Uno Mas, One More: A Latino Retelling of an Old Scottish Ballad
CCBC Review:
“In a one-room casita near a one-lane road, Don Manuel and Doña Lila lived with their five children, one goat, two dogs, four cats, and a dozen chickens.” They’re a musical family; even the animals join in when they play and sing. And when they make music, neighbors knock at the door, eager to join in too. Each time someone arrives, Don Manuel says, “Uno más? One More? Pues, claro! Of course!” One night, the guests just keep coming, and Don Manuel greets them with his welcoming refrain. The small house is literally bursting at the seams when “las paredes of the house bulged and wobbled … the rafters rocked and rattled … el techo shook and trembled … CATAPÚN!” In the aftermath, with their small house gone, Don Manuel and his family’s hospitality is returned tenfold when friends and neighbors gather to build them a new home—and this time, there really is room for one more! A Scottish ballad was the inspiration for this tale set in a Mexican community. The storytelling that sings with onomatopoeia and alliteration. Mixed-media illustrations suggestive of folk art create the lively backdrop for this picture book that concludes with a substantial author’s note about cross-cultural storytelling, mariachi, and a glossary. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Olivia Sua
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 4-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Picture book
Subjects:
Community
Cumulative Stories
Mexicans and Mexican Americans
Music and Musicians
Scots and Scottish Americans
Diversity subject:
Latine
Publishers:
Christy Ottaviano Books, Little, Brown
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9780316346535
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Lopez