On the first day of her new school, Adelita learns that vegetables can have similarities and differences, as can new friends. Nervous about being new, Adelita quietly observes her welcoming teacher lead a lesson on the colors, names and health benefits of vegetables. Last to take a vegetable from the teacher's basket, Adelita is surprised by friendly Jasmine, who offers her a choice between yellow and green squash, calling them "cousins." Reminded of her grandmother's term, Adelita calls them "calabacitas," and Jasmine proclaims how they rhyme with her pretty name, Adelita. The dialogue-driven text is rendered in both English and Spanish, which are separated by pictures of cooked and uncooked vegetables. The text appears opposite deeply hued, realistic classroom scenes that bring out a learning environment populated by a multicultural group of kids, including a boy in a wheelchair. Other vegetables used in Latino cuisine—cassava, malanga, yautía and sweet potato—are also woven into the discussion. As the day's healthy-eating lesson comes to a close, friendships grow and expand into reading-circle time; Adelita and her classmates parallel a "rainbow of vegetables" as veggie friends. The dual message of nutrition and diversity will probably find its place in today's curriculum and can certainly augment units on food, language and culture. (Picture book. 5-8)

Gr 1-4 Adelita begins her first day at a new school and is worried about making friends. The teacher, Miss Cant&0;, introduces the students to vegetables and allows each child to choose one. Adelita and Jasmine select a yellow and a green vegetable that look very similar, and Miss Cant&0; confirms that they are both squashes. More vegetables are introduced and Adelita notices that the brown vegetables look similar and asks if they are "veggie cousins." She makes another new friend, and she and Lisa call themselves "veggie friends." Throughout the day, the teacher tells her class about the importance of healthy eating. Spanish terms appear in the English text, such as "chayote," "malanga," and "cassava." The last two pages have a recipe in both English and Spanish for the "1-2-3 Super Calabacita Soup." The bold, colorful illustrations capture the action well. Cindy Moreno, San Antonio Public Library, TX