THE LAST SLICE

In Richardson and Arnaldo’s jovial collaboration, a distraught girl must overcome her fears on Three Kings Day.

As her sprawling Latine family gathers to observe the holiday, little Marta eyes the delicious crown of sweet bread on the kitchen counter: la Rosca de Reyes, the tasty dessert eaten to celebrate Three Kings Day. Inside the baked ring, a “teeny, tiny” replica of baby Jesus is hidden to commemorate the Three Kings’ search for the Niño Dios. Marta always takes nibbles out of Mamá’s slices to ensure she doesn’t end up accidentally biting into baby Jesus. But this year, Abuela announces that Marta is old enough to eat her own slice of the rosca. Gasp! What if Marta gets the piece that conceals the baby Jesus and she eats the Niño Dios? Marta decides not to have a slice—but can she resist the rosca with its dazzling candied fruit? With dabs of mischief and wild-eyed child-friendly logic, this tale unfolds with amusing results. Brief overviews of the holiday provide just enough context for those unfamiliar with it. The artwork, meanwhile, serves up plenty of exaggerated faces and visual gags. Helpful author’s and illustrator’s notes broadly gesture toward the innumerable ways that different cultures and nations celebrate this religious feast. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An edifying holiday primer wrapped in a humorous, good-natured romp.