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MARTINA THE BEAUTIFUL COCKROACH
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Written by
Carmen Agra Deedy
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Illustrated by
Michael Austin
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Hardcover: $16.95
ISBN: 978-1-56145-399-3
Total Pages: 32
Size: 11-5/8 x 10
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Hardcover with CD: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-56145-468-6
Total Pages: 32
Size: 11-5/8 x 10
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Picture Books, ages 4-8/Fiction
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Carmen Agra Deedy is a New York Times bestselling author and has been writing and traveling around the world telling stories for more than twenty years. Her books, including Agatha's Featherbed, The Library Dragon, The Yellow Star, and Martina the Beautiful Cockroach have received numerous awards and honors. Carmen has performed in many prestigious venues, but children are her favorite audience. Born in Havana, Cuba, she came to the United States as a refugee and like most immigrants sees the world from multiple perspectives.You can visit Carmen Agra Deedy's website at: www.carmendeedy.com
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MICHAEL AUSTIN, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, is a creative director and the illustrator of several books. He lives in Georgia.You can visit Michael Austin's website at: www.austinillustration.com
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A CUBAN FOLKTALE
Carmen Agra Deedy delivers a deliciously inventive Cuban version of the beloved Martina folktale, complete with a dash of café cubano.
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Accelerated Reader & Reading Counts Tests:
Reading Counts Test #: Q41834
Reading Counts Level: 3.9
AR Quiz#: 116505
AR Reading Level: 3.1
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Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage. That’s where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increíble, some shocking advice.
“You want me to do what?” Martina gasps.
At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela’s unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him café cubano?
After reading this sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale, you’ll never look at a cockroach the same way again.
This title is also available in Spanish! Click here for more information on Martina in Spanish!
This title is also available as a set that includes an audio CD! Each compact disc includes Carmen's storytelling performance and her narrations in English and Spanish, with the sounds of musical instruments as page-turn prompts. Click here for more information on the Martina CD!
Intrigued by the story of Martina? Want to learn more about its origins or about the real Cuban cockroach? Check out our new website - www.beautifulmartina.com - to get the inside scoop on this wonderful book!
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Reviews
"Austin's cockroach dwelling is a desirable piece of real estate, with its stairs made of gum wrappers, its wrought–plastic comb railing, and its exclusive mid-Havana address (it's a lamppost). A friendly sprinkling of Spanish words, warmly drawn relationships and a lot of puns all widen the audience for this spirited story."Publishers Weekly "Deedy’s masterful retelling of this Latino folktale has a rollicking voice imbued with sly tongue-in-cheek humor. The acrylic illustrations, in a hyper-realistic style reminiscent of a softer William Joyce, are rendered in a vivid tropical palette. Shifting perspectives and points of view add vitality to the compositions, and facial expressions reveal both emotions and character traits. A scattering of Spanish words adds zest to this fine read-aloud."Booklist "Deedy's text sparkles with sly humor...The stunning acrylic illustrations are full of color, light, and humor...This wonderful book will delight children."School Library Journal “Beauty and charm are not what we expect in a cockroach, but author Carmen Agra Deedy creates a sweet maiden in her re-telling of a Cuban folk tale about selecting a husband.”The Sacramento Bee “…lively and funny…Fun to compare with other versions, this telling has magic all its own.”Kirkus “The humorous use of language, Cuban setting, and beautiful illustrations add to the book's cultural authenticity.”REFORMA Newsletter "The skillfully crafted acrylic illustrations capture the island’s
ambience… The text flows easily."Criticas (starred review) “…a spicy original retelling…attractive and culturally evocative acrylic illustrations are an effective match with the hilarious story.”Book Links "...gorgeously illustrated..."Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Audio books have also gained acceptance as a type of reading, thanks to great recordings like 'Martina the Beautiful Cockroach,' written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy..."Jon Scieszka, Ambassador for Children’s Literature
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Awards
* 2008 Pura Belpré Medal (honor book)
* 2008 NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
* 2008 Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List
(primary - starred review)
* 2008 The Best Children’s Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
* 2008 Irma Simonton and James H. Black Award for the Best Picture Book of the Year
(honor book)
* 2008 International Latino Book Awards (Best Children’s Picture Book, English)
* 2008 Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
* 2008 (April) Read On Wisconsin! (primary age group)
* 2008 Society of School Librarians International Book Awards
(honor book, Language Arts picture book)
* 2008-2009 Children’s Book Award (Florida Reading Association)
* 2009 Storytelling World Resource Awards
* 2009 Odyssey Award (honor book)
* 2009-2010 Volunteer State Book Awards (master list, K-3)
* 2009-2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award (master list)
* Nominee, 2007 Cybils Awards (fiction picture book)
* Nominee, 2008 Amelia Bloomer Project
* Nominee, 2008 E. B. White Award
* Nominee, 2008-2009 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award
* Nominee, 2008-2009 Mockingbird Award
* Nominee, 2009 North Carolina Children’s Book Award (junior book category)
* Nominee, 2009-2010 Young Hoosier Book Award
* Nominee, 2009-2010 South Carolina Book Awards (picture book category)
* Nominee, 2009-2010 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Awards (K-3 age group)
* Nominee, 2010 Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
* Nominee, 2010 Charlotte Award
* Nominee, 2010 Treasure State Awards
* Nominee, 2010-2011 Golden Sower Awards
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More books by Author/Illustrators:
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14 Cows for America
This New York Times Bestseller, from award-winning author Carmen Agra Deedy, is a true story of hope and generosity about a gift from a small Kenyan village to the people of America. This children's book was done in collaboration with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah and features stunning illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez.
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Agatha's Feather Bed
Agatha loves her new feather bed, but when six shivering, naked geese pay her a visit to discuss the origin of the feathers, is her goose cooked?
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TreeMan
In a dwindling forest, deep and old, by the banks of a river, dark and gold, there live three friends: a boa named Ana Conda, a sloth named Slow Jim, and a toucan named Bill, just Bill.
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