Family Pictures

Family Pictures

by: Carmen Lomas Garza

Garza, C., & Rohmer, H. (1990). Family pictures. San Francisco, Calif.: Children's Book Press.

 This story tells one of the traditions that Garza's family share rooted in their heritage.  Some of the memories mentioned include birthdays, cooking tamales, going to fairs in Mexico with her family.  She always wished to become an artist, and it's possible that her publication of this book fuldilled her dream in a certain sense!

This book is another autobiography that I love for many reasons, but to begin it is bilingual and has excelled illustrations rich with color and details.  I think that this book could be used in any sort of classroom settings because a major theme is family and traditions.  For an older classroom you could conduct a family research project, while in the younger grades you could make a family tree craft.  I would love to use this book in my future classrooms!

Family Tree Lesson Plan

Cinderella ~ Cencienta

Cinderella ~ Cenicienta

by: Monse Fransoy

Boada, F., & Fransoy, M. (2001). Cinderella = Cenicienta. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Watch the Spanish version of Cinderella!

Cinderella is under the watch of her evil stepmother and three stepsisters and acts as their personal "assistant" for all terrible chores and other requests.  One day, her fairy godmother appeared and changed her rags to riches so she could attend the ball the King was hosting to find a queen for his son, the prince.  Cinderella had to be back before midnight because her dress and appearance would fade back into her reality.  As she was escaping right before midnight, her shoe fell off and the prince found it.  He searched the town day and night to find the person this belonged to, and when he and the evil family realized it fit Cinderella, they were so surprised.  The prince and Cinderella lived happily ever after.

I LOVED this version because it is bilingual.  Each page tells the same story, but one side is in English and the other is Spanish.  I think that for a classroom with ESL children, a book like this would be an easy way to integrate vocabulary and hear a common story.  For the other students, I think they should be more exposed to other languages and this is one way for me, the teacher, to do that.  Cinderella is also such a classic fairytale that there are other books, scenarios, and activities we could do after reading this story such as "retell the story from the evil step sister's point of view."

Crafts for Fairytales 

Fairytales-- for boys! (Extension activity) 

Viva Frida

Viva Frida 

by: Yuyi Morales

photography by: Tim O'Meara

Morales, Y., & Meara, T. (n.d.). Viva Frida.

The cover of the story.

Frida Kahlo herself.

This picture book is worthy of so much praise because it contains

the stunning images accompaniend by a bilingual phrase.  The words

are limited two one or two on each page, but it still tells the 

cohesive story of who Frida Kahlo was.  This story is one to be read, 

one to be enjoyed, one to celebrate life and the beauty that lies within

creativity.

I think that I would definitely incorporate this into my class, especially

because I have an affinity for the Spanish language.  I also think Kahlo's 

story is one worth commenting on, and could be incorporated into a LA, 

Social Studies, or other class period. 

Making the Story 

Who is Frida Kahlo?