Let's Eat by Ana Zamorana

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a family who is expecting a new baby. Every day Mama sends out Antonio, her son, to get the food for the family's mid-day meal. On Monday, Papa can't leave his busy shop. On Tuesday, Antonio's sister Alicia is learning to dance the sevillanas for the summer fiesta. Day after day, when there is an empty seat at the table that Papa built and Mama has filled with inviting food, she sighs, "Ay, que pena! What a pity." Eventually, it is Mama who is missing because it's time for her to have baby the new baby. What children find really delightful about this book is the fact that Antonio has to taken on grown up responsibilities. The text is predictable and reassuringly comfortable for young readers. Children will delight in Antonio's grown-up responsibilities and enjoy the comfortable but unique predictability of the text.The publishers suggest that the book is appropriate for children between the ages of 4-8 years, but I have used it very successfully with 3 year olds. Where to Buy: The book was published in 1999, but it can still be found in major children's book stores as well as through on-line retailers.