Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Snyder
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky tale pays homage to Filipino food and folktale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
DOÑA ESMERALDA, WHO ATE EVERYTHING! is the story of an eccentric character -- a lady the size of a toddler who sports a big bouffant hairdo. Doña Esmeralda eats all of the food that picky eater children won't eat, from tofu to liver and onions to soggy Brussels sprouts. One day, she stumbles upon a party where children are excited to eat the food. She tries some of it and can't get enough, so she begins to eat everything in sight -- food, tables and chairs, an elephant and a crocodile, even children and their parents. Will Doña Esmeralda ever stop eating? What will happen if she does?
Is It Any Good?
Author Melissa de la Cruz stays true to the storytelling of oral tradition in this unique story. Doña Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything! is a retelling of an old folktale, and it's told in a way similar to the way people passed down stories for years. It's conversational, often interrupting the storytelling with questions or defining words for those receiving the story. For example, "She was about the size of a toddler, but she was very, very old. Do you know the word 'ancient'? It means older than old, and that's how old Doña Esmeralda was." This helps readers young and old keep up with the story.
While this is a retelling of an old folktale, de la Cruz could have taken a bit more liberty to craft a tale more fitting for today's young readers. Simply constructing a clearer resolution or perhaps giving Doña Esmeralda some character strengths or a lesson learned could have easily done the trick, as it's unclear if Doña Esmeralda is a protagonist or antagonist for much of the story. Kids won't mind -- they'll be busy giggling at the outlandish tale, brought to life by Primo Gallanosa's hilarious illustrations.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Filipino food in Doña Esmeralda, Who Ate Everything! Do you eat these dishes? Which of the ones you haven't tasted would you like to try? What do you think about the recipe at the end of the book? Would you like to try to make it?
What do you think of the narrator interrupting the story? Does that make the story more fun? Did it help you understand it better?
Think about the meals you eat with your family. Which foods are your favorite? Which foods do you wish Doña Esmeralda would eat off your plate?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Primo Gallanosa
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Cooking , Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Orchard Books
- Publication date : August 16, 2022
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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