Book Review: La Mariposa—Briseida Ramos
My book review can be seen at amazon.com
La Mariposa by Francisco Jimenez, is about a small boy named Francisco who is headed to his first day of school. Francisco does not know English and in school that is the only way of communicating or he’ll get in to trouble if he starts speaking in first first language which is Spanish. Francisco gets in trouble a few times because he doesn’t pay attention to the teacher because he doesn’t understand her, so he day dreams most of the time because his head hurts from trying to understand what she is trying to say. Many children in school do not accept him because everyone else speaks English except his friend, Arthur. Later on his friend, Arthur avoids Francisco because he doesn’t want to get in trouble from speaking Spanish.
Francisco faces a lot of obstacles in trying to fit in school with everyone else. He gets into a fight with another boy because of a jacket that the principle had given him from the lost and found, finding out later on that it belongs to Curtis, the other boy. The teacher Miss. Scalapino gives them an assignment which Francisco doesn’t understand, so she decides to le4t him draw whatever he wants. Because of this assignment Francisco starts fitting in with the other students. Francisco decides to sketch out a drawing of a butterfly and the teacher likes it a places it on the board. Francisco receives first place for his drawing and everyone rush to see the blue ribbon placed on the drawing. Everyone starts accepting Francisco and at the end they all look at a butterfly come out of its cocoon.
The story shows transformations in where bicultural and bilingual differences in a child can be accepted by others. There are many difficult circumstances that go through the life of someone that has a limit in communication and acceptance from others, but his story shows how it is accepted and can be accepted because differences make us unique. Those differences make us who we are in the form that we are not that different. Jimenez shows the importance of transformation and acceptance throughout a child’s life and how there are many that can go through this. The book is a good book to have in any grade level because it shows the benefit that either kindergarten through any grade, but especially the elementary level students can learn from real life experiences. Elementary is a good level to start showing children the importance that we are all equal, in a unique way.
Illustrations, done by Simon Silva show the richness in colors of the culture. Brown, orange, and other colors are portrayed together and show a vivid picture of how the fields look like when a person awakes in the morning. The colors of the sun coming out and going in show the relation of reality.
Francisco Jimenez shows his life through writing his books, especially in The Circuit. Francisco Jiménez uses stories from his own life to portray what it's like to be a child who must hide from truant officers if farm work must be done, and who must hide from immigration officials in order to continue living in this country. Jimenez, “Born in Tlaquepaque, Mexico, in 1943, Francisco Jiménez grew up in a family of migrant workers in California. Jiménez spent much of his childhood moving around California with no permanent home or regular schooling, yet despite incredible odds he went on to have a distinguished academic career. A graduate of Santa Clara University, he also attended Harvard University and received both a Master's Degree and Ph.D. from Columbia University.” In La Mariposa, Francisco shows the relationship of using both English and Spanish languages letting the reader discover the meaning through a glossary at the end of the story.
Some awards which Jimenez received throughout his life are:
2003 Elected an Honorary Associate of the Hispanic Society of America by the Board of Trustees of the Society
2003-present The Asociación Cultural Latino Americana of Central California established an annual “Francisco Jiménez scholarship for Hispanic youth attending college.
1998 – 1999 SCU Faculty Senate Professor in recognition of outstanding professional achievements and contributions to Santa Clara University
1998 – present Fay Boyle Endowed University Academic Chair
1996-1997 James Barnes Farmer Distinguished Guest Professor for 1996-1997, Miami University, Ohio.
1986 – 1998 Phil and Bobbie Sanfilippo Endowed University Academic Chair
1978 "President's Special Recognition Award for Faculty." (The award recognizes superior teaching, publication, and special service to the Santa Clara University community.)
Other recognitions, but to name a few are:
• Honored by the Asociación Cultural Latinoamericana by naming a scholarship after me, July 26, 2003.• Commendation by the Governor of the State of Jalisco, Mexico, “for promoting Mexican culture in the U.S.” Ceremony took place in Long Beach, California, June 21, 2003.• Featured in Telemundo, “Al Rojo Vivo” (2003).• Featured in Univisión, “Aquí y Ahora” (2003).• Featured in Selecciones (Readers’ Digest), section “Triunfadores” (May 2003).• Commendations from U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and from the United States Congress for being selected United States Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement the Advancement Teaching (2002).
