Book Summary
Chato and the Party Animals is the story of Chato, a cool cat that is throwing a
birthday party for Novio Boy and all their friends. Everything is ready for the
feast, tortillas, beans and rats. The only problem, where’s the guest of honor?
Reference
Soto, G., & Guevara, S. (2000). Chato and the party animals. GP
Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. New York.
Impressions:
As a Chicano, I enjoyed the book and related to the tone and
vocabulary choices, where like the animals, I use Spanish words for emphasis of
cultural elements of being Hispanic/Latino.
The book features a glossary at the beginning to help translate
some of the slang terms. The book is ultimately about friendship and family,
but there are themes present where readers, especially with knowledge of gang
life may relate to the animal characters living off the streets and bonding to
survive. Chato and the Party Animals won the Pura Belpre Award in 2000 for
illustrative work that best exemplifies Latino cultural experiences. I believe,
Gary Soto as author, helps give the illustrations meaning, with his lifelong
experience of writing about Mexican-American culture.
Professional Review:
K-Gr
3 --In this sequel
to Chato's Kitchen (Putnam, 1995), the ebullient,
jazzy, party-loving homecat decides to throw a surprise birthday bash for his
best friend, Novio Boy, who was raised in the pound and has never had
a party. Buying the provisions, inviting his friends, decorating,
arranging for music-Chato thinks he has seen to everything. The guests
begin to arrive and one dog raises a crucial question: "Where's the
birthday cat?" Aghast, Chato realizes that he neglected to
invite Novio Boy and organizes a search, which proves fruitless.
The party turns wake as, certain that Novio Boy has met an untimely
end, all the animals remember his good qualities and grieve. In the
midst of this, who should turn up but the guest of honor with some new friends
in tow. With double reason to celebrate, the party is a wild success.
Rollicking language-a completely integrated and poetic combination of barrio
slang, Spanish, and colloquial English-carries the story along. Guevara's
lively acrylic-on-scratchboard illustrations have a verve and style that will
make readers long to join the fun. A glossary of Spanish words preceding the
text neatly removes any mystery, rendering this joyous celebration of
friendship not only understandable but irresistible.
Welton, A. (2000). Chato and the party animals. School Library Journal, 46(7), 88.
Library Uses:
Grades 7-12:
The book could easily be used for lessons about Latino/Chicano culture. Also,
the story for friendship has being more invaluable then growing up with very
little is quite moving. The book does have a glossary which allows for
vocabulary connections. For cultural studies, students seeking information
about Chicano/Pachuco cultural elements of Mexican-Americans growing up in East
Los Angeles would certainly love this book.
