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Chato's Kitchen

Author Gary Soto
Illustrated by Susan Guevara
Look inside
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Paperback
$8.99 US
| $11.99 CAN
On sale Sep 22, 1997 | 32 Pages | 9780698116009
Age 4-8 years | Preschool - 3
Reading Level: Lexile 740L
Chato can't believe his luck. Not only is he the coolest low-riding cat in East L.A., but his brand-new neighbors are the plumpest, juciest, tastiest-looking family of mice to move into the barrio in a long time. So Chato and his best friend, Novio Boy, get out the pots and pans, the tortillas and the beans--everything you'd need for a welcoming feast, except for the main dish, and the guests of honor. Of course, in Chato's mind they are one and the same thing.

But the mice are bringing a surprise guest of their own, who may be more than a cool cat can swallow.

Also available in Spanish as Chato y su cena

"A really cool book. . . . Soto adeptly captures the flavor of life in el barrio in this amusing tale. Guevara's striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details." --School Library Journal starred review

"Fresh and satisfying. . . Distinctly seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor." --Horn Book

Winner of the Pura Belpre Award for Illustration
An ALA Notable Book
A Parents' Choice Award Winner

"Wickedly funny. . . . Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit. Salud to this magical pairing of talents." --Publishers Weekly starred review
Born in Fresno, California, to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer. The awards for this multitalented author are many, ranging from the US Award for International Poetry Forum to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, and was nominated for a National Book Award. His other credits include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. When he is not writing, Mr. Soto serves as a volunteer English teacher at his church. He lives with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter, Mariko, in Berkeley, California. View titles by Gary Soto
Susan Guevara is the two-time winner of the Pura Belpré Award for Illustration for Chato’s Kitchen and Chato and the Party Animals. About Chato’s Kitchen, School Library Journal said, “Guevara’s striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details.” She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. View titles by Susan Guevara

About

Chato can't believe his luck. Not only is he the coolest low-riding cat in East L.A., but his brand-new neighbors are the plumpest, juciest, tastiest-looking family of mice to move into the barrio in a long time. So Chato and his best friend, Novio Boy, get out the pots and pans, the tortillas and the beans--everything you'd need for a welcoming feast, except for the main dish, and the guests of honor. Of course, in Chato's mind they are one and the same thing.

But the mice are bringing a surprise guest of their own, who may be more than a cool cat can swallow.

Also available in Spanish as Chato y su cena

Reviews

"A really cool book. . . . Soto adeptly captures the flavor of life in el barrio in this amusing tale. Guevara's striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details." --School Library Journal starred review

"Fresh and satisfying. . . Distinctly seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor." --Horn Book

Winner of the Pura Belpre Award for Illustration
An ALA Notable Book
A Parents' Choice Award Winner

"Wickedly funny. . . . Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit. Salud to this magical pairing of talents." --Publishers Weekly starred review

Author

Born in Fresno, California, to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer. The awards for this multitalented author are many, ranging from the US Award for International Poetry Forum to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, and was nominated for a National Book Award. His other credits include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. When he is not writing, Mr. Soto serves as a volunteer English teacher at his church. He lives with his wife, Carolyn, and their daughter, Mariko, in Berkeley, California. View titles by Gary Soto
Susan Guevara is the two-time winner of the Pura Belpré Award for Illustration for Chato’s Kitchen and Chato and the Party Animals. About Chato’s Kitchen, School Library Journal said, “Guevara’s striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details.” She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. View titles by Susan Guevara