Jenny Lacika grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she learned to
work together with an older brother and a younger brother. She
graduated from MIT after she discovered how math could break down
walls and open doors, and she never stopped loving books. She now
lives in her hometown with her husband and two kids. This is her
first book.
When Teresa Martinez was a child, her family moved from a small
town to the city. Drawing helped shy Teresa connect with the other
kids at school. Now she connects with children across Mexico and
around the world through the books she illustrates.
www.teresa-mtz.com
Rafael wants to keep his toys safe from his rambunctious toddler
sister, Essie. What can he do?
Nothing seems to ward off the human tornado that is his little
sister. Blocking the doorway with a “no pasar” sign was a
bust—Essie can’t read! Maybe he can protect his toys with a
barricade. Commandeering an array of household items, Rafael begins
constructing “un muro. A wall.” Puzzle boxes, cereal boxes, packing
boxes, a portable cooler, and even a roll of toilet paper are
pressed into service. Building the wall is not as easy as he
thought. Using spatial relations and problem-solving skills, Rafael
successfully constructs an impassable and kid-proof obstacle to
protect his toys—or has he? Before he knows it, the irrepressible
Essie barrels through the wall, and Rafael finally realizes what
his sister has been trying to do—it’s not his toys she wants to
play with but him. Lacika’s STEM-driven story highlights early math
skills, self-directed creative play, and the power of
collaboration. Using simple declarative sentences with a peppering
of Spanish vocabulary, the text unfolds Rafael’s dilemma
organically. The bright, full-color digital illustrations show
various adults going about their daily routines oblivious to the
churning sibling undercurrents in their Chicanx middle-class
household. A Spanish glossary and math activities are included.
A fun look at spatial and sibling relationships.
—Kirkus Reviews
From a series that weaves strong cultural connections and math
concepts into a whole, this book features Rafael, who needs to
protect his toys from his adorable but annoying baby sister, Essie.
During Essie’s nap, he gathers materials to build a barrier to
keep her from destroying his things. He carefully considers the
size and shape of each item, and how it will work in his design
scheme. Plenty of Spanish words in the story connect to Rafael’s
culture, but his problem with his little sister is universal. At
the end of the story, he finds that it’s more fun to include Essie
than to keep her out. Most children will relate to this amiable
story that limits the math concepts to building with
three-dimensional shapes. Without the specific geometric
nomenclature to help with build vocabulary, that part of the plot
is weak, but the story gets by on its charms. VERDICT A compelling
story with connections to math, Latinx culture, and family
dynamics; a lot of kids will identify with Rafael and be happy to
see this book on the shelves.
—School Library Journal
Rafael’s baby sister, Essie, is a toddling terror who doesn’t
understand boundaries and keeps grabbing all of his toys. So,
Rafael decides to build a wall to protect his belongings. He uses
shoeboxes, paper rolls, magazine holders, and other found objects.
Through trial and error mixed with a grasp of 3-D geometry and
spatial reasoning, Rafael builds his fortification. But is it
Essie-proof? This question is answered as soon as naptime ends and
Essie comes busting through the wall. The toys, however, are safe
because Essie loves knocking down the wall—and playing with her big
brother—most of all. Lacika and Martinez do a wonderful job in this
Storytelling Math title of bringing a STEM topic to life, and the
illustrations clearly depict Rafael’s thoughts and building
process. Because Rafael’s family is Chicanx (Mexican American), the
text smoothly incorporates Spanish vocabulary, which is defined in
a glossary. The back matter also includes an “Exploring the Math’’
section featuring math notes, activities, and a link to additional
STEM support material.
—Booklist
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