The Monarch Award:
Illinois' K-3 Children's Choice Award
2010 Master List
Sponsored by the
Illinois School Library Media Association


2010 Nominee: Chicks and Salsa

What happens at Nuthatcher Farm when the chickens get tired of the same old chicken feed? The rooster hatches a plan! With a pinch of genius, a dash of resourcefulness, and a little pilfering from the farmer’s garden, the chickens whip up a scrumptious snack of chips and salsa. And when the rest of the barnyard gets a whiff of the spicy smells and want to join in, it can mean only one thing…FIESTA!

Author: Aaron Reynolds

Illustrator: Paulette Bogan

Book Activities
  • Discussion questions: Do you ever get tired of the same old foods? What is your favorite food? Do you know how to make it? What are Salsa, guacamole, nachos, crepes?  How did they all work together to have a great fiesta?  Do you ever watch the food channel?
  • Reading/oral language: Point out the repetition/patterns in the story. Find the meanings for the foreign words, i.e. Ooh la la, Ole, Fiesta, etc.. Point out alliteration. Read some recipes. Look for the "blind" mouse on almost every page.
  • Writing: Make up a story about a fiesta at your house. Use lots of describing words to tell about the food and activities.
  • Math: Determine how many cups, teaspoons, or tablespoons of ingredients you need to make salsa. How many people will be eating? How much of everything will you need to have enough for all of the people eating?
  • Science: Learn how to grow the ingredients for one of your favorite foods foods. Start seeds of some common herbs and send home for a windowsill garden. What foods should the animals br eating?
  • Social Studies: Study fiestas. What countries would have a fiesta? What do they do besides eat at the fiesta? Brainstorm ethnic foods. Match to their country and find the country on a map.
  • Cooking/Snack: Use the recipes at the back of the book. Sample chips and salsa. Look up different recipes online to make salsa.
  • Art/Drama: Make a reader's theater and act out the story. Pantomime gathering vegetables, chopping, mixing and eating the foods. Invite a chef to visit and show how to make some easy snacks.
  • Music/Movement: Learn about the Mexican hat dance and do it! Play Mexican music.
  • Technology integration: Type up real or made up recipes for a class cookbook.
  • Connection to other Monarchs: The Perfect Nest, The Little Red Hen (Chickens)

Related Books
  • Books by Aaron Reynolds:
  • Tale of the Poisonous Yuck Bugs
  • Buffalo Wings
  • Tiger Moth series
  • Superhero School (summer 2009)
  • Other related books:
  • Fiesta Fiasco and Manana Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul
  • Pumpkin Fiesta by Caryn Jacowitz
  • Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto
  • How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
  • How to Make a Cherry Pie and See the U. S. A. by Marjorie Priceman

Websites

Monarch Home
2010 Nominee Resources