Summary:  Mice and Beans is a wonderful tale about a "forgetful" grandmother's preparations for her granddaughter's birthday.  The big-hearted abuela carefully plans and cooks for the big party, remembering each night to set a mousetrap that she thought she had put out the night before.  Unknown to her, a family of mice become involved with her preparations.  These mice save the day by filling the piñata when the grandmother actually had forgotten.

Recommendation for Parents:  Mice and Beans is a great book for parents and children because it is a story that is fun to read and even more fun to listen to.  Following the Grandmother as she prepares for her grandchild's birthday party is both entertaining and informative.  Day by day, you get to join the grandmother in the chaos of preparing for the party, and at the same time, you get a good look into a traditional Mexican celebration, and the different foods and customs involved.  This is definitely a warm and funny read for any family, big or small.

Recommendation for Other Teachers:  For a fun and festive multicultural read aloud, grab Mice and Beans.  Great for all ages, this story teaches the value of tradition, family, and heritage.  The repetition in the text allows for quite the engaging read aloud.  And the vibrant illustrations grab students' attention, while at the same time, presenting additional details that will support the children's understanding of the story.

Personal Note:   This is, by far, one of the most fun stories I have ever read.  Beautifully written, and just as beautifully illustrated, Mice and Beans is captivating.  Sprinkled with a few Spanish terms, I like how this story reaches out to the growing Spanish speaking population of our schools.  At the same time, it remains a light-hearted and appealing read for all.