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Uncle Chente's Picnic/El Picnic De Tio Chente
When a postcard arrives from Uncle Chente saying that he will visit on the Fourth of July, the Cárdenas family happily awaits his visit. They plan a picnic with an array of Tejano food, ideal for a Texas picnic, and then they plan the decorations. The only thing they can't plan is the weather. Just before Uncle Chente arrives, mother nature threatens to rain out all their summer fun. The kids panic at the prospect of Uncle Chente's arrival on a rainy day. But, the kids soon discover that it takes more than a summer thunderstorm to ruin a beautiful day of fun-filled stories and time spent together. In the tradition of their previous collaboration, Family, Famiia, illustrator Pauline Rodriguez Howard and Gonzales Bertrand bring children aged 3 to 7 a story about family bonds so strong that even a rainy day makes the perfect picnic.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
8 people want to read
About the author
Diane Gonzales Bertrand
33 books16 followersDiane Gonzales Bertrand’s vivid imagination led her to write her first novel in the fifth grade. Her creativity didn’t stop there. She went on to write school plays, Girl Scout skits, and poetry. When Diane became a teacher, she created funny soap operas, religious plays, and translated Shakespeare into easier words for her students to enjoy and perform. Today, Diane writes stories for families to read together.
Diane’s many accomplishments include: National Hispanic Scholar, Author for PEN Center (New York) Writer-in-School Program, Member National Council Teachers of English, Member Texas Council of Creative Writing Teachers, and Texas Writers’ League. Diane has published nine young adult novels and six picture books, and has received several awards from the national Latino Literary Hall of Fame for her children’s picture books and young adult novels. Her recent children’s book with Raven Tree Press, My Pal, Victor / Mi amigo, Víctor was recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) as the 2005 winner of The Schneider Family Book Award for best picture book for young children. The award honors an author and illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Diane earned her B.A. in English and History from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her M.A. in Communication Arts from Our Lady of the Lake University. She currently works as Writer-in-Residence at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX, where she teaches English Composition and Creative Writing.
Source: Raven Tree Press
Diane’s many accomplishments include: National Hispanic Scholar, Author for PEN Center (New York) Writer-in-School Program, Member National Council Teachers of English, Member Texas Council of Creative Writing Teachers, and Texas Writers’ League. Diane has published nine young adult novels and six picture books, and has received several awards from the national Latino Literary Hall of Fame for her children’s picture books and young adult novels. Her recent children’s book with Raven Tree Press, My Pal, Victor / Mi amigo, Víctor was recognized by the American Library Association (ALA) as the 2005 winner of The Schneider Family Book Award for best picture book for young children. The award honors an author and illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Diane earned her B.A. in English and History from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her M.A. in Communication Arts from Our Lady of the Lake University. She currently works as Writer-in-Residence at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX, where she teaches English Composition and Creative Writing.
Source: Raven Tree Press
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 9, 2018
Uncle Chente’s Picnic is a beautifully done realistic fiction story of a Latin American family who are planning a family gathering for the fourth of July. This story is centered around Uncle Chente who is a truck driver they have not been able to see for a while. Despite all the families planning for the picnic a storm comes, and almost ruins the family picnic! The first thing I noticed when I read this books is the illustrations, they are so beautifully done and unique. The clothing and features of the characters were realistic and this adds to the plot of the book. Each illustration corresponds with the story being told perfectly.
Due to the higher level of language used and the rhetoric in the book this book is suitable for older elementary ages. Those children in higher grades should be able to easily understand the book. I love how the text is in English and in Spanish it can be used in classrooms with English language learners or just simply to expose kids to different languages. Because of the use of English and Spanish it is easy to understand when working with kids who primarily speak either language. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is that it was based off a Latin American family, which is becoming more and more accessible but not as much as it should be. The way the family in this book was portrayed is in a way that could be familiar to all families, celebrating the fourth of July with one another which even if you’re culturally different from the family in the book you can relate to the plot of this book.
Due to the higher level of language used and the rhetoric in the book this book is suitable for older elementary ages. Those children in higher grades should be able to easily understand the book. I love how the text is in English and in Spanish it can be used in classrooms with English language learners or just simply to expose kids to different languages. Because of the use of English and Spanish it is easy to understand when working with kids who primarily speak either language. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is that it was based off a Latin American family, which is becoming more and more accessible but not as much as it should be. The way the family in this book was portrayed is in a way that could be familiar to all families, celebrating the fourth of July with one another which even if you’re culturally different from the family in the book you can relate to the plot of this book.
May 3, 2012
This book won the Reading With Energy Hispanic Children's Book Award
Its an amazing book for teachers to have in their library especially because it is a bilingual book
its also a great multicultural book because it can relate to many children and it gives them a new look at literature, when they can see themselves in books.
This book is basically about a family preparing a 4th of July picnic and welcoming uncle chente who is visiting from texas. though out the book uncle chente is telling stories about his childhood to the children. Unfortunately a very bad thunder storm ruins the families original plans for this picnic Uncle Chete tells them not to worry that the most important part of the day is that the family is safe and together.They end up having their picnic out by the porch and having a wonderful time.
Its an amazing book for teachers to have in their library especially because it is a bilingual book
its also a great multicultural book because it can relate to many children and it gives them a new look at literature, when they can see themselves in books.
This book is basically about a family preparing a 4th of July picnic and welcoming uncle chente who is visiting from texas. though out the book uncle chente is telling stories about his childhood to the children. Unfortunately a very bad thunder storm ruins the families original plans for this picnic Uncle Chete tells them not to worry that the most important part of the day is that the family is safe and together.They end up having their picnic out by the porch and having a wonderful time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews