Setting the Mood for a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Picture Books

Why do gringos celebrate Cinco de Mayo? May 5th has become a date where our family celebrates Hispanic culture, American style. Tanya over at The Rockin' Momma Blog has said it so well I just have to send you straight to her:
 http://teslagirl360.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-gringos-celebrate-cinco-de-mayo.html 
I knew that this holiday is more American than Mexican, but didn't realize the confederate connection...very interesting, especially in Virginia, where recounting history is a daily part of my life!

There's nothing like picture books to help set the mood for a fiesta.  True to the status of our holiday, none of our favorites here are truly Cinco de Mayo stories.  Instead, they reflect Hispanic culture or influence.  The list is small!  I have a few more on hold at the library but the selection there is small, too.  I'll add more as I find them.  Please feel free to share your favorites!

The setting of, She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain, by Philemon Sturges and Ashley Wolff, is what makes it a great Cinco De Mayo choice.  It takes place in the desert Southwest, with desert animals as the main characters, including the singing collared lizard story-teller.  The story follows the animals doing various tasks that suit their personalities (ie. grouse drumming), to get ready for a grand fiesta honoring a special guest.  Kids will see a fiesta unfold from food to music and even a pinata.  This book can be read, but it is even better sung.  The words/lyrics follow the folk tune of  "She'll be coming round the mountain."  And who is coming? The librarian in her bookmobile!  Now that is a good reason to celebrate! 

We stumbled on this gem, Rosa's Parrot, by Jan Wahl and Kin Howard, while perusing the stacks on our mobile library service bus.  Kids know that parrots like to mimic humans, right? Wahl transforms this fact into a magical and clever story of a human/bird friendship.  Pico the Parrot helps Rosa, who is hard of hearing, by repeating things for her. Being a parrot though, and possessing the ability of a great and LOUD mimic, he can't resist getting into a little trouble at the market.  Rosa figures this out, of course, and is not happy with him.  It is not long, however, before all is forgiven and the two are sharing hot chocolate together.  All of us were entranced by the rich art and imaginative story.  After we checked it out three times, we had to go get ourselves a copy!  The colorful art, inventive story, and south of the border scene make it a great choice for Cinco De Mayo.  The universal theme of friendship in a setting of overcoming a human disability (hearing loss) make it a great and unique choice for anytime.

Mice and Beans, by Pam Munoz Ryan and Joe Cepeda, is another lovely fiesta story.  A grandmother (also named ROSA, no kidding!) is preparing a birthday party for her grand daughter, Catalina.  She has lots of room in her house for the party, except for mice.  The very mice that are in her way (she's always setting traps) are the very mice who help her when she forgets something important (to put candy in the pinata).  The mice and Abuelita become friends!  The text introduces Spanish vocabulary seamlessly as the party preparations proceed through a week. A fun little story full of love and rich, happy illustrations.

Fast & Easy Chili Shaped Party Favors for Cinco de Mayo

Looking for a last minute party favor to add some fun to your fiesta? These chilis are colorful, easy, and fast... I made two while my enchiladas were baking!  Their small size and simplicity made them more practical than a pinata for our family's celebration.  Of course, the boys loved them! 
Materials
masking tape
paper cardboard tube
green tissue paper
red crepe paper (used for paper streamers)
glue
scissors

Cut a paper towel tube in two.  Make slits from one end towards the other, leaving an inch or two uncut.  Collapse the slits into a curvy cone shape, using masking tape to hold the shape in place.

Put a little glue around the outside of the chili and wrap it in red crepe paper (streamer paper).  Let dry!

Find some prizes to put inside.  These cute fruits were on clearance at Target...  The tubes don't hold much, so a bag of Skittles would be plenty!

Take a quarter of a sheet of green tissue paper and fold it.  Wrap LOOSELY around chili as shown, securing the end with a rubber band.  Fill your chili with the surprises.  Then fold the green tissue back up over the rubber band, working the layers separately to avoid tears.  Twist the folded tissue into a stem shape. 

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Cinco De Mayo Felt Burro/Donkey Finger Puppets

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Little finger puppet burros to get your fiesta going!  Ole!

Hide these cuties in a piñata or top silverware or pencils with them for holiday theme!  Place a small dot of glue on front and back to hold trim in place before sewing. Use fabric paint for facial features.  Fringe “fur” between ears for a touch of whimsy.

Donkey/Burro Finger Puppet Pattern

If you need some stories to go along with these cuties, be sure to check out these...

Cinco De Mayo Activity: Cascarones (An Egg Smashing Activity)

When I first read about this tradition, I knew it would be a winner in my family with kids that like to smash and crash things!  It started as an Easter activity but has shifted to Cinco de Mayo, depending on the organization of the Mama...

The basic game is to take a blown out egg and smash it over another person's head.  The painted egg is full of confetti, so the person gets a head full of tiny pieces of paper.  As our kids have grown older, our the tradition is to give the person a wish as you crack the egg of their head, such as, "I wish you a year full of lots of Lego's!"  among the kids, or "many happy days" between grown ups...  Also, I've taken to hiding a dollar in some of the eggs, for an eggstra special crackin' surprise. 

Materials needed:
At least one egg for each person
push pin or other sharp object to make holes in eggs
paint & paintbrushes
confetti
glue
tiny bit of tissue paper (or other thin paper)

Use a small sharp object such as a push pin to make holes in top and bottom of egg.  Using a small diameter object is easier for preventing cracks!  To make the bigger hole will take many pricks from the pin.

Blow contents of egg out through larger hole.  (I save the blown out egg contents in pairs, mix them with sugar and other wet ingredients, and freeze for future baking activities).

Gather confetti to put inside.  I'm trying paper shreds this year to see if it is slightly less messy yet still fun. I put a folded dollar in two of the eggs as an EGGSTRA surprise..

Keep stuffing the confetti in until the egg is full.

Put a ring of glue around the larger hole and cover it with tissue paper.

Paint your eggs in bright colors!  Don't strive for perfection here as your art will get SMASHED soon enough!

Instruct your game players to break the egg in their hands on top of someone's head rather than directly on it to avoid the "OUCH".  In our family, the egg smasher says a nice wish as they cover their victim with confetti...

HAPPY SMASHING!

Cinco De Mayo Collared Lizards

These scaly guys would be great favors for a desert, reptile, or Cinco de Mayo party/unit.  For a Mexican flag, print out flag clip art and glue to a toothpick.  Let me know how you like them!

Lizard Felt Finger Puppet