Too Many Tamales

Too Many Tamales is about a girl named Maria who loses her mother's ring while making tamales.

Realistic fiction is a genre of literature that tells a story that could happen in real life, even though it is made up.

To knead dough means to work it with your hands by pressing, folding, and stretching it.

A tamale is a traditional Mexican dish made of masa (corn dough) filled with meats, cheeses, or other fillings, wrapped in corn husks and steamed.

Maria's cousin groaned because they were full and didn't want to eat more tamales.

To be full means that you have eaten enough food and do not want to eat more.

A ring is a piece of jewelry that is worn on a finger.

To lose something means to no longer have it or to not be able to find it.

The ring is important because it represents Maria's connection to her mother and her feelings of responsibility.

To groan means to make a low sound of pain or discomfort.