Summary: A Pretty cockroach finds a gold coins, wonders what to buy with it. Finally buys some perfume, does her hair, puts on a pretty dress and heads out to find a husband. Is approached by several different animals, doesn't want to marry them because she doesn't like the sound they make. Marries a mouse, thinks his sound is sweet music.

Personal Reaction: Weird little story, no one ever thinks of cockroaches being pretty. A book that teaches everyone looks at things differently.

Classroom Extension
1. Teach that judging by looks or smell isn't always correct
2. Get the children to make what they think is ugly things pretty
3. Can teach the different sounds of animals

Summary:
Martina the Cockroach is a traditional literature tale about a cockroach named Martina who finds a gold coin while sweeping her house one day. She decided to buy a bottle of perfume with the coin. Martina puts the perfume on, gets dressed, and fixes her hair. She looks lovely and decides she is ready to get married. Martina does not like loud noise though, so it is very important to know the sound her future husband will make. After listening to the sounds of many different potential husbands Martina listens to the mouse. Martina loves the sound the mouse makes so they get married and live happily ever after.

Personal Summary:
I do not necessarily like the tale of Martina the Cockroach. I do not like that once Martina is all dolled up she is then ready to find a husband. I do not see the significance in finding the coin and purchasing the perfume unless she can only look for a husband once she smells a certain way. I also do not like that her future husband has to sound a certain way because she does not like loud noises. There was one thing about the book I did like however, I liked that Martina ends up marrying a mouse and not another cockroach. I think this sends children the message that it is okay to marry someone much different than themselves.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. Use the coin that Martina finds in the book as an opportunity to review coins you may have already taught the class.
2. Use this book when teaching students about literature in the classroom coming from all different parts of the world. Tell students that Martina the Cockroach is a Cuban folktale. Read other traditional literature to students that originated in Cuba as well. See if there are any similarities between them.

Summary:
"Once upon a time there was a pretty cockroach..." is just the beginning. This is about a little cockroach who started out cleaning her house and found a gold coin. She wanted to do something special for herself and when she did, she decided that she wanted to find a husband.

Personal Reaction:
Strange. Not a typical traditional story or fairy tale, but an interesting twist. I did not like the whole money can buy you happiness style of the book and was not totally excited to see her judge her future husband by the way he sounded, a little prejudice.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1. This can be used to show the prejudice happens even in fairy tale stories. Can easily be taught in what not to do. You can later explain that everyone is a little prejudice, but still does not make it right.

2. This story can be used in a culture discussion. Can show the diversity in stories compared what they are used to in their own personal culture. Just make sure that the class stays open minded and the discussion just turn into a debate. ( )

Martina the Cockroach
A retelling by Kama Einhorn. Illustrated by Patrick Girouard

Summary:
This is a cute little story about a cockroach named Martina. Martina gets all dressed up, and goes on a search for a “quiet” husband. All different types of animals ask to marry her, but she doesn’t like their sound. In the end she finally finds that special animal with that special sound. She loves the sound; it is like music to her ears.

Personal Reaction:
This book was so funny to me! I really think it would make children laugh, mainly because the main character is a cockroach. I think this story was told in a very unique way. It has a lot of different animal sounds, which I think would be great for younger children. Another neat thing about this book was the glossary in the back.

Classroom Extension Ideas:
1.Hold up pictures of different animals, and have children make the sound.
2.Have children draw a picture of their favorite animal with the sound it makes.

Cute little book that is easy and fast to get through. I think it teaches that it is ok to make your own decision and not always have to settle. ( )