Kimmel serves up the familiar Stone Soup story with a Mexican flavor in this retelling set in northern Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution. When the townspeople pretend to be poor, and hide their beans, corn, chilies, tortillas, and tamales from the soldiers, the Capitán offers to make soup for everyone from a cactus thorn. Huling’s illustrations, a bit off-putting because of the extreme caricatures of the oversized sombreros are, however, well-suited to the exaggeration of the smoothly told tale. An author’s note explains the political and historical background, and a glossary provides English equivalents of the sparely used Spanish terms. A good choice for those seeking variants of Stone Soup, or books with Mexican themes. (Picture book. 5-8)
