Harvesting Hope the Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Published by Harcourt Children’s Books in 2003. Grades 3-6. This is the story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California. The book begins with Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. It includes details of the historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa." Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay is a lesson on over coming adversity, having perseverance and working together for the good of all. I would use this book as an introduction to the genre of biographies and then move into themes of different character traits and how those have affected our history. I would also tie this historical struggle to the Civil Rights Movement, using this story as a basis for comparing and contrasting Chavez to ML King and both of their mantras of using Nonviolence. (Lori Bieging)
Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman. Illustrated by Enrique Sanchez. Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 1993. Grades K-5. This story is about the daughter (Amelia) of migrant farm workers. Constantly on the move, Amelia's family records events by crops not dates, carries with them only what will fit in the car, and are never anywhere long enough to feel at home. The girl longs for a place to stay, a place where she belongs. Teachers rarely bother to learn her name, so when Mrs. Ramos does so, it is special. Amelia's picture of a white house with a big shade tree earns a beautiful red star. On the way home from school, Amelia discovers a road leading to a tree just like the one she drew. She visits this place often, and buries a small metal box filled with her treasures there when she must leave. Teacher Note: The themes of this book are historical fiction and relationships. There is an author's note at the end of the book about migrant farm workers. Since Amelia's Road is about migrant farm workers, I would have older elementary students find out who Cesar Chavez was and why he became a hero to many migrant workers. I would have students write a brief profile of Chavez. This book could also be used with the following writing activities:
Pretend that you are Amelia. You have gone with your family to a new harvest, and you are in a new school. Write a letter to Mrs. Ramos, telling her about the new school.
Write a poem about a place that is special to you.
Imagine that you are Amelia's pen pal. Write a letter to her, telling what you like–or dislike–about your school.
For younger students, I would have them complete (as a class or individual) a Venn diagram comparing their lives to Amelia's life. (Gail Jung )
Abuela by Arthur Dorros. Published by Puffin (May 1, 1997). Ages 3-7
Rosalba is "always going places" with her grandmother--abuela . During one of their bird-feeding outings to the park, Rosalba wonders aloud, "What if I could fly?" Thus begins an excursion through the girl's imagination as she soars high above the tall buildings and buses of Manhattan, over the docks and around the Statue of Liberty with Abuela in tow. Each stop of the glorious journey evokes a vivid memory for Rosalba's grandmother and reveals a new glimpse of the woman's colorful ethnic origins. Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books. Rosalba's language is simple and melodic, suggesting the graceful images of flight found on each page. Kleven's ( Ernst ) mixed-media collages are vibrantly hued and intricately detailed, the various blended textures reminiscent of folk art forms. Those searching for solid multicultural material would be well advised to embark: Vamos !
Teacher Note: I would use this when teaching about traditions, family relationships, compare/contrast with another book about grandmother like Lukas Quilt.(Tricia Griffith)
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting. Published by Sandpiper ( April 14, 1997). Ages 4-8
This is a great story about a young boy and his grandfather who are searching for work on a Saturday morning. The grandfather who is a immigrant, waits with his grandson and other men who are in need of a good day's work. Finally a man comes by looking for a gardener. The boy who speaks english tells the man that they are great gardeners which is a lie and that it he will be getting 1 an 1/2 gardeners for the price of one. The man agrees and bring them to a nice neighborhood that needs weeding and leaves them their to do their work. The boy explains to the grandfather the difference between the weed and the plant. When the man returns he is furious becuase they pulled out all the plants and left the weeds. The grandfather is confused because he does speak english but knows that they did something wrong. He demonstrates his integrity by having his grandson explain to the man that they will be back tomorrow to fix it. This is a great tale of a strong relationship between a grandfather & his grandson. It also demonstrates how important it is to be proud of your work.
Teacher's Note: I just used this to teach character traits. (Kim Paulson)
Chato's Kitchen
Chato’s Kitchen
By Gary Soto Illustrated by Susan Guevara
Soto (Too Many Tamales) commands a poet's gift for defining characters quickly, densely and, in this case, with hilariously choice words. Paired with Guevara's (The Boardwalk Princess) wickedly funny, urban paints, Soto's story of Chato, a cool, "low-riding cat" of East Los Angeles, is a scream. Chato and his friend Novio Boy plan a dinner for (and, they hope, of) the new mice next door. But the mice bring a surprise guest named Chorizo (sausage), who turns out to be a truly low-riding dachshund. Foiled, the cats resign themselves to mouseless fajitas. It's a basic enough tale, but close to brilliant in its execution. Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit: "We brought Chorizo,' Mami mouse called./ Sausage! Chato and Novio Boy danced, and with clean paws they gave each other a 'low-four.'" Salud to this magical pairing of talents. Ages 4-8. (Patti Thacker)
The House on Mango Street By: Sandra Cisneros This story is about a young girl growing up in Chicago in a Latino community. She deals with the hard realities of her neighborhood, the issues that arise and the people in her community. She doesn't want to live in her neighborhood and dreams of what her life will be and what she will become in her future. This is a great story for high school students dealing with peer relationships and their community. I think you could read this is small groups or as a class. There is a chapter in the book called "My name". It would be engaging to do a writing prompt on the students name, where it comes from and what it means. Also, you could have the students photograph or create images of the student's neighborhood and where they come from. This is a wonderful book that can be read over and over!
Out of the Ballpark by Alex Rodriguez. Illustrator: Frank Morrison. Publisher: HarperCollins 2007 (ages 4-8) Summary of the book: This picture book by Alex Rodriguez (NY Yankees) is about a young boy who, through hard work and determination, realizes his baseball dreams of winning the championship game. “Rodriguez concludes with a note that includes his credo for success: No matter what your dreams and goals, you can never go wrong if you give them all you've got”. Also included is a section of photos from Alex’s youth, including family and friends. A theme for this book: community engagement – he is playing on a youth baseball team and also overcoming adversity – he has to work hard to win the championship game (after having a terrible game in the playoffs). How to use in the classroom: I could see this book being in the classroom library and also used as a read aloud to the class. (Heidi Quimby)
Product Details
Father Greg and the Homeboys by: Celeste Fremon. Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher. 1995. (Middle School and High School). Father Greg is a hero to a number of Latino gang members in the East Los Angeles area. He offers hope and help to these gang members. This book takes you to the "real streets" of the Mexican-American gang world. Father Greg is sent away and the gang members want to bring him "home." Themes for this book are peer relationships and community engagement. This book can be used for class discussions and relating urban/rural communities. (Michelle Anderson)
My Name is Celia By: Monica Brown Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez Publisher: Northland Publisher 2004.
Grade 2-4. This story is about Cuban-born salsa queen, Celia Cruz's inspiring life. From her hearly childhood in Havana to her musical achievement and worldwide acclaim, celia's story is told in a colorful, sotryybook style with up-beat rhythms. The book is bilingual and is a wonderful tribute to a Latina legend. This book could be used to compare/contrast life styles etc...Also, since this book is written bilingually, it's a great book to use with ELL readers. (Meghahttp:ecx.images-
Romiette and Julio, by Sharon Draper. Middle School to High School. Romiette and Julio is a modern parallel to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliette. Julio is a 16 year old latino boy whose family recently moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Romiette is a 16 year old African American girl. The two start a relationship in a chatroom, not knowing they attend the same high school. The two soon form a relationship in real life. One of the main conflicts in the story focuses on their interracial relationship. Part of this story follows closely to the original, other parts take their own unique twist. This is a popular book amongst my students because it discusses the themes of family tensions, especially those some have faced due to interracial relationships. This can also be used as a tie in to teaching Romeo and Juliet. (Kari Beaudry)
What Can You Do With A Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla. Tricycle Press. 2008. The Rebozo, a traditional Mexican woven shawl, is the main "character" in this book about the celebration of how the rebozo plays an important part of each family member's daily life. Theme: Mexican traditional culture Level: Primary Teacher's Note: This book is great when speaking of different cultures and a writing prompt used in first and second grades as for students to write stories of important items used in daily life. This was sent to me recently from a previous student who is now a 1st grade teacher in Texas. She uses it in her classroom to teach the beauty of the English language to reluctant english language learners. (Joan Sax) Salsa Storiesby Lulu Delacre. Scholastic Inc. 2000. This book was suggested by a colleague, so I thought I would share it with the class. Here is a review I found from Amazon.com. It is New Year's Day, and friends and family from all over Latin America arrive at Carmen Teresa's house for the festivities. When a neighbor gives her a gift of a blank notebook, everyone has an idea of how she should fill it. The discussion leads to an outpouring of stories by Carmen Teresa's loved ones. Loosely following a year of Latin American holidays--the procession for the Lord of Miracles, a special birthday, the Night of San Juan, and Palm Sunday, among others--the narration gives a warm, lively sense of family tradition. The one common thread through all these stories from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, and Argentina, is... food! Scrumptious tortillas, coconut sherbet, chiles rellenos, arroz con pollo, codfish stew, nougat candy, and more. Following the seven heartwarming, humorous, and fascinating stories, author Lulu Delacre includes recipes for all the delicious-sounding foods mentioned. When award-winning author Delacre set out to collect family recipes for a cookbook of traditional Latin American foods, she was amazed at how much more she gleaned: "How often the flavors of our childhood unlock memories from our past." Delacre's wonderful stylized linocuts are just icing on the proverbial cake (or salsa on the tortilla). Young fans of Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolatewill love this delectable combination of food for the belly and food for the soul. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Theme: Realistic Fiction- Culture, Family Traditions and Recipes,
Level: Intermediate 3rd - 5th grades
Teacher's Note: A colleague uses this with her latino/a students as the class studies realistic fiction. She engages the rest of the class in the book and entices them to read it by having parents of the latino students come in to make several of the recipes with small groups of students. This begins a wonderful discussion of cultures and traditions.
