Piggy Bank Gonzales
Jack Kent ~ Parents' Magazine Press, 1978
The boy and I live in San Antonio, the seventh largest city in the United States. I bet ya'll didn't know that, did you? It certainly doesn't pop to mind when you think about big metropolitan centers in the U.S., but it's up there. What makes San Antonio, and Texas, particularly unique is its proximity to Mexico. The population here is largely Hispanic and has been, like, forever. The two cultures are pretty much one and the same (as in the food term, Tex-Mex). I'd be hard pressed to think of a family here that isn't mixed in some way making for a wonderfully multicultural place to live. So when personal fave and fellow San Antonian, Jack Kent, dedicated this book para mis amigos mejicanos, he meant it.
In a little house in a little town in Mexico there was a piggy bank. It belonged to a family names Gonzales. Piggy Bank Gonzales led a quiet life. Every day Mama Gonzales dusted him off and gave him a loving pat on the head. Now and then one of the Gonzales children dropped a coin through the slot on his back. Then they would shake him to rattle the coins so they could try to guess how many there were. But most of the time he just sat on a table near the window and watched the people go by.
When Piggy Bank begins to long for adventure, a wandering musician passing under his window is too much to resist. The musician and his friends want nothing to do with the clay pig until they realize that when he dances, he spouts coins. A classic "grass is always greener" tale, sometimes being safe at home is the best place to be.
Funny that a Canadian would be the one to gift this to me. Friends at every border...
Also by:
Jack Kent's Twelve Days of Christmas
I Was Walking Down the Road
The Grown-Up Day
The Fox and the Crow
The Biggest Shadow in the Zoo
The Animobile Book
Jack Kent's Book of Nursery Tales
Dooly and the Snortsnoot
Mr. Meebles
Cindy Lou and the Witch's Dog
Clotilda
The Blah
Jack Kent's Valentine Sticker Book
The Bremen-town Musicians
Round Robin
Just Only John
Fly Away Home
Fat Cat
Socks for Supper
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6 comments:
I also love Jack Kent and his books! I haven't read this one that you posted, but, when I saw the illustrations, I knew immediately who it was by! But, I noticed when you listed the other books by Jack, that you left off one: There's No Such Things as a Dragon. http://www.amazon.com/Theres-Thing-Dragon-Family-Storytime/dp/0307102149
This was easily my favorite book as a child! I never got tired of my dad reading me this book!
Thank you for the other Jack Kent recommendations! I'm excited to read the others by Jack!
that's one of Jack's books that is still in print, i try to get around to the OOP stuff first, but some day i'll get to it... the "also by" listing is just stuff i've reviewed... keep looking and thanks for reading!
What about Jack Kent's The Fat Cat? One of my all time favorites!
oops forgot to link. thanks!
http://www.vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com/2010/02/fat-cat.html
Wow, flashback! We had this book when I was a kid and we loved it, but I swear I haven't thought about this book in 25 years. Have never seen it in a bookstore, new or used, never heard anyone mention it. Thanks so much for the reminder! It's a great book.
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