Tamales For Christmas

Stephen Briseño ∙ Illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

Hardcover

Published on Oct 8, 2024 | 40 Pages

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Ebook

Published on Oct 8, 2024 | 40 Pages

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Grades Preschool – 3
Ages 4–8

Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is hard at work, making thousands of tamales to sell so she can buy gifts for her family! This heartwarming tale, based on a true story, explores a grandmother’s boundless generosity, and the irresistible magic of tamales.

A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

When the weather changes, but way before the Christmas tree is decorated, Grandma begins her preparations. With so many children and grandchildren in her family, she finds a way to put gifts under the tree—she sells as many tamales as she can! Masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, Grandma’s just getting started. 15 dozen tamales. As Halloween passes, and Thanksgiving, Grandma is still toiling away in the kitchen: 150 dozen tamales, 700 dozen tamales, 850 dozen tamales. When it’s time to string the lights for Christmas, she’s inching closer to 1000 dozen tamales! Enough to give some to those in need and enough to sell to earn money for Christmas gifts.

Based on the author’s own grandmother, who was the heart of the familia, here is a warm story about Christmas, generosity, and, yes, tamales.

★ "A dazzling Yuletide remembrance." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A triumphant work jam-packed with activity and pure familial love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Briseño’s text, from the point of view of a grandchild, is full of awe for this impressive matriarch." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ “Tamales for Christmas transports readers right into Grandma’s kitchen, filled with warmth, comfort and creativity....Briseño never loses sight of the holiday spirit.” —BookPage, starred review

ISBN 9780593647813 (Hardcover)
Published on Oct 8, 2024
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Dimensions 9-1/2 x 10-1/2
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Fountas/Pinnell: O

ISBN 9780593647820 (Hardcover Library Binding)
Published on Oct 8, 2024
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Dimensions 9-1/2 x 10-1/2
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Fountas/Pinnell: O

ISBN 9780593647837 (Ebook)
Published on Oct 8, 2024
Published by Random House Studio
Pages 40
Age Range 4-8 years
Grade Preschool - 3
Reading Level Fountas/Pinnell: O

Stephen Briseño

Stephen Briseño is the author of The Notebook Keeper, which received the Pura Belpre Author Honor Award. He has taught middle school English for 15 years, and writes, reads, and drinks a ton of coffee with his wife and daughter in San Antonio, TX.

Sonia Sánchez

SONIA SÁNCHEZ paints with both traditional and digital brushes using layers of texture in her work to evoke emotion and movement. Her debut picture book, Here I Am, received two starred reviews and was nominated for the Eisner Award in the category of Best Painter interior art. She is also the illustrator of Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina, the 2020 Jumpstart Read for the Record Selection. Sonia’s art has been selected for the prestigious Society of Illustrators Original Art Show three times. She lives with her husband, son, and a sleepyhead cat in a blue house near the Mediterranean Sea.