Fiesta Fiasco

by Ann Whitford Paul, Ethan Long (Illustrator)

It's fiesta time! Culebra the snake is having a birthday party. Everyone is shopping for just the right present. Luckily, Conejo the rabbit has lots of ideas. Only, they seem a little strange to his friends. What would a snake do with new pants, they wonder? There's a fiasco in the making in this spirited and comical story about learning how to be a good amigo. A glossary of Spanish words in included.

Genres: Picture Books, Spanish Literature, Animals, Childrens, Cultural, Fiction, Rabbits

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

ANN WHITFORD PAUL, author of 'TWAS THE LATE NIGHT OF CHRISTMAS has always been crazy for Christmas, but overwhelmed by it, too. Afterwards she is worn-out and dreams that someone like Mrs. Saint Nick could help her out with the resulting chaos and mess.

Ann graduated from the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University School of Social Work. She became inspired to write picture books after years of bedtime reading to her four children. She's published 19 different award-winning books. Now she gets story ideas from her three grandchildren. For ten years she taught picture book writing through UCLA Extension. She still enjoys teaching how to write picture books. When she isn't writing or teaching, she loves listening to her cat purr, watching spiders spin their webs and following snails' trails.

You can learn more about her, download writing tips and classroom activities, and contact her through her web-site: www.annwhitfordpaul.net

Reviews

[Carol Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little story. It's funny and teaches a lesson that can be hard for kids. When you're picking out gifts, think about what your friend/brother/sister would actually want, not what you want. I like the desert animals and how whimsically they're drawn. The warm colors and cartoonish animals are perfect. The author also incorporated several spanish words in the text. A glossary is included in the beginning, so when you're reading it aloud to your kids you can at least get the pronunciations close, and in the story itself, whenever a Spanish word is included, the following piece of dialogue make it clear what the word means. It also shows that actions have consequence. The other three are angry at Rabbit and make him leave the party. He realizes his mistake, and when he comes back with more appropriate presents, he is happily forgiven.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the tradition of trickster tales from Native Americans, Hispanic culture and the American Southwest, "Fiesta Fiasco" is a delightful story that teaches children to think of others before oneself.

This bilingual book features both English and Spanish words in a tale about four friends; conejo/rabbit, culebra/snake, tortuga/tortoise and iguana. It is culebra's birthday and as his three friends go shopping for gifts, conejo talks each one into buying a gift that is inappropriate for a snake. After opening his gifts culebra realizes conejo was thinking only of himself and sends him away. Conejo learns a lesson and repairs his friendship with his desert pals.

A glossary is included before the story begins to let readers know what Spanish words they will encounter. A pronunciation guide is also included.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 2 out of 5]

from the writing and illustrating team that did Manana, Iguana, Fiesta Fiasco doesn't quite live up to its predecessor. Fiesta doesn't have the lyrical repetition of Manana, it just tells a story of a tricky rabbit. There is a splattering of Spanish words that are defined within the text.

The pictures use yellow, green, orane, and red to paint the desert and the central animals--the cartoons are simple but effective.

[Samantha Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiesta Fiasco is about a group of animals trying to throw the perfect birthday party for their friend Culebra the snake. In their preparation for the fiesta, the animals learn what it means to be a good amigo. While the animals do not have any nationality, this book includes a lot of Spanish vocabulary and does a good job providing enough context so that kids can learn what the words mean in English. The book could also be a good transition for Spanish speaking English Language Learners because it provides some familiar vocabulary. While this book can be a good window to another culture, it does not go past the five F’s like many picture books do not. At first I thought this book might be more targeted towards Spanish speaking children but after thinking about it I realized that it is likely a window into another culture for many children. I think it’s a cool way to teach kids a Spanish vocabulary to talk about something everybody loves – Birthdays!! There is also a theme of selflessness and this could be a good tool to teach kids how to pick out presents for their friends birthdays. At first Conejo buys Culebra presents that he wants like pants and is eventually ejected from the celebration. He then returns with suitable gifts for Culebra and is welcomed back. I feel like Conejo’s actions are common for many kids and many kids could learn from this book!

[LLash · Rating 2 out of 5]

LATINO book selection:

The story "Fiesta Fiasco" by Ann Whitford Paul was the book I chose that had a Latino background. This book's story was spoken in English and some Hispanic. The great thing about this book, however, is when Hispanic was spoken, there was an English spoken dialogue immediately after clarifying what the Hispanic word meant. For example, Iguana wanted to buy a "globo" for Gulebra. Gonejo defined what "globo" meant by saying "Gulegbra would love a balloon." So, "globo" means balloon! It is a great way for kids to read and understand another language as well as being able to understand that the word spoken in Hispanic is defined in English within the text, as well. It's a great book to increase the comprehension of students as well as teach them another culture. Additionally, this book also includes a list of all the Hispanic words used, and what each word means in the beginning of the book.
The illustrations were great, very humorous. The story itself is a good book for kids to laugh at, and the illustrations contributed to that. They were colorful and detailed, and regardless of the characters being unrealistic and animated, the illustrations were definitely wonderful.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like that it teaches Spanish gradually by naming the characters after what the animal is called in Spanish and they use a few other Spanish words. I got it at my work's book fair this summer and both of my nieces and I enjoyed reading it. It made Farrah feel smart to know that she could figure out some of the Spanish words in the back. Autumn had to use the Spanish glossary in the book. This could be a nice transition for a Spanish speaking ELL student who has a decent grasp on the English language. I would use this before a Spanish lesson or to talk about feelings. I would also use it to talk about fairness. It would not be fair to give Conego and Snake each a pair of pants, because Snake is not going to grow legs, they have different needs.

