Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales

1. Bibliography

Morales, Yuyi. Just a Minute: a Trickster Tale and Counting Book. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2016.

2. Plot Summary 

Grandma Beetle is busy preparing for a party when Señor Calavera shows up at her door to take her. This tricky grandmother keeps Señor Calavera waiting through uno house to sweep, dos steaming pots of tea, tres stacks of corn tortillas, and more. Will she manage to trick Señor Calavera and escape death’s call? 

3. Critical Analysis

From the first page, the double page spread colorful illustrations celebrating Mexican culture will delight readers' senses. Señor Calavera’s sugar skull face, Grandma Beetle’s homemade tortillas and melted cheeses, the vibrant piñatas, and the celebration of family all beautifully represent and celebrate Mexican culture in this trickster tale. In classic trickster tale fashion, Grandma Beetle, having no intention of going with Señor Calavera, tricks him by innocently keeping him waiting as she attends to her tasks for the day repeating “just a minute, Señor Calavera”. Her facial expressions are marked by winks and soft, sly confidence while Señor Calavera continues impatiently waiting for the time when he takes Grandma Beetle to come. Readers will laugh as she continues to escape death and count her tasks in English and Spanish while only the cat appears to worry about the outcome of the story. In the end, Grandma Beetle has made a place for Señor Calavera at the table of her birthday celebration, and he leaves a note promising to come back for her birthday next year. Her cunning tricks him and her hospitality wins him over in the end. 

4. Award(s) and Review Excerpt(s)

• 2004 Pura Belpré Award 
  
• From Kirkus Review: “Lit with dancing lines and warm colors, Morales’s illustrations enhance the appeal of this winning story even further.”
  
• From Booklist: “Like the text, the rich, lively artwork draws strongly upon Mexican culture, with hints of Diego Rivera in Grandma's robust form, and the skeleton resembling the whimsical figurines often seen in Day of the Dead folk art. The splendid paintings and spirited storytelling--along with useful math and multicultural elements--augur a long, full life for this original folktale.”

5. Connections

Gather other Yuyi Morales books:

• Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book. ISBN 9781596433298
  
• Little Night/Nochecita. ISBN 1250073243
  

Gather other Pura Belpré Award recipients:

• Soto, Gary & Guevara, Susan. Chato’s Kitchen. ISBN 0698116003
  
• Garza, Carmen Lomas. Magic Windows/Ventanas mágicas. ISBN 089239157X
  
• Mora, Pat & Lopez, Ragael. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El dia de los libros. ISBN 0061288780
  

Have students act out the book through a reader’s theatre. 

Have students create and count the objects the Grandma Beetle is counting in both English and Spanish. 

Have students research Mexican traditions and culture and find connections to the book.