Module 5: Chato's Kitchen

Chato’s Kitchen by Gary Soto

Book Cover Image:

Book Summary:

Chato’s Kitchen is about a “cholo” or gangster cat who notices that a family of rats is moving into the house next door.  Chato invites the family to dinner, with the intention of snacking on them.  They agree to come but ask if they can bring a visiting friend.  Chato quickly agrees because he figures one more rat will be an extra tasty treat.  Chato sets about making a few Mexican side dishes in the kitchen with the help of his best friend, Novio Boy.  When dinner time rolls around, Chato can hardly wait for the juicy family to make an appearance, but his plans are derailed, however, when they bring along Chorizo, a family friend and dog.

APA Reference of Book:

Soto, G. (1995). Chato’s kitchen. New York: Putnam & Grosset Group. 

Impressions:

Chato’s Kitchen is an amusing take on the common cat versus mouse stories.  The cultural spin also adds a layer of humor, if not taken too seriously. This book pokes fun at stereotypical images of Hispanics with references to “low-riders” and illustrations showing Chato’s friend, Novio Boy, dressed in a wife beater shirt covered by a flannel shirt, with a bandana around his forehead, and a cross on his collar. In the story, Chato speaks Spanglish (a mix of English & Spanish) with phrases like “No problema,” “que no?” and “Orale.” There is, however, a helpful glossary of terms at the beginning of the book for readers not familiar with the Spanish language; additionally, the English translations of many of the Spanish terms are also woven into the story.  Kids will enjoy this humorous tale and delight in the hilarious, colorful illustrations.    

Professional Review:

Horn Book Magazine

“Illustrated by Susan Guevara. Chato, a "low-riding cat with six stripes," spends an afternoon in the kitchen along with his best friend, Novio Boy, a cat with "the loveliest growl in the barrio." They prepare a mouthwatering array of dishes, including fajitas, enchiladas, and chiles rellenos, but the heartiest dish is yet to come, for Chato has thoughtfully invited his new neighbors - a "tasty" family of mice. When the rodents arrive and announce that they've brought Chorizo, the cats think that the guests have come with even more treats: "Sausage! Chato and Novio Boy . . . gave each other a 'low four.'" However, the cats are in for a surprise. Chorizo, it turns out, is an old family friend from the old neighborhood, and he's neither sausage nor mouse. He's a dog -"a low, road-scraping dog." Chato resigns himself to a mouseless meal, comforted that dinner will still be pretty good because, "after all, it came from Chato's kitchen." Humorous details abound in Guevara's richly colored artwork, which portrays the characters with affection and authenticity. The illustrations convey the cats' cool and confident attitude - Chato has a gold hoop in one ear and wears his baseball cap backward, while Novio Boy, bandanna round his head, has a flashy cross dangling from his cat collar; both cats sport pencil-thin mustaches. Soto's fresh and satisfying fare is distinctively seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor. A glossary - including the items on Chato's menu - precedes the story.” 

Brabander, J. (1995, September/October). [Review of the book Chato’s kitchen by, G. Soto].  Horn Book Magazine, (71)5, 591-592. Retrieved from http://archive.hbook.com/magazine/

Library Uses:

Elementary School Library

Chato’s Kitchen can be read by the school librarian in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th- October 15th).  Students can be taught the meanings for the Spanish phrases scattered throughout the story.  In the story, Chato and Novio Boy create a feast of Mexican inspired food; the librarian can produce a small spread of this food to give students a taste of Mexican cuisine. One final activity would be to remind students about how Chato “felt the twinge of mambo in his hips” and explain the origins of this Cuban dance.  Then student volunteers can be shown a few simple Mambo steps before adding music to accompany their new moves.