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"The Beautiful Cockroach" by Carmen Agra DeeDy

Author:

Carmen Agra DeeDy

Illustrator:

Michael Austin

Publisher:

Peachtree Publishers, 2007

This wry tale tells a story about the wisdom of choosing carefully and listening to an elder (this in case Abuela, Martina's grandmother). Martina is a beautiful vision in her high-heeled bow-tied shoes and lacey mantilla. She is pursued by several suitors, each of whom who reveals his own real nature when Martina applies "the coffee test." When the tiny brown mouse, with a "voice like honey" comes calling, Martina finds him attractive and doesn't want to apply the test. But he turns the tables and in the process wins Martina's heart. How he knew about the test isn't revealed until the last line on the last page, a delightful surprise. An oversized (double spreads stretch to a full 221/2 inches wide) beautifully elegant format, provides ample room for the detailed fantasy art. A brief paragraph on the back flap copy provides some information about the "real" Cuban cockroach.