Award for International Poetry Forum in 1977 for his first published book of poetry, The Elements of San Joaquin, to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award in 1985 for Living Up the Street, his first published work of prose recollections. The awards for this multi-talented author are many, ranging from the U.S. Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer.

His hard work paid off at California State University at Fresno, from which he graduated with an English degree, and later at the University of California at Irvine, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. (Ages 4 and older) -Gail Hudson About the Author:īorn in Fresno, California to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto learned the hard work ethic through his share of chores, including mowing lawns, picking grapes, painting house numbers on street curbs, and washing cars. Grown-ups, too, will appreciate this playful reminder about the virtues of forgiveness and family togetherness. Martinez also has a gift for capturing children's animated expressions, especially when Maria begs her cousins to help her find the missing ring by secretly eating the enormous stack of steaming tamales! Gary Soto's delightful Christmas-spirit closure will relieve young readers who empathize with the negligent Maria. Ed Martinez's warm oil paintings celebrate the riches of South American Christmas colors-adobe reds, dusty gold, lacey whites, and rain-forest greens. It is not until later that night, after all the tamales have been cooked and after all her cousins and relatives have arrived, that Maria suddenly realizes what must have happened to the precious ring. Trouble begins when she sneakily slips the sparkly ring on her thumb and resumes her kneading. When her mother takes off her diamond ring so it won't become coated with the messy masa, Maria decides that life would be perfect if she could wear the ring, too. Her mother even let Maria wear some perfume and lipstick for the big family celebration that evening. Maria is feeling so grown-up, wearing her mother's apron and helping to knead the masa for the Christmas corn tamales.

Too many tamales spanish