Cinco de Mayo

by Emma Carlson Berne, Geraldine Rodriguez (Illustrator), Mark Oblinger (Contributor)

Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, honors an important battle fought by the Mexican army in 1862. On this day, people celebrate with Mexican food, music, and dancing. Sing along as you explore Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme! This hardcover book comes with CD and online music access.

Genres: Picture Books

24 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Emma Carlson Berne is the author of the YA thrillers STILL WATERS and NEVER LET YOU GO (coming Fall 2012 from Simon & Schuster). She has also written the thrillers FIGMENT and CHOKER under the pen name Elizabeth Woods. She lives and writes in Cincinnati. Learn more about Emma and contact her directly at her website, www.emmacarlsonberne.com. Or check out Emma Carlson Berne Books on http://www.facebook.com/EmmaCarlsonBe... or follow her on Twitter.

Reviews

[Villa Park Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the 5th of May. On this day back in 1862, a significant battle was fought between the Mexican and French soldiers. In honor of this day and event, it is celebrated on May 5th every year by its people through dancing, music, food, and drink unique to Mexico's culture.

This "fiesta-filled" songbook highlighting Mexico's celebration of this historical battle with France is one in the Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme series. Each book in the series begins with a brief narrative introduction that explains the holiday's importance. The majority of the book consists of rhythmic and repetitive text that describes the holiday's traditions. This hardcover book comes with CD and online music access. Diwali is another book in the Holidays in Rhythm and Rhyme series written by Allan Morey.

Check this book out from the Villa Park Public Library!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute picture book pairs reading and music to explain the holiday of Cinco de Mayo. The book starts with a brief description of the holiday which celebrates a victory of the Mexican army over the invading French army on May 5, 1862. Most of the book is written in catchy rhyme that lists ways the holiday is celebrated. These are paired with adorable illustrations by Geraldine Rodriguez. However in an attempt to show that anyone can celebrate the holiday, the publishers have gone overboard. In every picture there may be only one person of color who might be of Mexican heritage. Most of the people pictured are white. This rhyme is actually lyrics for a cute song by Marc Oblinger. The lyrics and the sheet music are at the back of he book, but it isn't necessary to know the song. This book can be appreciated as a cute rhyming book.

The print copies of this book come with a cd and online access to to a very cute song. Although the kindle doesn't include this access, the lyrics and sheet music are in the back of the book and it is easy to find the song on YouTube if you search for Cantana Learning Cinco de Mayo.

The song is cute, but because of the unbalanced representation in the illustrations, I would suggest that story time leaders choose a few other books to go with it.

[Lety Raygoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short and amazing illustrations! Yet, wasn't authentic enough for me. I know it is fiction, but it could have been more authentic.