Just a Minute; A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
By Yuyi Morales
This beautifully illustrated picture book was the winner of the Pura Belpre Award in 2004 for its amazing artwork.
Just a Minute is a charming story of how Grandma Beetle tricks Señor Calavera into letting her have one more birthday.
As a counting book, it serves as a great introduction to counting in English and in Spanish. This book can also be used to build number sense by having students follow along with the counting sequence (TEKS connection – Mathematics A-3, PK-3rd grades). Additionally, I chose this book to help my bilingual Pre-K students draw connections between counting in English and counting in Spanish.
Another unique fact about this book is that every scene has Grandma Beetle’s cat in it. Sometimes she is hidden, sometime she is not. It can be quite fun for students to try to find the cat on every page.
Here is a snippet of writing from the first few pages:
When Grandma Beetl
e woke at dawn, she heard a know at the door. And, oh my, waiting outside she found Señor Calavera.
Señor Calavera tipped his hat. What a skinny gentleman! With a pass of his hand he signaled to Grandma Beetle. It was time for her to come along with him.
“Just a minute, Señor Calavera,” Grandma Beetle said. “I will do with you right away, I have just ONE house to sweep.”
Señor Calavera remembered he had extra time today. So he decided to wait.
UNO – One swept house, counted Señor Calavera and he rose from his seat.
“Just a minute Señor Calavera”…