Picture Book Review #2

Mora, Pat. 1992. A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA. Ill. By Cecily Lang. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks. ISBN 0-02-767400-2

PLOT SUMMARY

A little girl, Cecilia, is excited about surprising her great-aunt with a gift for her surprise ninetieth birthday. She carefully considers the precious times she has spent with this relative and decides on several perfect items to put into a basket. Cecilia’s cat, Chica is always nearby to help in her own cat friendly way. Cecilia chooses a book, a mixing bowl, a flowerpot, a teacup, a red ball and a bunch of handpicked flowers, all of which symbolize special times together. After Cecilia helps her mom finish the birthday preparations, the musicians and party guests arrive. Tia is pleasantly surprised by everyone and flattered by Cecilia’s thoughtful gift basket. The musicians play and Cecilia and her aunt celebrate by dancing.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mora uses the main character, Cecilia, to speak in first person. The day’s events are recounted in the story through the eyes of a little girl close in age to five. Not yet realizing the concept of time, she starts planning her birthday surprise for her great-aunt on the actual day of the party. While her mother is busy preparing for the festivities, Cecilia keep’s busy by occupying her mind on what she will give her aunt. Easily distracted, Cecilia gets sidetracked by the playfulness of her cat throughout the day. The climax of the story builds all day long in excitement for when the aunt arrives for the birthday party and Cecilia is finally able to share her birthday gift. The instant the aunt receives the gift and realizes that Cecilia’s gift was a true reflection from her heart; she cherishes the moments and quickly transitions into celebrating the occasion with music and dancing.

Mora isolates words throughout the story in the Spanish language. Although the story is simplistic and straightforward in meaning, and utilizes many beginner words for an early reader to recognize, the text is too long on each page to be read independently and could be appreciated better if read aloud by a proficient reader. The Mexican-American traditions are emphasized in celebrating the birthday of the aunt in this book by having a huge celebration with lots of homemade food, live music, a piñata and inviting many family and friends.

Lang’s illustrations are rendered by using cut paper with dyes. They are full of color and detail and express exactly the sentiments found in the text on each page. Many of the illustrations have an analogous sanded texture of color behind, giving the artwork 3-deminsional depth. The familiar scenes found in a home leave no hesitations about the setting of this story happening at someone’s house. Readers will notice the Mexican-American characters and will gain an appreciation for their cultural style in celebrating birthdays. Lang extracts a true representation of compassion and a strong sense of family in complimenting this book through a culminating celebration.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Utah Governor’s September Children’s Book-of-the-Month, 2004

Southwest Book Award, Border Regional Library Association, 1994

School Library Journal: "Vibrant, detailed cut-paper illustrations portray family warmth and individuality with verve and panache.”

The Horn Book: "Exemplifies the best of recent multicultural publishing.”

CONNECTIONS

*An introduction to using sequence words (first, second, next) could be taught by using this book. Cecilia carefully placed the items in the birthday basket in a specific order. Can students remember the order and explain by using sequence words?

*Students could respond in journals to the writing prompt: Just like Cecilia carefully thought of a birthday gift for her aunt by putting things that symbolized good times they had experienced together, write about someone that is special to you and share three items that you would put in a birthday basket for them. Explain why you picked each item for the basket.

*Students could demonstrate how to represent the number ninety in four different ways: as a numeral, using tens and ones models, telling how many tens and ones needed, and as a picture.

*What year was Tia born in? Students can be challenged to figure this answer out by using their math skills. Younger children still learning to count can practice counting aloud to ninety.