About The Book
“On rainy Sunday mornings when Mamá pulls out her tall, dark soup pot with tiny white spots, we know it will be a caldo day. Caldo, caldo, caldo.” The kids know they are in for a special treat when Mamá begins preparing her delicious beef vegetable soup. Mamá’s caldo “fills up a warm spot inside us,” and stops the sniffles, softens a cough, settles the stomach, and soothes a backache. It even massages tired feet!
The children lick their lips in anticipation as she chops onions, garlic, potatoes, turnips, carrots, corn, and celery. Then it’s off to the tortilla store to help Papá bring home the warm tortillas that will complement the delicious caldo perfectly. The tortillas are so hot, and the children are so hungry, that they can’t resist. “One, Papá, please?” they beg on the way home.
Popular children’s book author Diane Gonzales Bertrand’s rhythmic narrative, combined with Alex Pardo de Lange’s colorful illustrations, captures a warm-hearted family ritual shared by many cultures. Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup / Caldo, caldo, caldo transforms a common everyday meal into a captivating family celebration and will charm children and adults alike. It also includes an easy caldo recipe that can be used by children, parents, and teachers.
“A bilingual song of praise to that humble but delicious dish, caldo. Bertrand has produced a charming, entertaining book that will be a terrific language teaching tool.”
– San Antonio Express-News
“ … a brisk bilingual text that uses rhythmic prose to tell a simple story. The repeated refrain, “Caldo, caldo, caldo,” gives a pleasantly rhythmic feel to a family ritual – making soup and buying tortillas to eat with it.” – School Library Journal
DIANE GONZALES BERTRAND is the author of numerous books for children. They include Cecilia and Miguel Are Best Friends / Cecilia y Miguel son mejores amigos (Piñata Books, 2014); Sofía and the Purple Dress / Sofía y el vestido morado (Piñata Books, 2012); Adelita and the Veggie Cousins / Adelita y las primas verduritas (Piñata Books, 2011); The Party for Papá Luis / La fiesta para Papá Luis (2010); We Are Cousins / Somos primos (2007); Ricardo’s Race / La carrera de Ricardo (2007); The Empanadas That Abuela Made / Las empanadas que hacía la abuela (2002); Uncle Chente’s Picnic / El picnic de Tío Chente, (2001); The Last Doll / La última muñeca (2001); Family, Familia (1999); and Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup / Caldo, caldo, caldo (1997). A lifelong resident of San Antonio, Bertrand teaches at St. Mary’s University, where she is also Writer in Residence.
Learn more by visiting her faculty page.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, ALEX PARDO DELANGE was raised there and in Buenos Aires, Argentina before coming to the United States, where she graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. She now lives in Gainesville, Florida with her husband and three children. In addition to her art for the Pepita Series with Ofelia Dumas Lachtman, she is also the Illustrator of The Empanadas that Abuela Made / Las empanadas que hacía la abuela (Piñata Books, 2003) and Tina and the Scarecrow Skins / Tina y las pieles de espantapájaros (Piñata Books, 2002).
ATOS Interest Level: Lower Grades
Category: Picture Book
ATOS English: 3.1
ATOS Spanish: 3.3
Accelerated Reader Quiz #:18301
