explains the legends and uses of corn, the three tall stalks in the garden take on new significance.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1976
23 people want to read
About the author
Leo Politi
44 books18 followersLeo Politi was born in California and spent most of his childhood in Italy. He was an artist and children's book author. He was especially drawn toward Mexican themes.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 5, 2023
When I saw the illustration, I knew I had to borrow this from Internet Archive - I thought that maybe my beloved Rosa was featured in another book! But no, here is Angelica living with her grandmother, Mrs. Corrales, in Barrio de Pico Viejo, in Old Pico in the state of California: "Many of the people who live there are of Mexican descent".
As it is Cinco de Mayo, we were on the lookout for some Mexican content today (I took a guess based on the cover), and we found this story of a third generation Mexican-American to be charming. Not only does it introduce some mythology of Mesoamerica (Tarahumares and the Great Flood and 3 Types of Corn; AND the Toltecs and the "plumed serpent" sky god Quetzacoatl becoming an ant to find the first corn plants - there's a nice illustration of him, too!), it also showcases Angelica's "early Californian house with a veranda all across the front" (so points for architecture as well), teaches how to make tortillas from scratch (and I do mean scratch - from husk to griddle, overnight lime water soak, grindstone, the song you sing as you pat them, the works!), tempts with a breakfast of tortillas and hot chocolate made with a molinillo to froth it, it also shows community involvement (a fiesta in the barrio - in spite of being a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, I learned of the existence of buñelos for the first time; the school Principal inviting Mrs. Corrales to teach the children to cook traditional food) and an appreciation for the humble but life-giving corn plant (Mrs. Corrales grows all her own veg, too).
Furthermore, it has a wonderful generational heirloom and storytelling theme, with the abuelita (grandmother) acting out stories with her own corn husk dolls (a witch, an old man, a donkey, and a little boy - the witch has a little song. Unfortunately this and the tortilla patting song are only given in English), showing both cultural retention and storytelling and just being a generally excellent grandmother. The dolls were one example of what can be made with the corn plant (all parts of it are utilized, traditionally). I didn't even know about corn silk tea.
Since we are Canadian expats living in Switzerland, we rather wished for even more Spanish content, to help us learn the language. But there were many terms given, so we can't really complain. It wasn't 'assigned reading' for us, and I think whoever kept this in a school curriculum sure knows their stuff - I'm surprised it hasn't been more positively reviewed. We enjoyed it very much and got a lot out of it.
There are even recipes in the back (tacos and enchiladas). Though I might be asked to reheat some premade tortillas and try to foam up some hot chocolate for breakfast tomorrow... ;) That sounded "really, really good" to little ears.
As it is Cinco de Mayo, we were on the lookout for some Mexican content today (I took a guess based on the cover), and we found this story of a third generation Mexican-American to be charming. Not only does it introduce some mythology of Mesoamerica (Tarahumares and the Great Flood and 3 Types of Corn; AND the Toltecs and the "plumed serpent" sky god Quetzacoatl becoming an ant to find the first corn plants - there's a nice illustration of him, too!), it also showcases Angelica's "early Californian house with a veranda all across the front" (so points for architecture as well), teaches how to make tortillas from scratch (and I do mean scratch - from husk to griddle, overnight lime water soak, grindstone, the song you sing as you pat them, the works!), tempts with a breakfast of tortillas and hot chocolate made with a molinillo to froth it, it also shows community involvement (a fiesta in the barrio - in spite of being a huge fan of Mexican cuisine, I learned of the existence of buñelos for the first time; the school Principal inviting Mrs. Corrales to teach the children to cook traditional food) and an appreciation for the humble but life-giving corn plant (Mrs. Corrales grows all her own veg, too).
Furthermore, it has a wonderful generational heirloom and storytelling theme, with the abuelita (grandmother) acting out stories with her own corn husk dolls (a witch, an old man, a donkey, and a little boy - the witch has a little song. Unfortunately this and the tortilla patting song are only given in English), showing both cultural retention and storytelling and just being a generally excellent grandmother. The dolls were one example of what can be made with the corn plant (all parts of it are utilized, traditionally). I didn't even know about corn silk tea.
Since we are Canadian expats living in Switzerland, we rather wished for even more Spanish content, to help us learn the language. But there were many terms given, so we can't really complain. It wasn't 'assigned reading' for us, and I think whoever kept this in a school curriculum sure knows their stuff - I'm surprised it hasn't been more positively reviewed. We enjoyed it very much and got a lot out of it.
There are even recipes in the back (tacos and enchiladas). Though I might be asked to reheat some premade tortillas and try to foam up some hot chocolate for breakfast tomorrow... ;) That sounded "really, really good" to little ears.
December 2, 2016
A very long picture book so one on one about a grandmother teaching her granddaughter to cook the traditional Mexican dishes and then sharing that teaching with the community. Very moving and intergenerational.
August 5, 2010
The boys attentively listened but I can't say I loved reading it. Anyone with Mexican heritage or Spanish ties may enjoy it more. Just okay for me. Check another one off the assigned reading list!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews