Showing posts with label Pura Belpré Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pura Belpré Awards. Show all posts
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
Juana & Lucas
by Juana Medina
Juana lives in Bogotá, Columbia, and speaks Spanish. Her favorite things are drawing, Astroman, brussel sprouts, Bogotá, reading books, and her best friend, Lucas, who is her dog. Tragedy strikes on the first day of school when she finds out that she will have to learn English this year for Mr. Tompkins's class. All of the important people in Juana's life agree that learning English is a great idea, even though she disagrees because it is so hard and frustrating to learn. The possibility of an exciting trip with her grandparents becomes just the motivation she needs to persevere.
With its short chapters, expressive pictures, appealing layout, and natural flow, Juana & Lucas is a wonderful book for elementary school-aged children to read. Written from Juana's perspective, readers will easily relate to her joys and frustrations. This book is best for anyone who is either interested in or fearful of learning something new. As they see Juana embrace her fears and achieve success, readers will be motivated to do so as well. The book introduces its reader to the culture of Bogotá and to Spanish vocabulary, which is interjected throughout, making it feel as though Juana is a real, authentic Columbian.
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Author, Juana Medina's website: http://www.juanamedina.com/
An interview with the author:
Just in Case: a Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book
by Yuyi Morales
It is the day of Grandma Beetle's birthday party. Señor Calavera is extremely excited to attend. As he sets out on his bicycle, he is suddenly reminded by Zelmiro the Ghost that he has forgotten something important...a gift of what Grandma loves most. He diligently searches for the perfect gift, choosing various treasures for each letter of the alphabet, but missing the mark until an accident leads him to discover what Grandma truly loves the most.
This is an interesting traditional tale with Day of the Dead implications, a Spanish alphabet book, and is a follow-up to Just a Minute. Calavera is Spanish for skull. Edible sugar skulls are used in celebration of this holiday and believed to welcome back those who have passed out of this life when the candy skulls are offered on the altar. This story is written in English with some Spanish vocabulary, mostly found as the names of the gifts that are chosen for Grandma. This book could be used to introduce Mexican holidays/culture/alphabet to children, as well as for a celebration with those who are already familiar with Día de los Muertos. Without prefacing the book with some background information, children will likely have questions after reading it, as I did. Some simple research will answer those questions and make the story more meaningful, as will reading Just a Minute, Yuyi Morales' first Señor Calavera book.
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Author, Yuyi Morales' website: http://www.yuyimorales.com/
Señor Calavera's invitation to the ALA Pura Belpre book award ceremony:
Who is Señor Calavera? http://www.srcalavera.com/jarana.html
Read the first book, Just a Minute:
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: a Migrant's Tale
by Duncan Tonatiuh
When drought comes to the ranch causing no crop growth, Papá Rabbit and others must leave their families to hunt for work. On the day of Papá's expected return, he does not come. Worried, Pancho sets out to search, carrying only a backpack full of his father's favorite food. Pancho meets a coyote along the way, who agrees to take him on a shortcut in exchange for the food. When the food is spent and Coyote is still hungry, he decides to eat Pancho. A surprise visitor saves the day!
This traditional Mexican tale resembles The Gingerbread Man and Little Red Riding Hood in some aspects. However, it is not a simple fairy tale. Rather, it is an allegorical children's picture book documenting the plight of an illegal immigrant and his family. In fact, Señor Coyote represents a non-animal kind of coyote, which is a slang term for a person who smuggles people illegally between the US and Mexican border. This book is an excellent resource for bringing to light this legitimate problem and for the brainstorming of solutions.
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Author, Duncan Tonatiuh's website: http://www.duncantonatiuh.com/
Book trailer:
Los Gatos Black on Halloween
by Marisa Montes
On Halloween night, a monster ball is held in the Haunted Hall. Black cats, jack-o-lanterns, witches, skeletons, ghosts, ghouls, zombies, a vampire, a mummy, a werewolf, and corpses attend. They enjoy music and dancing until there is a knock on the door. It creaks open to reveal the scariest creatures of them all!
This rhyming Halloween picture book is full of iconic creepy creatures true to the season. Each double-page spread contains a stanza of the poem and an illustration that creatively extends the concept. The words are printed on a curve, which is visually appealing and helps the stanzas to flow together as if they were being sung. Spanish words are printed in italics to make them easily identifiable. The surrounding words work in tandem with the pictures to help the non-Spanish speaker understand them. A helpful glossary at the end of the book defines all of the Spanish words, in case the reader has a question about them. This book could be used to motivate children to write their own Halloween poems, to create lists of descriptive words to use when writing, to develop vocabulary, or to introduce the Day of the Dead (Mexican holiday: Día de los Muertos).
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About author, Marisa Montes: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/marisa-montes/
Creepy book trailer:
Doña Flor: a Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
by Pat Mora
Doña Flor is an immense woman who lives amongst her normal-sized neighbors in a small village. She is often seen carrying the children to school, talking with animals, and reading books from the library. When a threatening roar begins to scare the villagers, Flor is determined to find the source. Once she does, she is amused by what she discovers and makes a new friend in the process.
This picture book is an entertaining tall tale reminiscent of Paul Bunyon. It is laced with Spanish words, artfully printed in italics and surrounded by context clues to help non-Spanish speakers understand them. The illustrations are beautifully done and help bring Doña Flor's character to life. This book is an excellent source for teachers to use when introducing tall tales, positive role models, exaggeration, personification, similes, respectful titles, descriptive adjectives, and positive character traits.
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Author, Pat Mora's website: http://www.patmora.com/
Pat Mora shares teacher reactions to book:
Illustrator, Raul Colón, talks about illustrating the book:
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Frida: Viva la Vida = Long Live Life
by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Twenty-six biographical poems about Frida Kahlo follow a timeline from her birth in 1907 to her death in 1954. They cover her polio suffering, relationships with her father and mother, terrible bus accident injury, progression as a painter, marriages to Diego, miscarriages, and Diego's infidelity. At the end of the book, there is bonus information including excerpts from Frida's diary/letters, a brief biography, a chronology of her life, and a glossary of terms.
Carmen T. Bernier-Grand's collection of poems written about the famous artist, Frida Kahlo, provides a glimpse into Frida's life and gives a voice to Frida's artwork. Although written by Bernier-Grand, the poems are penned from a first person point of view, causing them to appear as though they were written by Frida. They contain facts about her from birth until death, as well as interesting artifacts of information such as why she goes by Frieda, even though her first name is Magdalena. Paired with photographs and art pieces by Frida herself, this book lets the reader experience the joys and heart-wrenching pain of her life. This match of text and illustration make the book interesting and appear as though it is in story format, even though it contains only poems.
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Author, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand's website: http://www.carmenberniergrand.com/
More on Frida Kahlo: https://www.fridakahlo.org/
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Esperanza Rising
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza lives an enchanted, pampered life; that is, until her papa suffers an untimely death and her evil Tío Luís forces her mother to make a difficult decision rendering them penniless. As a result, Esperanza and her mother must immigrate to the United States with the family who once served hers. After they arrive, Esperanza learns many housekeeping skills while the adults work on a California farm labor camp. When her mother contracts Valley Fever, Esperanza becomes a field-worker as well. Although she no longer possesses the treasures from her past in Mexico, as she embraces her new life, she discovers life's greater treasures.
This chapter book, written for children aged five to eight, is multifaceted. It accurately depicts the circumstances of a Mexican family escaping across the border in order to survive. It also captures the plight of immigrant labor camp workers in 1924 and the struggle of whether or not to participate in a strike. Pam Muñoz Ryan expertly knits these elements within this beautiful coming-of-age story, inspired by Ryan's own grandmother's experiences. Readers and listeners will be inspired by the overarching theme: do not be afraid to start over.
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Author, Pam Muñoz Ryan's website: http://www.pammunozryan.com/
Book trailer:
Mexican immigration during the Great Depression: https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/mexican6.html
The Storyteller's Candle
by Lucía González
Hildamar, her parents, aunts, uncle, and cousin move to a barrio of cold New York from warm Puerto Rico. On the way to school, Hildamar and Santiago notice the public library, but are told by their Aunt María that it is only for English speakers. So, they are quite surprised when the public librarian, Pura Belpré, visits their school that day, speaks Spanish, and tells them that the library is for everyone! Many of the immigrants excitedly visit the library together. Pura helps them to plan a wonderful play, as well as a Three Kings' Day celebration.
I was beyond thrilled when I read this book. I had no idea when I started to read this Pura Belpré award winning book that it was going to be about Pura Belpré herself! Pura is portrayed in such a loving, nurturing, motivating, and creative way, that as a future librarian, I was inspired to be like her when I have a library of my own to oversee and children to pour into one day. In addition, I recently read Martina the Beautiful Cockroach and Nine Days to Christmas, A Story of Mexico. I couldn't believe it when the Martina folktale and the Three Kings' Day tradition from these books appeared in The Storyteller's Candle! This authenticated the cultural aspects of this book that were displayed in the Spanish words splashed throughout the story, as well as in the traditions and strong family community within the text. On each two-page spread, the story is written in both English and Spanish, furthering the theme: the library is for everyone. Regarding the illustrations, readers of all ages will likely search every page for the clever use of an actual newspaper from 1930. Every aspect of this book is muy fantástico!
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Interview with author, Lucía González: http://pageturneradventures.com/2011/09/rileys-interview-with-childrens-author-lucia-gonzalez/
Lulu Delacre on illustrating the book:
Martina, the Beautiful Cockroach:
Three Kings' Day: http://www.mexonline.com/history-lostresreyes.htm
Monday, October 2, 2017
Mango, Abuela, and Me
by Meg Medina
Mia's grandmother leaves her own home behind to come live with Mia and her parents. Unfortunately, communication is difficult because Abuela speaks Spanish, but Mia speaks English. Mia labels household objects and the two play language games. Although this helps a bit, it is Abuela's new parrot, Mango, that bridges the gap between them.
Prekindergarten through third graders are a good audience for this book. Its colorful pictures and animals will attract young readers, and those living in households which have extended family members such as grandparents residing there will certainly relate. This book teaches that different languages do not have to be a barrier to relationships. Love can bridge the gap. In addition, this book is a great resource for introducing Spanish vocabulary.
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Author, Meg Medina's website: https://megmedina.com/
Book trailer:
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
Retold by Carmen Agra Deedy
Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha has come of age and is ready to get engaged, but wonders how she will find her true love. While her mother and aunt give her something lovely to wear for when she entertains her suitors, her grandmother gives her interesting advice for how to find her perfect match instead. Martina reluctantly follows her grandmother's guidance and is pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
Carmen Agra Deedy's retelling of this Cuban folktale and Michael Austin's exquisite illustrations make this traditional picture book unforgettable. Deedy cleverly works in characteristics of a real cockroach, such as having six legs covered in little hairs. These details are shared in a humorous way. Children won't even realize that they are learning about insects. Spanish words also appear throughout the story in a way that is appealing and understandable to non-Spanish speakers. The illustrations are quite creative, immersing the reader into the world of a two-inch long critter. The wise message of this story is easily understood and, hopefully, taken to heart: character is more important than looks.
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Author, Carmen Agra Deedy's website: https://carmenagradeedy.com/
Book trailer:
Information about the Cuban Cockroach: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=cuban-cockroach
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