Hooray, a Piñata!

by Elisa Kleven

Clara picks an adorable dog pinata for her birthday party. She names him Lucky, and he becomes her constant companion. When the big day finally comes, she doesn't want to let everybody break him. But if Clara keeps Lucky as a pet, she won't have a pinata at her party. Luckily her friend, Samson, comes to the rescue with a wonderful solution -- and a different pinata that nobody will mind breaking.
Elisa Kleven's lively, multicolored collage art is the perfect compliment to this joyful birthday story about the power of imagination.
* "There is not a wrong note in this wonderful, upbeat picture book. . . Magical yet full of warmth and homey details, the pictures are a seamless blending of watercolor, ink, and cut paper. Alive with color, pattern, and shape, they'll keep even the most easily distractible child fascinated." --Booklist, starred review

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Spanish Literature, Family, Cultural

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Elisa Kleven is the author and/or illustrator of over 30 childrens picture books. Favorites with children and adults alike, Elisa's books have received awards and honors from the American Library Association, The New York Times , The Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Her pictures from Abuela are part of a traveling show organized by the Minnesota Children's Museum, and her story The Paper Princess has been adapted for two theater productions, one in Ireland and the other in California. Elisa lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and pets. To learn more about Elisa and her books, please visit her web site: www.elisakleven.com

Reviews

[Ronan Crutchfield]

I stayed interested during the whole book, even though there were lots of words. The pictures looked cool, but weren’t so exciting that I got overwhelmed

[RH Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is so mellow and gentle, in terms of its characters and how longings are satisfied, that we never get tired of reading it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Electric illustrations, a relatable story, a great multicultral book for kids!

[Jenna]

The subgroup represented in this text is Hispanic. The genre of the story is realistic fiction. This story is about a little girl named Maria who is turning six and is getting a piñata for her birthday. This is not just any piñata it is the perfect piñata. Maria was picked up at school, because on that particular day it was time to get her piñata. At the party she picked out a butterfly piñata that was every color you could imagine. She had one week until her birthday party and everything was ready to go. All week the piñata did everything with Maria. It went with her when she played outside, the butterfly piñata went to the grocery store, it rode bikes, played tea party, it kept Maria company while she took her bath, and it even watched over her while she slept. Finally, it was time for her party! Everyone played games, ate chocolate cake, and opened presents. It was time to hit the piñata filled with toys and candy. As everyone yelled for Maria to hit the piñata she froze and tears welled up in her eyes. She just could not hit the piñata she had grown to love the past week. Her mom quickly took out the butterfly piñata prizes and filled a trash bag with the gifts. Maria hugged her piñata and reassures it that she would never hurt the butterfly and she loved it very much. Maria and the children hit the trash bag and enjoyed the many gifts. She smiled at the butterfly piñata and explained how she was lucky to have two piñatas at her party and one she would keep forever.

[Emily Carrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara is a sweet little girl with a birthday party coming up, so she must have cake, balloons, and a pinata! When they go to pick a pinata, she falls in love with a cute dog pinata. She takes the dog pinata all around town and plays with him! Samson, her best friend, keeps telling her that she needs to be careful with him, so he doesn't get dirty. Eventually, Samson asked her why she doesn't get a real dog, because she basically treats the pinata like a real life dog. She explains that her mom is allergic to dogs. What will happen when the day comes to actually break the pinata? Will she be willing to get rid of her "dog," Lucky?

I would read this to a class of pre-k to 9th grade students, and even keep it in my classroom library. I could use this when talking about pinatas and different types of birthday parties.

[Nicole Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

When i first opened up the book one thing that really grabbed my attention were the pictures. They were so bright and colorful. I liked the story as well. The story takes you on an adventure with a girl and her piñata that was a dog.

This book looks inviting to read when you first pick it up. And it was an easy read. It was defiantly a book that I think most kids would enjoy reading.

Hooray, a Piñata was a great book to show friendship and compromise. It talks you on an adventure with a girl and her friend. The girl has to pick out a piñata for her birthday and she ends up getting attached to it. Her friend sees that and for her birthday he buys her a new piñata so that do not have to destroy her dog piñata that she loves.

[Asalyn Holliday]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it aloud to a preschool classroom and they loved it. I think this book is great for talking about parties and celebrations as well as introducing students to the different ways other cultures celebrate. This book also encourages children to use their information as the characters talk about all of the different things pinatas can look like and what they would want at their party.

[Torrie Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great to add diversity to the classroom. Through this Latin American party favor, students can see how it is to have a Pinata at a party. This book is also a great way to introduce dialog to the students because there are many characters that have conversation with each other in the book. I would read this book to the older group of birth through five because its a little lengthy.

[Bernadette Dalke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a child that is on the search for a pinata for her birthday. This book is a good way to introduce the Mexican tradition of busting pinatas on birthdays. The pictures are vivid with bright colors and detail. Most children can identify with this book even if they have never busted a pinata because they all have birthdays.

[Emily Metheny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you open up this book the colorful illustrations really pull the reader in. The pictures are striking and vibrant! Clara is having a birthday party and must have a pinata. She decides on a dog pinata and the readers gets to go on adventures with her and the pinata as she takes it everywhere. This book is a great multicultural book.

[Paulina Paredes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book since I read the title. It reminded me a little bit about my culture because at every birthday party I ever had there was always a piñata that my cousins and I would whack! I loved how it also showed the love of friendship since Samson went out of his way to get her a piñata to break at her party since she did not want to break the one her mom bought her.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara picks out a pinata for her birthday with her friend Samson...but quickly becomes attached to it. As a surprise and a true expression of friendship, Samson brings a special present to her birthday party for her. Girls liked it. I liked it.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet story with interesting, colorful pictures. My daughter doesn't understand Spanish, so I translated it as I read, and she still loved it, which says something for the inherent interest of the story. I might look for a bilingual version to buy for our collection.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like how long this book was. Some of my preschoolers were getting fidgety, but overall the story is really sweet and the children enjoyed the story. They really liked the dog. I asked questions throughout the story and they understood perfectly that the piñata dog was not a real dog.

[Kiana Sims]

This is a good book when discussing different cultures and traditions around the world. It is also good when focusing on a friends unit or birthdays.

[Jermeria Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would use this book to show students the concept of having a pinata at a birthday party. we would talk about the types of pinatas, what goes in a pinata and what cultures use them (text to world)

[Hannah]

Very cute. AND I learned that piñatas were originally Italian!

[Hannah Joly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for diversity in the classroom and to celebrate the many different types of holidays for different cultures I may have in my classroom

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

What’s the best thing about a birthday party? A piñata! But what if you fall in love with it it and do t want to break it?

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely kid-friendly premise. Some cultural additions but a perfect story though in the 90s style. Still holds up beautifully. about pets and friendship and birthdays and piñatas and kid love. A girl falls for a piñata and doesn't have the heart to use it. also about an imaginary pet. Fresh and adorable.

[Tiffany L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the kids adored it. They love piñatas so we talked about what type they would get if they were choosing one. We tried to guess possible endings and we were wrong! Fun fun book.

[Catherine Walley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great activity for this is having kids make their own piñata out of a milk carton! My class loved learning about what a piñata is.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5