In La Mariposa:• Parents’ Choice Recommended Award• Smithsonian Notable Book for Children• Américas Commended List
Mr. Jimenez “has been the director of the Ethnic Studies Program since 2000. He has been on the faculty of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Santa Clara University since 1972.” I think that it is important how Jimenez shows his life in La Mariposa and other books because he is able to show his life through the eyes of children, young adults, and adults.
In my opinion, I enjoyed La Mariposa and I think that this book is a good book to have for all ages. I can relate through a lot that Jimenez goes through growing up, since I also came from Mexico and was born in San Luis Potosi, I show a connection and relation to his experiences that are still in the process. This book can be understood through anyone coming from another place also. I think that this book deserves more than a thumbs up but something spectacular because it’s a real life experience through the eyes of children and others. I gave it Five Stars, I loved the book!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Ruby Lu Brave and true- Lenore Look (10/18/08)
Ruby Lu, Brave and true-(10/18/08)
I enjoyed reading this fiction by Lenore Look because I thought that it showed the relationship of a little girl with the rest of the world and the importance of having a feeling of unique. I t shows how at first Ruby felt special in where she was going to have a baby brother and suddenly her mind changes. It shows how children’s mind change opinions very quickly and it is like they don’t stop and think. This is shown when she rides the car to school and wakes up and puts her baby brother in the back sit and just drives. When she has to take Chinese lessons and but she doesn’t want to because it doesn’t interest her to the least. Look shows the imagination of a child, Ruby, and how she enjoys doing her magic tricks and wanting others to view her as talented. She also worries about her relatives are about to come and change everything because now she has to share her room with someone she doesn’t know, but at the end she finds out how she connects with her.
In all the situations that happen throughout the story Ruby worries about doing everything right and if she will be liked or not by others. She likes the closeness with her mother but worries when her baby brother comes along, when the new student arrives in school and she is mean and makes fun of the sweaters Ruby’s father makes, her not being able to learn English, and then her relatives arriving and having to share rooms. Ruby worries about all this situations but at the long run everything turns out for the better and she is able to realize it and come to terms by learning to get along. I enjoy this story because it shows the relation of Chinese culture in an American culture and the accommodation they have.
I enjoyed reading this fiction by Lenore Look because I thought that it showed the relationship of a little girl with the rest of the world and the importance of having a feeling of unique. I t shows how at first Ruby felt special in where she was going to have a baby brother and suddenly her mind changes. It shows how children’s mind change opinions very quickly and it is like they don’t stop and think. This is shown when she rides the car to school and wakes up and puts her baby brother in the back sit and just drives. When she has to take Chinese lessons and but she doesn’t want to because it doesn’t interest her to the least. Look shows the imagination of a child, Ruby, and how she enjoys doing her magic tricks and wanting others to view her as talented. She also worries about her relatives are about to come and change everything because now she has to share her room with someone she doesn’t know, but at the end she finds out how she connects with her.
In all the situations that happen throughout the story Ruby worries about doing everything right and if she will be liked or not by others. She likes the closeness with her mother but worries when her baby brother comes along, when the new student arrives in school and she is mean and makes fun of the sweaters Ruby’s father makes, her not being able to learn English, and then her relatives arriving and having to share rooms. Ruby worries about all this situations but at the long run everything turns out for the better and she is able to realize it and come to terms by learning to get along. I enjoy this story because it shows the relation of Chinese culture in an American culture and the accommodation they have.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Craft Lesson #3
Developing new techniques in getting children’s imagination and interested in writing stories while reading chapter books.
DISCUSSION
It is difficult to get children interested in reading a book and then writing about what they have read. They have a hard time focusing on chapter books and staying in touch with what the author is writing about. There are many ways to keep a child focused in the reading and getting their imagination thinking in writing ideas about what is happening in the story. The books that teachers choose to read, even though may be chapter books and long, have a great influence on children’s attention span and interest. How the book is read to the child also plays a big role because doing it in sections makes a big difference. The choice of story helps children develop new ways of thinking about what they want to write about.
