Cuentos de Pedro Urdemales = Tales of Pedro Urdemales

Gr 3-5-The title character of this chapter book is a quintessential trickster. Pedro ambles through one adventure after another, unencumbered by moral indecision, always managing to dupe the local bully (usually the patr n or landowner). Somehow, readers are left with the impression that the stooge is always a victim of his own avarice or stupidity. For all of his wiles, Pedro is a low-key and likable fellow. The setting of these eight stories is distinctively Argentine. The characters are gauchos and other denizens of the pampas. Much of the folkloric detail and many of the linguistic phrases are also identifiably Argentine. These regional elements make the book entertaining. It is easy to read, and the story lines move quickly. The variation between episodes and comic elements will ensure readers' continued interest in this legendary figure.