The Last Slice: A Three Kings Day Treat

by Melissa Seron Richardson (Author) Monica Arnaldo (Illustrator)

The Last Slice: A Three Kings Day Treat
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A hilarious holiday tale about the highs and lows of eating one very special Three Kings Day dessert: the Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread with a figurine of the baby Jesus hidden inside!

Marta is finally old enough for her own slice of the special, sneaky dessert she loves so much--la Rosca de Reyes.

The colorful crown of sweet bread is so tempting, but Marta knows the truth--there's a baby hiding in the dessert: el Niño Dios. Marta can't help but wonder what will happen if she accidentally eats the little figurine of baby Jesus.

Suddenly, Marta will do whatever it takes to avoid picking the last slice of la rosca--no matter how badly she wants a bite!

This humorous story of one girl's journey to overcome her fears explores the traditions of Three Kings Day and the importance of family and faith.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
An edifying holiday primer wrapped in a humorous, good-natured romp.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

In this sweetly comic portrait of a Three Kings Day celebration, a child finally old enough to have her own slice of La Rosca de Reyes is worried about swallowing the Baby Jesus figurine inside. Seron Richardson describes the tradition: "The Three Kings had searched mountains and deserts to find the baby Jesus. So every year on Three Kings Day, families all over the world looked for him, too... in their rosca." Young Marta isn't sure the treat is "the best place to hide a baby" and tries her best to dodge the dessert, but as other slices disappear and the figurine isn't revealed, Marta decides "she would have to be valiente"--and is. Aptly depicting the child's laugh-out-loud internality, Arnaldo employs over-the-top scenarios and dynamic facial expressions through out this sweetly comic introduction to the January holiday. The Latinx-cued family is shown with various skin tones. Creators' notes and further info about Three Kings Day conclude. Ages 4-8. (Dec.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--This picture book illustrates the Three Kings Day traditions of Marta's family. Told in the third person, the story opens with a montage of photos of graduation, marriage, and family. Offset among the family photos is a miniature nativity scene with the three kings, Joseph and Mary, the angel, and the baby Jesus. This scene establishes the connection between Three Kings Day and Christmas. Like so many family gatherings during the holidays, the celebration is set in the kitchen where the Rosca de Reyes, traditional sweet bread, sits on the counter and tantalizes the family members. But Marta is filled with dread. Her family bakes the Rosca with a miniature baby inside the dough. As slices are handed out, everyone waits to see which family member gets the baby, and thus the culinary responsibility of making next year's Christmas tamales. Marta's worry is not about the responsibility of cooking, but rather about swallowing the baby. In her mind's eye, she plays out what happens to her if she does. Will it be like a seed from which weeds grow out of her ears and nostrils? Illustrations capture her worry and humorously contrast the image with her grandpa's hairy ears and nostrils. As Abuela sits on the couch and explains that the three Kings searched mountains and deserts to find the baby Jesus, illustrations feature a king pointing to the Star of Bethlehem. Back matter includes more information about Three Kings Day and la Rosca de Reyes. VERDICT A picture book that weaves together culture, culinary traditions, and Biblical storytelling.--Stephanie Creamer

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Melissa Seron Richardson
Melissa Seron Richardson is a Mexican American mom of three who lives in Utah. Having grown up as a mixed-race child, she hopes her work will give a voice and a path to other mixed-race kids to discover where they belong. The Last Slice is her picture book debut. Melissa invites you to follow her on Twitter @SweaterGirl.


Monica Arnaldo is the author of several picture books, including Are You a Cheeseburger?, and her illustrations have also appeared in middle-grade novels and children's magazines. She lives in Quebec with her family. Monica invites you to visit her at monica-arnaldo.com or follow her on Instagram @monicarnaldo.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780316436298
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
December 05, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV017010 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Christmas & Advent
JUV050000 - Juvenile Fiction | Cooking & Food
JUV017090 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Other, Religious
JUV011030 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - Hispanic & Latino
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Mexican Americans
Food habits
Worry
Epiphany
Worry in children
Bread

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