The retelling of this Latin American folktale begins with Martina, a beautiful cockroach, who has come of age. The first piece of advice she receives is from her abuela, or grandmother, She is told to spill coffee on her suitors shoes to see how they react – “Then you will know how we will speak to you when he loses his temper”. Martina has her doubts but immediately sees the importance of the Coffee Test when the rooster, the pig, and the lizard all show their true, despicable, colors. At the end of the day Martina is disappointed in her suitor options, but soon spots a cute little mouse, Perez. Perez not only tells her he likes her not because of her outer beauty, but also beats her at her own game by spilling the coffee on Martina’s shoes. Martina is surprised by this, but Perez tells her "I also have a Cuban grandmother."
The illustrations show the animals have realistic details although they do have human gestures and facial expressions. This story is funny and a great read aloud. It also conveys the important message that who someone is on the inside is what matters most, even when beautiful on the outside.
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