Ann Whitford Paul, Ethan Long, Oliver Wyman
Fiesta Fiasco Book and Audio CD Set
Audio CD
(Scholastic Book Clubs Softcover Book and Audio CD March 15, 2008)
, Book & CD edition
The four friends from Mañana, Iguana -- Conejo (a rabbit), Iguana, Culebra (a snake), and Tortuga (a tortoise) -- return for another adventure, this time to celebrate Culebra's birthday. Conejo convinces his pals to buy gifts according to his own taste, and not according to what their friend might like. Poor Tortuga ends up buying a shirt, Iguana gets a sombrero, and Conejo chooses a pair of pants. Conejo puts on each item as the snake explains that he can't use the clothes and the three friends finally figure out what the rabbit has done. They send him off without playing any party games like Pin the Tale on the Coyote and Musical Rocks. Conejo makes amends by returning with the gifts that Culebra really would like and the four reconcile. The text is peppered with Spanish words defined in a glossary in the front of the book. A fiery palette enlivens the simple cartoon artwork set in the desert. The scenes are fun to look at, such as the cacti sporting balloons as fiesta decorations and the boom box belting tunes. A welcome addition to most libraries.