About the Holiday
If the tortilla-making machine had produced perfect rounds every time back in the 1950s, the world may never have known the crunchy deliciousness of tortilla chips. Back in the day, Rebecca Webb Carranza and her husband owned the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles, California and were one of the first to automate tortilla production.
Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes
Written by Roseanne Thong | Illustrated by John Parra
“Round are sombreros. / Round is the moon. / Round are the trumpets that blare out a tune. Round are tortillas and tacos too. / Round is a pot of abuela’s stew. / I can name more round things can you?” With wonderful, lyrical verses, Roseanne Thong introduces children to the shapes—circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, ovals, stars, and more—that make up their multicultural world.
Image copyright John Parra, 2013, text copyright Roseanne Thong, 2013. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
Here are round chiming campanas and nests full of swallows, square ventanas for peering through and clocks for telling time. Rectangles are cold paletas to eat on a hot summer day and the ice-cream carts that deliver them, and triangles make tasty quesadillas and gliding sailboats. Each verse ends with an invitation for kids to find more shapes around them—an invitation that’s hard to resist!
Image copyright John Parra, 2013, text copyright Roseanne Thong, 2013. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
Rebecca Thong’s bright, fun-to-read verses shine with evocative words that elevate this concept book to a celebration of the sights, sounds, and sensations that make up readers’ lives. Spanish words sprinkled throughout the story enhance the theme of the book and are defined following the text.
Image copyright John Parra, 2013, text copyright Roseanne Thong, 2013. Courtesy of Chronicle Books.
John Parra’s beautiful folk-art illustrations, which are sure to put a smile on kids’ faces, immerse readers in the daily life of a Latino town. People dance, cook, play games, walk in the park, attend a festival, and more—all while surrounded by colorful shapes. Kids will love lingering over the pages to find all of the intricate details and may well want to learn more about what they see.
Round is a Tortilla is not only a book of shapes, it makes shapes exciting! The book is a wonderful stepping stone to discussions about the places, celebrations, symbols, and decorations found on the pages for students or individuals and would be a welcome addition to any classroom or child’s bookshelf
Ages 3 – 6
Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2013 | ISBN 978-1452106168 (Hardcover) | ISBN 978-1452145686 (Paperback)
Learn more about Roseanne Thong and her books for children and adults on her website!
View a gallery of books and artwork by John Parra on his website!
National Tortilla Chip Day Activity
Homemade Baked Tortilla Cinnamon Chips
Ingredients
- 2 10-inch flour tortillas
- ¾ Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 2 ½ Tablespoons Sugar
- Butter
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Combine the cinnamon and the sugar in a bowl
- Butter the tortillas
- Sprinkle the tortillas with the cinnamon sugar mixture
- Cut the tortillas into 8 pieces
- Place pieces on a baking sheet
- Bake in 350-degree oven for 12 – 15 minutes
- Chips will become crispier as they cool.
Makes 16 chips
You can find Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes at these booksellers
celebratepicturebooks.com 