Nancy María Grande Tabor, author
Nancy María Grande Tabor grew up in Loreto, Mexico. She attended the University of the Americas in Mexico City and received her master's degree in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
"I am a product of two cultures. In a way, I belong to both the United States and Mexico and in a way, I am a stranger. But this gives me an advantage because I can address both cultures and inform each culture about the other culture. This has been the basis for the children's books I am creating. It is because of the great need I see to bridge cultures that I began these books.
The International Cookbook Review
Come along on a trip to the Mexican market. Along the way you can compare, weigh, count, and learn about culture and customs. From bunches of hanging bananas and braids of garlic, to pyramids of melons and baskets of sweet cheese, this market is full of fun and surprises. A set of special questions at the end creates a counting game for curious shoppers who will want to return again and again to find the answers and to make up questions of their own.
Here is a book written in two languages. The book helps you imagine yourself walking through a Mexican market. You can use this book to learn the names of foods in another language. Perhaps you could have a party with the foods pictured on the last page of the story. This book could also help you understand and become friends with someone who speaks Spanish.
How would you present a bunch of bananas on the printed page? Our author-artist has developed a simple yet engaging technique, which she uses to display more than 100 different foods. She snips out banana shapes of yellow paper and arranges them in bunches and pairs for the camera. For shiny fresh fish, she constructs streamlined shapes of crumpled aluminum foil. All the text is printed twice, one page Spanish, the facing page English.
The author invites readers along on a visit to a Mexican market. During the tour, you compare colors and shapes of produce, solve math problems, and learn about Mexican culture. Science, language, math, and social studies concepts are hidden in this brightly illustrated picture book bursting with different kinds of foods.
A trip to a Mexican market for produce illustrates methods of weighing, counting, and making comparisons. Bring this book to life by creating a food market in the classroom, and supply various fruits and vegetables for students to weigh and compare.