MATERIALS
1. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
2. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
3. My name is Maria Isabel by Alama Flor Ada
Illustrated by K. Dyble Thompson
4. Stuart Goes To School by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Martin Matje
HOW TO TEACH IT
Reading chapter books to children can be a challenge and a bigger challenge is getting them focused and involved in writing about the fiction being read. There are many chapter books that can be related to what children are going through. These books are great representations of the imagination a child. Teachers only have to choice the right book to bring about children’s interest in the novel and into writing about the reading and relating it to their own experiences.
“Stuart Goes To School” is a fiction book, that is not short, but children can be read to in chapters so that their attention span can be focused in the story and be willing to read the book the next day. A chapter can be read and then children can reflect on the experiences that “Stuart” goes through in the story. Children can relate to their opinions about what is happening in the story to similar situations that they went through or are going through. The teacher can read three chapters, at least, a week to keep children involved and willing to cooperate and later on want to know what will happen in the story. Reading a chapter three times a week can help them reflect on what’s happening and think about their reflections and writings throughout the story.
Similar books are the ones mentioned in the materials section, where these are books that are humorous at the children’s level because situations occur in reality. Children’s imagination is huge. Children think some other way and they believe that what they are thinking is true. All the stories mentioned above can help children relate to life events and relate to what they are going through in life. Children can draw upon what “Maria Isabel” goes through when the teacher calls her a different name. In “Clementine”, Clementine wants to do what she thinks is right but others are thinking differently. In “Dear Mr. Henshaw,” Leigh misses his dad and writes to an author revealing what happens in school and also his feelings about being accepted. Finally in “Stuart Goes To School”, Stuart wants to be liked and innocently does the impossible to be liked.
The stories can be read in chapters a day or two and bring the relation and connection children experience in real life events. They can write on those reflections and connect them and talk about their own.
Example: The teacher states, “Let’s read chapter one, from Clementine”, they read the chapter together and discuss how Clementine feels when others don’t understand why she does things the way she does.
Or chapter one in “Stuart Goes To School”, they discuss the first day of school and how it would feel to have to wear something that has to be worn and they don’t like. How it feels to want to be accepted by others.
The teacher can tell the children to write about their experiences and how it relates to Clementine’s or Stuart’s experiences and the relation they share in common. This can lead to a discussion and a paper written by students, like a journal. This can also lead to children allowing their feelings to float freely and know that there are many ways and forms to do writings. Books such as the ones in the materials section, leads students to understand that writings take many forms and that they can produce it as such.
DISCUSSION
It is difficult to get children interested in reading a book and then writing about what they have read. They have a hard time focusing on chapter books and staying in touch with what the author is writing about. There are many ways to keep a child focused in the reading and getting their imagination thinking in writing ideas about what is happening in the story. The books that teachers choose to read, even though may be chapter books and long, have a great influence on children’s attention span and interest. How the book is read to the child also plays a big role because doing it in sections makes a big difference. The choice of story helps children develop new ways of thinking about what they want to write about.
MATERIALS
1. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
2. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
3. My name is Maria Isabel by Alama Flor Ada
Illustrated by K. Dyble Thompson
4. Stuart Goes To School by Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by Martin Matje
HOW TO TEACH IT
Reading chapter books to children can be a challenge and a bigger challenge is getting them focused and involved in writing about the fiction being read. There are many chapter books that can be related to what children are going through. These books are great representations of the imagination a child. Teachers only have to choice the right book to bring about children’s interest in the novel and into writing about the reading and relating it to their own experiences.
“Stuart Goes To School” is a fiction book, that is not short, but children can be read to in chapters so that their attention span can be focused in the story and be willing to read the book the next day. A chapter can be read and then children can reflect on the experiences that “Stuart” goes through in the story. Children can relate to their opinions about what is happening in the story to similar situations that they went through or are going through. The teacher can read three chapters, at least, a week to keep children involved and willing to cooperate and later on want to know what will happen in the story. Reading a chapter three times a week can help them reflect on what’s happening and think about their reflections and writings throughout the story.
Similar books are the ones mentioned in the materials section, where these are books that are humorous at the children’s level because situations occur in reality. Children’s imagination is huge. Children think some other way and they believe that what they are thinking is true. All the stories mentioned above can help children relate to life events and relate to what they are going through in life. