Spain: Culture, Food and Books for Kids
The children’s books that I selected are old-fashioned from a by-gone era so I am spinning the rest of this post into the modern world. We’ll start first with a dizzying tour of modern Spanish furniture, and then onto the hottest food scene in the world. According to my favorite foodie snark, Anthony Bourdain, Spain is where it is at for the foodie scene. Forget France, that is so last year! The maestro is Ferran Adriá and I have an easy recipe from his blog as well a few other fun things. To finish up, we’ll see some Spanish creatives; architect Gaudi and artists Miró, Picasso, and Velázquez.
I am planning a trip to Barcelona next year for two reasons: my kids have studied Spanish for YEARS so it’s time to take off the training wheels and my husband and kids are obsessed with Barcelona soccer. I told my Spanish tutor about my travel plans yesterday (she’s from Argentina). The first thing she says is “Messi?! You guys are going to see Messi?!” And she was right! My kids cheered for Argentina throughout the World Cup, not Korea where their father was born, not the U.S., and not Spain though they root for Barcelona. It was Argentina because of Lionel Messi.
So forgive me if my post slants a little towards Barcelona. Of course, the irony: they speak Catalan there, which is closer to Latin. [Catalan was the official language of the kingdom of Aragon between 1137 and 1749, Catalan is now co-official (with Spanish) in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Isles. It is the only official language in the state of Andorra.] We’ll see if we can’t practice our Spanish there somehow! I hope you enjoy our trip!
Children’s Books
The Story of Ferdinand by Munroe Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson was a childhood favorite picture book of mine that sadly, does not seem to translate to this generation. I’m not sure if it’s the black and white illustrations which, by the way, are spectacular pen and ink drawings by notable author/illustrator Robert Lawson. My kids are used to four-color. It could be that the story is too slow but I love how they bring out all the different costumed bullfighters, each with their specialty. Maybe bullfighting is not P.C.? I can understand that and maybe my kids feel sorry for the animals. I still love this book. The underlying message, though, is great: be true to yourself. This message never ages! [picture book, ages 4-7]
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth DeTrevino is a Newbery Award-winning historical fiction novel about a black slave in the 17th century Spanish Court who ends up apprenticing for the great painter Velázquez and also hobnobbing with other notables Rubens and Murillo. [chapter book, ages 9-12]
Modern Spanish Design
Here is a link to an excellent article but as they say, pictures speak a thousand words…
Modern Spanish Chef Guru Ferran Adriá
He is the head chef of the El Bulli restaurant in Roses on the Costa Brava and is considered one of the best chefs in the world. And that is kind of like saying Picasso was a pretty good artist. Here’s his blog. If you have 15 minutes, here’s a great video by an English food journalist on his Ferran Adriá experience, here.
Here is a recipe from his blog that is manageable. And yes, I had to look up calçotada. Calçot is a variety of green onion known as Blanca gran tardana in the Catalan language. The most traditional way of eating calçots is in a calçotada (plural: calçotades), a popular gastronomical event held between the end of winter and March or April, where calçots are consumed massively. Calçots are then barbecued and dipped in salvitxada or romesco sauce, and accompanied by red wine or cava. Pieces of meat and bread slices are roasted in the charcoal after cooking the calçots.
I am thinking that ramps are a reasonable substitute for green onions if you just want to try this sauce right now in the winter.
Calçots roasting during a calçotada
We did a calçotada with Romescu great. I left the sauce recipe to improvise, to not have all the ingredients, but it was delicious:
Ingredients:
2 red peppers
4 tomatoes
4 garlic
The crumb of a loaf of bread, half hard
150 grams of almonds
Olive oil
Sal
Pepper
Preparation:
Put the oven to heat and roast the tomatoes, peppers and garlic.
Chop almonds and toast a little in a frying pan.
In a blender, shred the crumb of the loaf.
We are adding to the mixer, gradually, a little oil, salt, pepper, almonds, tomatoes, peppers, and roasted garlic.
You can edit to taste with salt and oil but do not overdo it,.
Spanish Creatives
The iconic Spanish Artists: Miró, Gaudi, and, of course, Picasso. And Velázquez for those who read the book selection.
Joan Miró, was a Catalan/Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.
Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan architect who worked during the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme.
Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor who lived most of his adult life in France. He is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement.
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, for those who read I, Juan de Pareja. He was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Gorgeous post! You can take a local Latin student I know as a translator if it helps!
Thanks so much! Yes, we need an incentive trip to keep studying Spanish!! I think I am going to start my own Spanish lessons back up to get ready.
¡Hola! Don’t panic! In Barcelona, people speak Spanish, too. My son loves football, Barça and Messi, too 🙂
Thank you for sharing at Creative Kids Cultural Blog Hop. I loved Ferdinand too, but haven’t tried introducing it to Chiquita. I visited Barcelona while in college and it is a BEAUTIFUL city. La Sagrada Familia was just stunning.
It was kind of strange hearing Barcelonans talk to each other in what sounded so close to Spanish that I felt I should have understood but didn’t. They all spoke Spanish with us though, so no problem communicating, just eaves dropping 🙂
Love this tour! I remember the Ferdinand book fondly but can see why (sadly) it may not grab kids’ attention today. And what a beautiful overview of the art of Barcelona! I remember when the Olympics were held there years ago. I was a kid and was shocked to discover they didn’t speak Spanish! I’m sure you’ll get a try to practice yours, though, as I imagine they are all bilingual. Have fun and thanks for sharing at the Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop!
Thanks so much Leanna! We did make it to Barcelona a few years ago and loved that beautiful city though we didn’t get to practice our Spanish much. We hope to return to Spain to visit San Sebastian and Madrid at some point. Thanks for hosting the Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop!