No Es Un Frijol - by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez

About the Book

"The story follows the life cycle of a Mexican jumping bean. A caterpillar lives inside a seedpod from the desert and uses it as a food source, until it breaks out as a moth"--

Book Synopsis

¡AHORA EN ESPAÑOL! Un frijol saltarín mexicano no es un frijol en absoluto. ¡Es un fascinante hogar y fuente de alimento para un tipo especial de oruga!

NOW IN SPANISH! A Mexican jumping bean isn't a bean at all. It's a fascinating home and food source for a special kind of caterpillar!

Este cuento poético comparte el ciclo de vida de un frijol saltarín mexicano. Este curioso insecto saltarín es en realidad una vaina de semilla de un arbusto llamado yerba de la flecha, en la cual una oruga se adentra, viviendo dentro de la vaina hasta que construye un capullo y emerge como una polilla. Perfecto para preescolares y niños que aún no leen, este creativo libro ilustrado explora la vida diaria del frijol saltarín mexicano y su eventual transformación y escape de la vaina.

This poetic story shares the life cycle of a Mexican jumping bean. This curious jumping insect is actually a seedpod from a shrub called yerba de la flecha, into which a caterpillar burrows, living inside the pod until it builds a cocoon and breaks out as a moth. Perfect for preschoolers and prereaders, this creative picture book explores the Mexican jumping bean's daily life and eventual transformation and escape from the pod.

Review Quotes

This story follows the metamorphosis of a desert caterpillar within its seedpod home. It eats theinside and drinks the moisture produced by the plant until the hardened pod drops to the ground.The caterpillar is able to move the pod in a way that makes it seem to be jumping, hence itsreputation as a jumping bean. The jumping bean travels through the desert startling the animalsit encounters. First, it meets rattlesnakes, making "¡clic, clac!" noises like the snakes' tails. Then, it startles some coyotes and ravens with its movements and sounds. Lastly, a group of childrengather several of the beans, delighted by their unusual behavior. Eventually, the caterpillarbegins to change within its pod and emerges as a full-grown moth. This Spanish translation ofNot a Bean (2019) is at a higher level than many picture books, making it a great choice forprimary-grade readers. The text is well supported by González's illustrations, which detail theprocess of the caterpillar's transformation well, and an informative author's note.
--Booklist


Part story, part poem, part non-fiction book, this Spanish translation of Not a Bean is a winning combo. Told with lyricism, Martínez's text explains the life cycle of the Cydia saltitans, a moth that lays its eggs inside of a seed pod. Once it's dry, the seeds fall on the ground with a growing larva inside. As the little critter shifts inside the pod, it moves, so it's best known as a "Mexican jumping bean," though it's clear from the title that the pod is not, in fact, a bean. With a desert setting rendered at various times of day, in blues and tans, and with an increasing number of local fauna, this beautifully illustrated book is a crowd pleaser. It's a great choice for those learning the language or who are already fluent. An author's note offers more facts about this fascinating bug. VERDICT A gorgeous nonfiction title recommended for all Spanish-language ­picture book collections.
--School Library Journal

About the Author

Claudia Guadalupe Martínez aprendió que las letras forman palabras leyendo los subtítulos de las películas del viejo oeste con su padre. Su primera novela, The Smell of Old Lady Perfume, recibió el premio Paterson de Literatura Juvenil en el 2009, el premio del Instituto de Letras de Texas al mejor libro juvenil en el 2008 y un elogio del Premio de las Américas en el 2009. Pig Park ganó el premio del Instituto de Letras de Texas al mejor libro juvenil en el 2015 y el premio NACCS Tejas Foco de Narrativa Juvenil en el 2015.

Claudia Guadalupe Martínez learned that letters form words from reading subtitles of old westerns with her father. Her debut novel, The Smell of Old Lady Perfume, received the 2009 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the 2008 Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book Award, and a 2009 Americas Award Commendation. Pig Park won the 2015 Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book and the 2015 NACCS Tejas Foco Young Adult Fiction Award. Not a Bean is her first picture book.

Laura González tiene un título en diseño gráfico de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León en México, donde también estudió ilustración. Ella es miembro de la Asociación Mexicana de Ilustradores (AMDI) y ha ilustrado varios libros para niños.
www.laugonzalez.com

Laura González has a degree in graphic design from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Mexico, where she also studied illustration. She is a member of the Mexican Association of Illustrators (AMDI) and has illustrated several books for children. www.laugonzalez.com