Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
Sale price
$858
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2007 · Est. 8 min read-aloud

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

By Carmen Agra Deedy, Michael Austin (Illustrator)

Can a cockroach find true love with a coffee test?

4.3/5 Goodreads · 2,728 ratings
32 pages· 1,024 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud
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Bookroo's summary

Martina, a charming cockroach, seeks love but is clueless about marriage. Her grandmother suggests a unique test: spill coffee on suitors' shoes to gauge their temper. As each fails the Coffee Test, Martina questions if true love is possible. Will she find a partner who passes this unusual trial, or is she destined to remain alone? Dive into this whimsical retelling of a Cuban folktale, where a little green cockroach's quest for love is as unpredictable as it is heartwarming.

From the publisher

The beautiful Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage, so when suitors come calling, what is she to do? Luckily, she has her Cuban family to help! While some of the Cucarachas offer Martina gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her some useful advice: spill coffee on his shoes to see how he handles anger. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela’s suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. After reading this award-winning retelling of the Cuban folktale, readers will never look at a cockroach the same way again. Carmen Agra Deedy delivers a delightfully inventive Cuban twist on the beloved Martina folktale, complete with a dash of café Cubano.

Awards

Odyssey Honor (2009)
At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
32
Words
1,024
Reading age
4–8
Audience
Picture
Lexile
AD610L
Themes & topics
Books about bugs and insectsBooks about cultureBooks about CubaBooks about relationshipsBooks about Cuban culture
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
3.1
F&P level
~O
AR points
0.5
AR interest level
LG
AR quiz
116505
Publication
Published
March 4, 2014
First published
July 1, 2007
Publisher
Peachtree
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9781561457878

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