(Joan Sax)
Espernza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. (Scholastic, Inc, 2000). Esperanza Rising is a work of historical fiction, based on the life of Munoz Ryan's grandmother. Esperanza grew up wealthy in Mexico, but tragic events make Esperanza and her mother move to California to work as migrants. The story illustrates the lives of Mexican farm workers, the Great Depression, and plenty of racism. I would use this in conjunction with sections from The Grapes of Wrath// to contrast the lives of Mexican farm workers versus American farm workers. The book is appropriate for ages 7 and up, and could be used easily in middle and high school classes. (Amy Korba).
Harvesting Hope the Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull, Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Published by Harcourt Children’s Books in 2003. Grades 3-6. This is the story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farm workers in California. The book begins with Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. It includes details of the historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa." Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay is a lesson on over coming adversity, having perseverance and working together for the good of all. I would use this book as an introduction to the genre of biographies and then move into themes of different character traits and how those have affected our history. I would also tie this historical struggle to the Civil Rights Movement, using this story as a basis for comparing and contrasting Chavez to ML King and both of their mantras of using Nonviolence. (Lori Bieging)
This story is about the daughter (Amelia) of migrant farm workers. Constantly on the move, Amelia's family records events by crops not dates, carries with them only what will fit in the car, and are never anywhere long enough to feel at home. The girl longs for a place to stay, a place where she belongs. Teachers rarely bother to learn her name, so when Mrs. Ramos does so, it is special. Amelia's picture of a white house with a big shade tree earns a beautiful red star. On the way home from school, Amelia discovers a road leading to a tree just like the one she drew. She visits this place often, and buries a small metal box filled with her treasures there when she must leave.
Teacher Note: The themes of this book are historical fiction and relationships. There is an author's note at the end of the book about migrant farm workers. Since Amelia's Road is about migrant farm workers, I would have older elementary students find out who Cesar Chavez was and why he became a hero to many migrant workers. I would have students write a brief profile of Chavez. This book could also be used with the following writing activities:
- Pretend that you are Amelia. You have gone with your family to a new harvest, and you are in a new school. Write a letter to Mrs. Ramos, telling her about the new school.
- Write a poem about a place that is special to you.
- Imagine that you are Amelia's pen pal. Write a letter to her, telling what you like–or dislike–about your school.
For younger students, I would have them complete (as a class or individual) a Venn diagram comparing their lives to Amelia's life. (Gail Jung )Abuela by Arthur Dorros. Published by Puffin (May 1, 1997). Ages 3-7
Rosalba is "always going places" with her grandmother--abuela . During one of their bird-feeding outings to the park, Rosalba wonders aloud, "What if I could fly?" Thus begins an excursion through the girl's imagination as she soars high above the tall buildings and buses of Manhattan, over the docks and around the Statue of Liberty with Abuela in tow. Each stop of the glorious journey evokes a vivid memory for Rosalba's grandmother and reveals a new glimpse of the woman's colorful ethnic origins. Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books. Rosalba's language is simple and melodic, suggesting the graceful images of flight found on each page. Kleven's ( Ernst ) mixed-media collages are vibrantly hued and intricately detailed, the various blended textures reminiscent of folk art forms. Those searching for solid multicultural material would be well advised to embark: Vamos !
Teacher Note: I would use this when teaching about traditions, family relationships, compare/contrast with another book about grandmother like Lukas Quilt.(Tricia Griffith)
This is a great story about a young boy and his grandfather who are searching for work on a Saturday morning. The grandfather who is a immigrant, waits with his grandson and other men who are in need of a good day's work. Finally a man comes by looking for a gardener. The boy who speaks english tells the man that they are great gardeners which is a lie and that it he will be getting 1 an 1/2 gardeners for the price of one. The man agrees and bring them to a nice neighborhood that needs weeding and leaves them their to do their work. The boy explains to the grandfather the difference between the weed and the plant. When the man returns he is furious becuase they pulled out all the plants and left the weeds. The grandfather is confused because he does speak english but knows that they did something wrong. He demonstrates his integrity by having his grandson explain to the man that they will be back tomorrow to fix it. This is a great tale of a strong relationship between a grandfather & his grandson. It also demonstrates how important it is to be proud of your work.
