My Name Is Mar'a Isabel (An Aladdin Chapter Book)

Rating:
Summary: How do you solve a problem like....?
Review: A sweet story that kids will easily identify with. I found this book very easy for a small child to understand, and I appreciated the theme that any kid can take to heart. Not fitting in and the fear of not being liked by one's superior (in this case, a teacher) is a universal theme. The fact that Maria gets saddled with an incompetent teacher from the start doesn't help matters for her anyway. As much as I'd like to rail against the idea of a teacher changing her student's name because, 'We already have two Marias in this class', I know that there is no lack of incompetent, yet well meaning, teachers in the world who'd do this very thing. It isn't entirely clear in the story why it is that Maria doesn't discuss her problems with her parents or her teacher. People reading this book to children should make it clear that Maria would have dealt with a lot less misery if she had simply told someone why she felt badly. And some kids may wish for a more concrete ending than the one offered here. Why doesn't the teacher apologize to Maria? In any case, this book might fit in well with other stories of new kids in school. Even the Ramona Quimby books would pair nicely, as a very different little girl dealing with school and her teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Super Story for Teachers
Review: I read this book in college as a part of a book club required by the school. I loved this book as soon as I read it. It can teach teachers how to be culturally sensative to all their students. A name is a very important possession to most of us. It is an only possession to some children. It is also good for those teachers who are stuck thinking that children "should just learn our language" when in reality it is a long process. I would like to recommend this book to those who are teaching children ESL and those regular classroom teachers who have ESL students in their rooms. I loved it!

Rating:
Summary: Ave Maria!
Review: This book shows how not to be culturally insensitive. It is a bit on the serious side, but told in a very simple, straightforward way that will warm the hearts of all readers. The author is a brilliant storyteller who brings forth an important social issue. I strongly recommend this book to teachers. And then, if you want to have some fun, read DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM! to the class. MY NAME IS MARIA ISABEL is a Puerto Rican Story. DRUM, CHAVI, DRUM! is a Cuban story. These books, and a few others, represent the growing need for Latino literature in our country. It is about time that publishers wake up and realize that Latinos need books about our experiences in order to bring forth cultural understanding and pride in our cultures. I highly recommend ALL of Alma Flor Adas books. She is one of the greatest children book authors around.