Fresno State Library
Chato's Kitchen
Warning Sensitive Topics
Story Summary: To get the “ratoncitos,” little mice, who have moved into the barrio to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food: fajitas, frijoles, salsa, enchiladas, and more.
Chato’s Kitchen, written by Gary Soto and illustrated by Susan Guevara, was published in 1995. The book follows Chato, the coolest low-riding cat in East Los Angeles, who’s brand-new neighbors are the plumpest, juiciest, and tastiest-looking family of mice to move into the barrio in a long time. Chato and his best friend, Novio Boy, get out pots and pans, tortillas and beans—everything you’d need for a welcoming feast, except for the main dish, the guests of honor. However, the mice bring a surprise guest of their own, who may be more than a cool cat can swallow.
Chato’s Kitchen is advertised as being a cultural mosaic with a focus on Mexican culture and Spanish phrases throughout, also including a glossary. The book is available in Spanish and bilingual versions.
It has been argued by some that Chato’s Kitchen could be considered problematic due to the stereotypical depictions of Hispanic culture included in its illustrations and text. Accurate and fair portrayal of diverse cultural groups in children’s literature is an ongoing concern. The exposure of children to multicultural literature is thought to offer a number of possible benefits including validation of minority students’ heritage, greater self-esteem, increased respect and appreciation for diverse cultures, and may stimulate greater interest in a student’s native language (Nilsson, 2005). However, the promotion of stereotyping and misrepresentation of culture can have much the opposite effect on a student’s experience, leading to feelings of “otherness” as opposed to inclusivity.
Recognizing that a single book cannot possibly convey all the complexities of a culture, authorities on children's literature recommend exposing students to multiple books of different genres (Nilsson, 2005).
Nilsson, Nina L. “How Does Hispanic Portrayal in Children’s Books Measure up after 40 Years? The Answer Is ‘It Depends.’” The Reading Teacher, vol. 58, no. 6, 2005, pp. 534–48. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20205519. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.
Alternative Book Choices
Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives, Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and discovers that Abuela can’t read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia helps Abuela learn English (“Dough. Masa”), and Mia learns some Spanish too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and has the perfecto idea for how to help them all communicate a little better. An endearing tale from an award-winning duo that speaks loud and clear about learning new things and the love that bonds family members
English just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers her native Spanish. As she prepares for a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn. Her first day is uncomfortable, until she employs her crayons and discovers there's more than one way to communicate with new friends.
Meesha loves making things, but she finds it hard to make friends. She doesn't know quite what to do, what to say, or when to say it, and she struggles with responding to social cues. But one day, she discovers that she has a special talent that will help her navigate challenging social situations and make friends.
Pepe wakes up energized to attend his first Hispanic Day parade. With new food to taste, music to dance to, and a parade to watch, Pepe couldn't be more excited to celebrate and share his Hispanic heritage. Many of Pepe's friends also attend the festival, celebrating their own Hispanic ties. Mexican, Dominican, Panamanian, Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Chilean, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Cuban cultures are all represented in the parade. A day filled with joy and pride, Pepe and the Parade is a jubilant celebration of culture and identity.
Michael is starting at a new school! But he's worried about making friends. Soon he meets other kids in his class. He discovers that some of them like the same books, sports, and foods that he does. Meet the kids in Michael's class and learn how to be a great friend!
Reflections and Other Materials
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