The Last Tamale

PreS-Gr 1–In a family where even the Chihuahuas dream of tamales, Luis looks forward to his family’s annual tamalada—a tamale-making party where the extended family comes together to make tamales using a secret, unwritten recipe. All is love and harmony during the party, until there is a squabble over who will get the last tamale. In accordance with family tradition, the three children—Luis, Letty, and Jacob—who want the tamale must engage in battle. In round one, cousin Letty loses the dance competition. In round two, Luis unexpectedly beats his brother Jacob in a lucha libre wrestling match. In the hardest test, Luis must arm wrestle his larger-than-life grandmother, the woman who started the tamalada tradition. To his immense surprise, Luis is victorious, but that’s not the end of the tale, and readers will devour the ending. Martinez’s vibrant illustrations capture the energy of the tamale battle while simultaneously including elements of Latinx culture throughout (including the colorful wrestling costumes and intricate papel picado). When Luis’s grandmother emerges from a cloud of smoke for the match, everyone feels the matriarch’s strength and solidity, carrying the family forward while anchoring the past.