Chato's Kitchen

Any controversy surrounding this book is misplaced. It is a well-written story that entices children to want to to read it and other books. Rarely is there such a fine blending between the words of the author and the pictures of the illustrator. My students love this book and read it again and again.

The book put me in a good mood. It is in English, but there are some Spanish words that are hard to read sometimes. I really liked the part when the cat was sneaking up behind the bird. The cat then heard the five mice walking, and he started swinging his tail to the rhythm of their walking. The cat goes up to the gate and ends up scaring the mice. That was only one of the funny scenes. The book has one more funny part at the end that I don't want to give away. Anybody who reads this book will love it!

The grandparent's picked up this book for my 5-yr old and it instantly became a favorite..not just of her's, but of the whole family! The story-line is cute enough for kids and witty enough for adults and the detailed illustrations add to the genuineness of the characters and the setting. Gary Soto knows how to convey the Mexican American experience with style and humor.

I really think this book is great because there were so many things in the book that remind me of my life as I was growing up as a child. I really like the language that is used in the story because it entangles a little of the Bilingual language with English. I read this book to my students and it was a big hit with them. They read it over and over again every day. I asked some of them why they liked it so much and many of them responsded that they could relate to the story line in one way or another. The school that I teach at it predominantly Hispanic and so this book has really touched base with all of my students in one way or another. I hope that Gary Soto never quits writing these kinds of wonderful books!

Chato's Kitchen is without question one of the best children's books of all time. It has it all: an innovative story, style, rhythm, subtlety, twist, message, fantastic illustrations, and an introduction to foreign language and culture. Oh, and your kid will love it too.