Isabel's Texas Two-Step Read online

  Saintly Origins

  San Antonio is named after Saint Anthony of Padua. On June 13, 1619, Spanish explorers celebrated Saint Anthony’s feast day in the area. They named it San Antonio, which is Spanish for Saint Anthony, in honor of the saint.

  Art Alert

  The church at Mission Concepción is the only mission church in San Antonio that has never been seriously damaged as a result of bad weather. Because of this, it still contains some of the original frescos that were painted inside of it when it was first built more than 250 years ago!

  My Kind of Party!

  San Antonians hold a superhuge celebration called Fiesta San Antonio every year in April. The Fiesta lasts for ten whole days and is full of parades, carnivals, feasts, and art exhibits!

  Texan-in-Chief

  Four U.S. presidents were Texans: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.

  Lone but Not Lonely

  Texas’s nickname, “The Lone Star State,” comes from the design of the state flag, which shows a single five-pointed star.

  Saddle Up!

  America’s first-ever rodeo was held in Pecos, Texas, on July 4, 1883, when a couple of cowboys decided to find out who could rope calves and ride bulls and broncos the best. When more cowboys found out about the competition, they joined right in. Pretty soon, people were lining up to watch! Every summer, the town of Pecos still holds an annual rodeo. Yee-haw!

  A Dilly of a ’Dillo

  An Avery Madden Crazy Critters Exclusive

  Hey there, animal fans! Avery here, chatting with Sassafras, the nine-banded armadillo—the only species of armadillo that lives in the United States! Sassafras and most of her relatives are from Texas, but she’s also got cousins in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.

  Avery Madden: So, Sassafras, there’s something I’ve just been dying to know. Are armadillos reptiles? I mean, you’ve got scales all over you, so…

  Sassafras Armadillo: To tell you the truth, Avery, I’m a mammal. Those scales make up my shell, which has nine bands. It protects me, and it’s actually how I got my name. Armadillo is Spanish for “armored one.”

  AM: Wow, really?

  SA: ¡Sí, sí! When I curl up, nothing can get me! Armadillos are the only mammal that has an exoskeleton.

  AM: An exo-what?

  SA: An exoskeleton. You have your skeleton inside of your skin, but I have one on the inside and on the outside. My shell is made out of bone.

  AM: You know, I think my science teacher mentioned exoskeletons once. Insects have them, right?

  SA: Sí. Speaking of insects, I’m getting kind of hungry.

  AM: You eat bugs? Cool!

  SA: If there are a lot around. We armadillos are pretty chill—if we can’t find what we want, we’ll settle for second best. My favorite foods are insects, spiders, and small amphibians, but I’ll eat berries and plants too.

  AM: Now, I know this is a sensitive subject, but…is there anything out there that would like to eat you?

  SA: Gotta love that law of the jungle. I have to be on the lookout for pumas, birds of prey, and snakes.

  AM: Yikes! Well, you don’t have to worry about my snake, Walter. He’s completely harmless. Anyway, Sassafras, do you have any siblings?

  SA: You better believe it! I’m actually a quadruplet. I have three sisters named Tammy, Pammy, and Cammy.

  AM: Wow! Quadruplets! Has People magazine called for a cover shot?

  SA: Nah, it’s nothing special. Most armadillos give birth to identical quadruplets.

  AM: You mean you and your sisters look exactly the same?

  SA: Sí. My sisters and I are so alike, Mom and Dad can’t tell us apart most of the time. It drives them crazy!

  AM: So I guess you don’t get your own room.

  SA: Nope. I have to share with Tammy, Pammy, and Cammy. Luckily I don’t have to share with my older brothers: Lester, Sylvester, Chester, and Jimbo!

  Isabel’s Spanish-English Dictionary

  abrazo: hug

  abuelito/abuelita: grandfather/grandmother

  acequia: irrigation ditch

  aeropuerto: airport

  Americanas: Americans

  amigo/amiga: friend

  Ándale: Get a move on

  animalitos: little animals

  ¡Ay!: Oh!

  azúcar: sugar

  bailador: dancer

  balcón: balcony

  bolsa: bag

  Buenas noches: Good night

  Buenas tardes: Good afternoon

  Buenos días: Good day

  chambelanes: at a quinceañera, the boys who escort the damas on the honor court; literally, “Chamberlains”

  chambelan de honor: honor escort

  chica: girl

  chiles rellenos: spicy stuffed chiles

  chinampa: land created in a body of water by piling up mud; part of a landfill system used by the Aztecs

  chiquita: little girl

  chula: cutie or darling

  Claro que sí: Certainly

  cocinero: cook

  cocina: kitchen

  conjunto: genre of music developed in the Mexican-American communities of Texas; literally, “ensemble”

  corte de honor: the group of boys and girls who stand by the quinceañera at her celebration; literally, “court of honor” or “honor court”

  Cuida a tu mamá: Take care of your mother

  damas: the girls who stand by the quinceañera at her celebration; literally, “ladies”

  ¡Dios mío!: My God!

  Don: Mr.

  Doña: Mrs.

  ¿Dónde está…?: Where is…?

  empanadas: small pies, like turnovers

  entrada: entrance

  ¿Esa música, que es?: That music, what is it?

  fiesta: party

  flautas: long tortillas filled with chicken or beef, rolled up, and fried; literally, “flutes”

  fuera: out, outside

  fuerza: force; strength

  gallo: rooster

  Gracias: Thank you

  gran entrada: grand entrance

  grito: shout, scream, yell

  harina: flour

  Hasta mañana: See you tomorrow

  hermana: sister

  hermanita: little sister

  hijo/hija: son/daughter

  huevos: eggs

  La Llorona: a Mexican folktale that features a sad “weeping woman”

  Le llama…: Its name is…

  loco/loca: mad, crazy

  magnífico: magnificent

  mamacita: dear girl; literally, “little mother”

  mantequilla: butter

  Me gusto mucho el chocolate: I like chocolate very much

  mi amor: My love

  mi amorcita: my little love

  mi hijita, mi ’jita: my little daughter

  mi hijo/mi ’jo: my son

  mi muñequita: my little doll

  Mira esta muchachita: Look at this little girl

  muchacha: girl

  muchachita: little girl

  muchacho: boy

  Muchas gracias: Thank you very much

  mujeres: women

  música: music

  Muy buen hecho: Very well done

  muy bueno: very good

  Muy travieso, ese gallo, el Pecas: Very mischievous, that rooster, Freckles

  niña: girl

  padrino/madrino: godfather/godmother; at a quinceañera, family members or family friends who sponsor certain aspects of the celebration

  papel picado: Mexican paper art that involves cutting out patterns; literally, “minced paper”

  pecas: freckles

  preciosa: precious

  presidio: fort

  primo/prima: cousin

  Que bonito: How pretty, How nice

  Que demonios!: What demons!

  Que hermosa!: What beauty!

  queso: cheese

  rancheras: folk songs from Mexico

 
; ranchito: small ranch

  rancho: ranch

  sala: living room

  Salud!: Cheers!

  Señor: Mr.

  sí: yes

  taller: workshop

  tamales: filled corn tortillas, steamed inside a corn husk

  tlacuache: possum

  tinaja: natural swimming hole made of rock; literally, “large earthen jar”

  tío/tía: uncle/aunt

  Toma: Take this; drink this

  travieso: mischievous; making trouble

  Venga: Come

  verdad: truth

  viejita: little old woman