On the Pampas

by María Cristina Brusca

An account of a little girl's idyllic summer at her grandparents' ranch on the pampas of Argentina

Genres: Picture Books, Geography, Nonfiction, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Maria Cristina Brusca grew up on a ranch on the "pampas" of Argentina, where she rode a "caballo" and met many "vaqueros." She has written and illustrated many picture books, including "On the Pampas" and "My Mama's Little Ranch on the Pampas."
She now lives in Port Ewen, New York.

Reviews

[Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best book. I felt like I was that girl going to her grandma's estancia in the Pampas and to have experiences with her cousin. Everything I had learned about the estancias on the pampas and about the gauchos were illustrated in this book right down to the ostrich-like nyandu birds, which zoos would call a rhea. Interestingly, they made a birthday cake with only one nyandu egg. The ending was so kind of the main gaucho to reward the main girl with an offer for her to come back the next summer.

[Maggie Panning · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I both really enjoyed this book, the story, the illustrations and the extra information that is given in both the front and the back of the book on the things mentioned in the book. It was a great find for our Argentina studies.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2017: Read a book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was included in a collection of stories in my 3rd grader's language arts class. I remember reading it with my oldest was in 3rd grade as well. Having been a missionary in Argentina and having lived in both city areas and one area out in the campo, I just loved this story. I really want to buy it for our own book collection at home.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kids liked this one a lot, and I thought it was all right. This book did a much better job explaining a new environment than Where the Rivers Go did. I got a little bummed out by the protagonist stealing that egg though -- the daddy was not happy! It was sad. I like the empowerment of the whole story though, and it's a nice way to introduce kids to this part of the world.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to life on an estancia in Argentina. I appreciated the theme positive relationship between the young girl and her cousin as well as the adults around her. Watercolor illustrations were very pretty.