Chatos Kitchen, Gary Soto
Chatos Kitchen, Gary Soto
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Chato's Kitchen

Author: Gary Soto

Narrator: Reza Salazar

Unabridged: 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/06/2018


Synopsis

Chato can't believe his luck. Not only is he the coolest low-riding cat in East L.A., but his brand-new neighbors are the plumpest, juciest, tastiest-looking family of mice to move into the barrio in a long time. So Chato and his best friend, Novio Boy, get out the pots and pans, the tortillas and the beans--everything you'd need for a welcoming feast, except for the main dish, and the guests of honor. Of course, in Chato's mind they are one and the same thing.

But the mice are bringing a surprise guest of their own, who may be more than a cool cat can swallow.

Also available in Spanish as Chato y su cena. 

About The Author

Born in Fresno, California to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto learned the hard work ethic through his share of chores, including mowing lawns, picking grapes, painting house numbers on street curbs, and washing cars. His hard work paid off at California State University at Fresno, from which he graduated with an English degree, and later at the University of California at Irvine, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer. The awards for this multi-talented author are many, ranging from the U.S. Award for International Poetry Forum in 1977 for his first published book of poetry, The Elements of San Joaquin, to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award in 1985 for Living Up the Street, his first published work of prose recollections. His short story collection Baseball in April, was named an American Library Association's Best Book for Young Adults, and he received the Bura Belpre Award for Chato's Kitchen. IHe has also received the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video for Pool Party, and was nominated for a National Book Award. His other credits include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. Gary Soto is also one of the youngest poets to appear in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry. Several of his books have been translated into French, Spanish and Italian. Mr. Soto currently lives in Berkeley, California.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Charles on January 26, 2011

"Chato's Kitchen" by Gary Soto would be a great way to introduce a Latin-American or an Hispanic unit. Combining Spanish and English, "Chato's Kitchen" is a trickster tale about a cat attempting to fool a family of mice by inviting them to dinner. Though the book includes animal characters, it utili......more

Goodreads review by Sheila on April 10, 2019

Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto is illustrated by Susan Guevara with vibrant, expressive, and imaginative paintings. Soto’s text incorporates many Spanish words and phrases and includes a glossary plus the menu for the meal shared by two cats, a family of mice and one friendly dog. This is an exuberant......more

Goodreads review by Sophia on December 11, 2024

Do you like fun fiction books? “Chato’s Kitchen” has won the Pura Belpre Award and the Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award along with a few others. The protagonist of this book is a cat named Chato. Chato invited some mice over for dinner, planning to eat them. However, the mice, the......more

Goodreads review by Vanessa on October 02, 2019

The story is fine. But the illustrations are going to haunt me for the rest of my life.......more


Quotes

"A really cool book. . . . Soto adeptly captures the flavor of life in el barrio in this amusing tale. Guevara's striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details." --School Library Journal starred review

"Fresh and satisfying. . . Distinctly seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor." --Horn Book

Winner of the Pura Belpre Award for Illustration
An ALA Notable Book
A Parents' Choice Award Winner

"Wickedly funny. . . . Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit. Salud to this magical pairing of talents." --Publishers Weekly starred review