Max Celebrates Cinco de Mayo

August 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 1-Despite what the titles may suggest, these three easy readers are fictional stories that feature an African-American boy and offer minimal information. In "Cinco de Mayo", Max is invited to a fiesta with José and his family. Wearing traditional clothing, they enjoy sweet bread and tacos, music and dancing, a parade, and a piñata. The book tells when the holiday is celebrated, but not why. "Martin Luther King Jr." explains why the man was important and that "He went to college and learned many things." In "Ramadan", the youngster actually celebrates the holiday Eid-al-Fitr with his Muslim friend Omar, whose family feasts on unidentified "special foods." Readers learn that the celebration marks the end of the monthlong Ramadan fast, and Omar explains that, "]fasting teaches people to give." While Gallagher-Cole's watercolor and pencil cartoons are brightly colored and childlike, young Martin and the adult King look totally different in two portraits. Of limited use."Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools"

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