Traditional Literature

Artwork by Yuyi Morales

Image from www.kirkusreviews.com

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
by Yuyi Morales

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Morales, Yuyi. 2003. JUST A MINUTE: A TRICKSTER TALE AND COUNTING BOOK. Ill. by the author. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. ISBN 0811837580

PLOT SUMMARY

Yuyi Morales tells the tale of Señor Calavera who comes knocking on Grandma Beetle’s door on her birthday, asking her to come with him. “Just a minute, Señor Calavera” says Grandma Beetle. Once Grandma Beetle sweeps one house, boils two pots of tea, makes three pounds of tortillas, and completes several other tasks, each time asking Señor Calavera to wait one more minute, it was time for her birthday party. Together with her nine grandchildren, Grandma Beetle invites a very impatient and frustrated Señor Calavera to be her tenth guest. After having a fabulous time, Grandma Beetle is ready to go with Señor Calavera. But instead of leaving with Grandma Beetle, Señor Calavera leaves behind only a note looking forward to next year’s celebration.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Morales’ original trickster tale embodies a simple rhythmic storytelling style with the repetition of Grandma Beetle’s plea, “Just a minute, Señor Calavera. I will go with you right away,” followed by her numerical stall tactic. Although representing Death, Morales’ Señor Calavera is neither intimidating nor scary. Grandma Beetle, plump and with sparkly gray hair, represents a good and loving figure. She tirelessly toils all day to prepare her own birthday party, not necessarily for herself, but for her grandchildren (and Señor Calavera) to enjoy. In the end, her trickery keeps her home with her grandchildren, while her supernatural guest exits with a promise to return again.

Morales’ illustrations, composed of acrylic and mixed-media on paper, are vibrant shades of colors commonly found in Mexican artifacts and crafts. Representative of the Mexican culture, Morales not only illustrates tortillas and piñatas, but adds details such as hanging chiles, papel picado, and of course Señor Calavera’s decorative skull and bones. This story would make a wonderful addition or introduction to a larger study of Mexican culture.

REVIEW EXCERPTS and AWARDS

“Lit with dancing lines and warm colors, Morales’s illustrations enhance the appeal of this winning story even further.” Kirkus starred review (Oct. 2003)

“Morales (Harvesting Hope) whips up a visually striking book, and funny to boot.” Publishers Weekly (Nov. 2003)

“This story is a delight.” School Library Journal (Dec. 2003)

“The splendid paintings and spirited storytelling--along with useful math and multicultural elements--augur a long, full life for this original folktale.” Booklist starred review (Dec. 2003)

Pura Belpre Medal for Best Illustration (2004)

ALSC Notable Books for Children, Younger Readers (2004)

CLASP Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature (2003)

Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award (2004)

Latino Literary Award for Best Children's Book (2004)

CONNECTIONS

Use this book for an introduction to various aspects of the Mexican culture, or before making crafts, such as calaveras, tortillas, papel picado, and piñatas.

Use this book in addition to the following books for a lesson on Mexican folktales and trickster tales:

--El Cucuy! : a bogeyman cuento in English and Spanish by Joe Hayes

--Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet: Mexican Folktales by Neil Philip

--The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola

--Borreguita and the Coyote by Verna Aardema and Petra Mathers

Other books for children about the Day of the Dead

--The Festival of the bones = El festival de las calaveras : the little-bitty
   book for the Day of the Dead by Luis San Vicente.

--Calavera abecedario: a Day of the Dead alphabet book by Jeanette Winter.

For more books and information about Señor Calavera:

Read Just In Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales
Visit Señor Calavera’s website. 
Follow Señor Calavera on Facebook.

Meet Señor Calavera!

Other books for children illustrated by Yuyi Morales

--Mi Abuelita by Tony Johnston

--Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes

--Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull

Visit the Yuyi Morales' website.