Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage.
That’s where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts
to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really
useful: un consejo increíble, some shocking advice.
“You want me to do what?” Martina gasps.
At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela’s unorthodox suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. Soon, only the gardener Pérez, a tiny brown mouse, is left. But what will happen when Martina offers him café cubano
After reading this sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale, you’ll never look at a cockroach the same way again.
Age 4-8
“The acrylic illustrations, in a hyper-realistic style reminiscent of a softer William Joyce, are rendered in a vivid tropical palette. Shifting perspectives and points of view add vitality to the compositions, and facial expressions reveal both emotions and character traits.”
— Booklist
“The stunning acrylic illustrations are full of color, light, and humor…This wonderful book will delight children.”
— School Library Journal
“…illustrations in acrylics use remarkable color contrasts and combinations to create an almost dreamlike setting.”
— Lincoln Journal Star