Just In Case by Yuyi Morales

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Morales, Yuyi.  2008. JUST IN CASE. New York: Roaring Brook Press.  ISBN 1596433299

PLOT SUMMARY

Señor Calavera has a dilemma- what to bring to Grandma's Beetle's birthday party?  While Señor Calavera  collects an assortment of gifts, each beginning with the letter of the Spanish alphabet, Zelmiro the Ghost helps his friend determine which gift Grandma Beetle would love the most.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Yuyi Morales opens the doors of the imagination and gives way to fantasy in her trickster tale story JUST IN CASE, which celebrates the rich Hispanic culture and heritage.  As Señor Calavera begins his adventure, the text reveals the link to the Spanish language.  Each of the gifts that will be presented to Grandma Beetle begin with a letter of the Spanish alphabet, and includes letters che "ch," elle "ll," and ene " ñ ."  Each Spanish letter also names an item with the Spanish term.  To help young readers distinguish what each word means, Morales provides a brief description of the item in English.  For example, young readers learn that un papalote is "a kite to play with the wind," una flauta is a "flute he made from branch," and that dientes are "teeth for a good bite."  These simple and playful descriptions allow readers to easily make the connection between the Spanish and English languages. 

To add depth and life to this trickster tale, Morales includes wistful and nostalgic illustrations on each two-page spread.  Señor Calavera, the story's main character, is a dancing and happy skeleton, drawn and painted as a mythical creature associated with Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday.  His smiling mouth is outlined in blue and orange; pink flowers serve as the pupils in his eyes; and is dapperly dressed wearing a brown fedora and striped tie.  Although skeletons might scare young readers, Señor Calavera is presented as a humorous figure, singing, dancing, and playing in the fantastical world around him.  Señor Calavera's companion on his journey to Grandma Beetle's house is Zelmiro the Ghost.  This character also adds to the whimsical feel of the book as his transparent body is seen floating through the sky, adorned with bright-colored stars, and twisting and turning as the wind blows.

Other cultural markers alluding to the Mexican-American heritage are seen in the items found in both Señor Calavera and Grandma Beetle's homes.  Morales' attention to detail is evident in the book resting on a stool (CIEN ANOS DE SOLEDAD, which is Gabriel Garcia Marquez's  novel, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE) as well as the calendar on the wall which signals that Grandma's birthday is on the Siete de Noviembre (Seventh of November).   At Grandma Beetle's house, readers see rich, bright shades of lavender, fuschia, aqua, and lime green colors on the walls, entryway, and floors. This playful use of colors is also seen in the birthday decor which includes a nine-pointed star pinata and multicolored papel picado banners.   These rich cultural details accurately depict the customs and traditions proudly celebrated within Latino culture.

The cultural themes of family love and celebrating grandparents are also evident in Morales' trickster tale.  As Grandma Beetle blows out the candles of her pink, heart-shaped cake, she is surrounded by her nine grandchildren, whose faces capture the happiness, love, and adoration they all have for her.  Morales ensures the Mexican-American authenticity of her characters as she draws and paints them with varying shades of brown and olive skin tones, as well as black and brown hair.  When Señor Calavera arrives with the present Grandma Beetle loved most, readers see a very romantic image of Grandma Beetle and Grandpa Zelmiro, now in the flesh, in a warm embrace.  Although no explanation is given as to why Zelmiro the Ghost is now Grandpa Zelmiro, a guest at the party, this illustration captures the close-knit relationships among family members and expresses the respect and care these grandchildren have for their abuelos.

REVIEWS AND AWARDS:

Pura Belpre Award, 2009 Winner Illustration United States

COOPERATIVE CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTER CHOICES: "Richly detailed illustrations are full of vibrant colors, warmth, and whimsy, making the skeleton and ghost anything but scary in this follow-up to Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book. As in the original, the Spanish words here are smoothly defined in context."

KIRKUS: "Richly hued and filled with action, the illustrations capture the tale's humor and Latin flavor perfectly, leading on to an entirely logical, hilarious and heartwarming surprise at the end. As gifted an artist as she is a storyteller, Morales is in top form here."

THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS: "Morales' alphabetic litany is intriguing, even poetic, and her precise and conversational text is perfect for reading aloud. The patterns and repetitions in this original trickster tale also give it a strong folkloric grounding. Her magical realistic paintings call to mind Mexican folk art with their layered rich colors, ethereal supernatural beings, and small decorative details...Especially useful for Spanish teachers or those wishing to incorporate Mexican culture into the classroom, this is also a gleefully macabre joy in its own right."

CONNECTIONS

* Have students read other books by Yuyi Morales

Morales, Yuyi.  JUST A MINUTE.  ISBN 0811837580

Morales, Yuyi.  LITTLE NIGHT.  ISBN 1596430885

*Have students learn more about the book's character Señor Calavera and the book JUST A CASE by having them watch informative videos from the Yuyi Morales' homepage.  These may be found at http://www.srcalavera.com/jarana.html  and http://www.srcalavera.com/artista.html 

* To celebrate the Day of the Dead Mexican holiday, have students color and make their own Señor Calavera mask, puppet, and animation book.  The templates for these may be found on the author's webpage at http://www.srcalavera.com/chupirul.html .