una oruga - a wiggly caterpillar -
burrows into the seedpod.
The caterpillar eats
the inside of its pod
and drinks the water
that seeps in."
As a kid, I was always intrigued by the Mexican jumping bean. Of course, I knew nothing about it and may never have really seen a real one. It was the movement that caused me to wonder about it. Until now, that curiosity has never been satisfied. It's just one of the things I love about books for children. They continue to teach - even retired teachers.
In her debut children's picture book, Ms. Martinez invites her readers to learn about this bean that is 'not a bean.' As she explores its life cycle, she reveals that it is a seed pod that comes from the yerba de la flecha shrub. The caterpillar burrows deep inside. The pod hardens, falls to the ground nearby, and then spends time frightening animals and nearby birds with its jump.
It travels where rainwater takes it, and is eventually picked up by exploring children. Using it and others they have found for a favorite game, the NOT a Bean does its thing and entertains until evening. After many days under the desert sun, it is time for the caterpillar to spin a cocoon, and emerge the lovely moth it was meant to be.
Spanish vocabulary including counting words add interest. The warm colors and spirited desert scenes were created in Photoshop. A glossary, a list of Spanish words from one to ten, and an author's note make up back matter.
Fun to read aloud, and filled with new information for many.
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