Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

 

 Deedy, C. A. (2008). Martina the beautiful cockroach. Atlanta, Georgia: Peachtree


Martina the beautiful cockroach believes it’s time to find a husband.  Her grandmother gives her some advice which she takes to heart. After testing her suitors with grandma's advice, she finds Don Perez, her match. It’s great to find out that values are important today as they were in the past.


Visual Elements: Composition
This book uses all the elements. The use of lines can be seen throughout the book. For example the dripping of the coffee from Don Gallo’s shoes. Also in the distance between the columns and wall of the building where Don Cerdo is walking towards. Great use of shadowing. It also shows movement of the steam from the coffee.  It contains many shapes such as ovals, rectangles, triangles, and squares to name a few. You can see the ovals in the spoon she uses as a mirror in her room as well as the scales of Don Lagarto. The rectangles are the boxes used as stairs and the windows on the buildings. There’s a cylinder which is the can of beans. Triangles can be seen as the donkey’s ears and Don Gallo’s beak. The square can be found on the stamp that is in Martina’s room next to the spoon and on the sidewalk where Don Cerdo is standing under the lamppost. The way color was used was impressive, when the mood changed to anger the colors were darker like when coffee was spilled on the suitors, the colors were dark blue and orange. When the mood was nice like when she met and married Don Perez the colors were light green and white (calm colors).  Texture could be seen with the drops of coffee, they really looked realistic as Don Cerdo is walking away. Also the steam of the coffee was really real looking as Martina’s grandmother is holding the cup when Martina is talking to Don Perez. All the elements could be seen in this amazing book.


Evaluation Criteria: Characters
This book has many different characters with different personalities. Martina is trying to find the love of her life. Her grandmother is trying to help her find the best suitor by giving her wonderful advice. Don Gallo just wants a pretty lady by his side to show off and then later mistreat. Don Cerdo just wants a maid to clean up after him. Don Lagarto wants to eat Martina. Don Perez the one who stood behind on the sidelines quietly was the one who stole Martina’s heart. The many characters in this story made for a great read. I loved how the author showed how they each expressed what they wanted from Martina.