Teacher's Note: I just used this to teach character traits. (Kim Paulson)
Chato’s Kitchen
By Gary Soto Illustrated by Susan GuevaraSoto (Too Many Tamales) commands a poet's gift for defining characters quickly, densely and, in this case, with hilariously choice words. Paired with Guevara's (The Boardwalk Princess) wickedly funny, urban paints, Soto's story of Chato, a cool, "low-riding cat" of East Los Angeles, is a scream. Chato and his friend Novio Boy plan a dinner for (and, they hope, of) the new mice next door. But the mice bring a surprise guest named Chorizo (sausage), who turns out to be a truly low-riding dachshund. Foiled, the cats resign themselves to mouseless fajitas. It's a basic enough tale, but close to brilliant in its execution. Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit: "We brought Chorizo,' Mami mouse called./ Sausage! Chato and Novio Boy danced, and with clean paws they gave each other a 'low-four.'" Salud to this magical pairing of talents. Ages 4-8. (Patti Thacker)
This story is about a young girl growing up in Chicago in a Latino community. She deals with the hard realities of her neighborhood, the issues that arise and the people in her community. She doesn't want to live in her neighborhood and dreams of what her life will be and what she will become in her future. This is a great story for high school students dealing with peer relationships and their community. I think you could read this is small groups or as a class. There is a chapter in the book called "My name". It would be engaging to do a writing prompt on the students name, where it comes from and what it means. Also, you could have the students photograph or create images of the student's neighborhood and where they come from. This is a wonderful book that can be read over and over!
How to use in the classroom: I could see this book being in the classroom library and also used as a read aloud to the class. (Heidi Quimby)
My Name is Celia By: Monica Brown Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez Publisher: Northland Publisher 2004.
Grade 2-4. This story is about Cuban-born salsa queen, Celia Cruz's inspiring life. From her hearly childhood in Havana to her musical achievement and worldwide acclaim, celia's story is told in a colorful, sotryybook style with up-beat rhythms. The book is bilingual and is a wonderful tribute to a Latina legend. This book could be used to compare/contrast life styles etc...Also, since this book is written bilingually, it's a great book to use with ELL readers. (Meghahttp:ecx.images-
The Rebozo, a traditional Mexican woven shawl, is the main "character" in this book about the celebration of how the rebozo plays an important part of each family member's daily life.
Theme: Mexican traditional culture
Level: Primary
Teacher's Note: This book is great when speaking of different cultures and a writing prompt used in first and second grades as for students to write stories of important items used in daily life. This was sent to me recently from a previous student who is now a 1st grade teacher in Texas. She uses it in her classroom to teach the beauty of the English language to reluctant english language learners.
(Joan Sax)
This book was suggested by a colleague, so I thought I would share it with the class. Here is a review I found from Amazon.com.
It is New Year's Day, and friends and family from all over Latin America arrive at Carmen Teresa's house for the festivities. When a neighbor gives her a gift of a blank notebook, everyone has an idea of how she should fill it. The discussion leads to an outpouring of stories by Carmen Teresa's loved ones. Loosely following a year of Latin American holidays--the procession for the Lord of Miracles, a special birthday, the Night of San Juan, and Palm Sunday, among others--the narration gives a warm, lively sense of family tradition. The one common thread through all these stories from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, and Argentina, is... food! Scrumptious tortillas, coconut sherbet, chiles rellenos, arroz con pollo, codfish stew, nougat candy, and more. Following the seven heartwarming, humorous, and fascinating stories, author Lulu Delacre includes recipes for all the delicious-sounding foods mentioned.
When award-winning author Delacre set out to collect family recipes for a cookbook of traditional Latin American foods, she was amazed at how much more she gleaned: "How often the flavors of our childhood unlock memories from our past." Delacre's wonderful stylized linocuts are just icing on the proverbial cake (or salsa on the tortilla). Young fans of Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate will love this delectable combination of food for the belly and food for the soul. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Theme: Realistic Fiction- Culture, Family Traditions and Recipes,
Level: Intermediate 3rd - 5th grades
Teacher's Note: A colleague uses this with her latino/a students as the class studies realistic fiction. She engages the rest of the class in the book and entices them to read it by having parents of the latino students come in to make several of the recipes with small groups of students. This begins a wonderful discussion of cultures and traditions.
(Joan Sax)
Espernza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. (Scholastic, Inc, 2000). Esperanza Rising is a work of historical fiction, based on the life of Munoz Ryan's grandmother. Esperanza grew up wealthy in Mexico, but tragic events make Esperanza and her mother move to California to work as migrants. The story illustrates the lives of Mexican farm workers, the Great Depression, and plenty of racism. I would use this in conjunction with sections from The Grapes of Wrath// to contrast the lives of Mexican farm workers versus American farm workers. The book is appropriate for ages 7 and up, and could be used easily in middle and high school classes. (Amy Korba).