Interest Level http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/bo...
Grades K - 2
Reading Level
Grade level Equivalent: 1.7
Lexile® Measure: AD340L
DRA: 24
Guided Reading: M

[Amber Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This narrative tells the story about friends who are going shopping for a friend's birthday. However the sneaky rabbit tricks the friends into buying gifts for him instead of for Snake. i would use this book in the classroom to teach cause and effect. I will ask them what will happen because Rabbit wanted the gifts for himself? The cause is the rabbit wants these items, the effect is that he tricked the others into buying them for the snake so the snake would give them to him. The students can write about the cause and effect situations or draw them scenarios out.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book not for what it is, but how I can see my self using it in a classroom. Not to say it isn't good, because it is good and I enjoyed it, but I can see taking this book farther. This book would be a great introduction or discussion topic for children to learn about equity ("Pants an good for a rabbit, but are they good for a snake?"). This book also is great for EL students or students who are learning Spanish because it goes over a lot of vocabulary and does so from an acquisition, not learned, standpoint.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a 2nd grade teacher, and I usually write my review as I read (for picture books.) I have read 2 others in this 'series' already, and I want to point out the glossary is at the front of the book for this one. Spanish words camisa, pantalones, and sombrero are introduced, along with the usual (conejo, culebra, and tortuga), and a few others. Conejo declares himself the best at picking out gifts for tortugas birthday, but does he really have tortuga in mind with the gifts he picked .. ? Cute book, lots of introducing of Spanish words, and cute story of friendship.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the other books about these four friends, but still fun for fans of the characters. This could have benefitted from some more spot illustrations to clarify the Spanish vocabulary that's interspersed (in one illustrations a tazon is mentioned as part of the story, but not pictured). The illustrations are the same throughout this series, so see my review of Tortuga in Trouble for my thoughts on them. As an added note though, I love the way Long draws the sun.

[Luanne Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Culebra's birthday, and his friends go shopping for his presents. Conejo thinks he knows just what his friend wants and tells the others what to buy. At the birthday party, Culebra is shocked at his presents! Are they just what he wanted or did someone else want them?
This story has a Spanish glossary for the words used in the story, as well as the pronunciations. It's a great story with terrific illustrations.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Gonejo (rabbit) goes shopping with his friends for Gulebra's (snake's) birthday presents, he talks them into getting gifts that he likes not gifts that Gulebra would like. Gulebra kicks him out of the party and the rest of the friends play games. Gonejo returns with new gifts, the original gifts the others wanted to buy in the first place. Now everyone can have fun again, and... they all know what to get Gonejo for his birthday coming up next.

[Amy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sequel to Manana Iguana. When shopping for Culebra's birthday, Conejo convinces his friends Iguana and Tortuga to buy all the wrong presents (presents that he would like!). Includes a glossary of Spanish words used. A great story for kids who like tricksters, for people who want to learn a little bit of Spanish, and for people who love Ann Paul's first book with these characters.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, introducing spanish in an immersion style. The translations are listed up front, but the text reads as a mixture of English and Spanish words that is easy to follow. The story also has a moral about selfishness.

Our girls really liked this story and we've borrowed it a few times from the library.

[Melissa Morgal]

English and Spanish text. There is a Spanish to English glossary in the book. The animals are identified as their Spanish name. Mentions characteristics of Spanish speaking areas (Markets selling shawls, tortillas)

Good mentor text to read to students about having good intentions when picking out gift/something for someone else.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, Spanish words are interspersed in this fun story. Rabbit convinces iguana and turtle to buy birthday presents for snake that do not make any sense--a hat, a shirt, and pants. Turns out, those are the things that Rabbit wanted for himself. Rabbit learns the error of his ways. Fortunately, rabbit's will be the next birthday party after snake's!

[Madkropotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter picked this book to read today. The story is ok and the illustrations are ok. Nothing amazing, she enjoyed it, but was not elated. I am not a fan of mixing the english and spanish language in the same sentence.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches a good moral, that you should care about your friends and not yourself. THere are some basic Spanish words included in the story. I like this one better than Paul's "Count On Culebra" and "Tortuga in Trouble".

[Christy Whitaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fiasco may be the right word for the title of this book. While i appreciate the message, the story line was rather flat. Unfortunately, this book did not measure up to its predecessor.' However, it can introduce Spanish vocabulary and culture into the classroom.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is the story fun for children, I learned a lot of new Spanish words. In fact, I started out reading this book silently to myself, but ended up reading it out loud, and pronouncing the words correctly, even rolling some of my Rs.

And the story does have a nice message.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gift shopping for Culebra's birthday is lead astray when Conajo persuades Tortuga, and Iguana to buy useless gifts for Culebra instead of what the think he would like. A glossary is included to define the Spanish words used in the story.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it well enough. But it was not as funny as Manana, Iguana. Not by a long shot.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved these stories and I think I'll have to check out some of the other stories by this author.

[Stevie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about three animal friends going to another friend's birthday fiesta. The book has a lot of spanish words,if you would like to learn some spanish words.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun illustrations. The series is cute and kids enjoy the interaction between the hare, tortise, iguana, and snake.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, with comical illustrations.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read with O on Reading Rainbow app. The introduction of a few Spanish words is likely the best thing about this rather boring tales.

[Sharie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about giving the perfect gift.

[Jnase1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book! I think it not only teaches Spanish words, but it also has a good moral message.

[Turrean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricky rabbit connives at keeping all Snake's gifts for himself. Spanish words are nicely woven into the text.