Personal Response: I enjoyed hearing the story of how tamales are made. I don't feel that Rosa had a very strong or well brought out character. The characters were second to the story of the tamales and the quilt.
Curricular Connection: This book would be perfect for a second or third grade classroom to read before cooking tamales together. Each student could bring a different ingredient and the teacher could bring a large pot . The students could grind corn into meal and knead the dough. The process might take two days. The teacher could bring a portable stove for the tamale pot. The class could enjoy the tamales together. ( )