MICE AND BEANS by Pam Munoz Ryan

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2001. MICE AND BEANS. Ill. by Joe Cepada. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 439183030

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Rosa Maria is preparing for the birthday of her granddaughter, Catalina. Sunday through Saturday Rosa Maria works on the party. She plans the menu, orders a gift, cleans her house, and prepares for the party. Throughout all the preparations she sets mouse traps to keep the mice away only to realize on Saturday that mice might be helpful.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Ryan uses a common theme, birthday, to create a story that illustrates the love a grandparent has for grandchildren as well as how circumstances change ones feelings. Using the days of the week to provide order, Ryan builds the story to the culmination, the birthday celebration. . At the beginning of the book Ryan has Rosa Maria quoting her mother, “When there’s room in the heart, there’s room in the house, except for a mouse.”
Ryan uses this to build both the story line and Rosa Maria’s character. Each day as Rosa Maria prepares for the party she worries about mice, setting traps that are mysteriously disappearing. Ryan builds a caring elderly character by showing Rosa Marie’s love of cooking for her family, “squeezing” them into her casita, the menu (no dinner was complete without rice and beans!), the birthday present for Catalina, the attention to the mouse traps, and her forgetfulness. Differing fonts and font size add interest and draw attention to detail throughout the book.
Joe Cepada’s illustrations enhance the story. The vivid pictures use different perspectives, high and low, to show the story from both the mice and Rosa Maria’s view points. Both illustration and text come together at the end to show Rosa Maria’s changed attitude toward mice.
Many cultural markers are used throughout this book to show a rich Hispanic culture. Language is used with the inclusion of Spanish words and phrases, such as bolsa, frijoles, fíjate, pastelería, and qué boba soy, throughout the book. The food, enchiladas, rice, beans reflects the culture also. The extended family that was going to “squeeze” into the house, Rosa Maria’s respect for her mother’s saying, and the piñata also refer to the Hispanic culture. The illustrations provide another cultural marker by using bright colorful scenes exaggerating the text. Rosa Maria wears heels, colorful clothing and earrings, and has her hair fixed. In the illustration of the birthday party everyone is crowded together and smiling further reinforcing the closeness of family.
Readers of Rice and Beans will be entertained by a colorful and humorous story that shares Hispanic culture through a universal celebration.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist (September 15, 2001 (Vol. 98, No. 2))
Ages 4-7. It's time for Little Catalina's seventh birthday, and Grandmother Rosa Maria is ready to celebrate. She has room in her heart and her casita for nearly everyone on this happy occasion--everyone except mice. Grandmother sees to the details, from food to fun. But she forgets to fill the empty piñata, and when she discovers that mice have filled it for her, she opens a place in her joyful heart just for them. The story is charming, but what makes it special is the quiet authenticity of the Hispanic characterizations. Cepeda's pictures are as good as the story, with bright, funny scenes depicted from human (looking down) and mouse (looking up) points of view. A delightful birthday or anytime book.

Horn Book (Spring, 2002)
Rosa María takes pains to keep mice out of her house as she prepares for her granddaughter's birthday party. Nevertheless, the vibrant illustrations show a band of mice pilfering her birthday supplies and, in the end, secretly helping with the celebration. Readers of this clever story will chuckle at the skillful collaboration between author and artist. A pronunciation guide is included for the sprinkling of Spanish words in the text. Glos.

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can draw or write a story about a birthday celebration that is special to them. Another activity would be for students to tell what their grandparents do special for them.

Other book about birthday celebrations:
Brown, Marc Tolon. ARTHUR’S BIRTHDAY. ISBN 0316110736.
Haugen, Brenda. BIRTHDAYS. ISBN. 1404801987.
Mora, Pat. A BIRTHDAY BASKET FOR TIA. ISBN 0689813283Rustad, Martha Elizabeth Hillman. BIRTHDAYS IN MANY CULTURES. ISBN 1429617411.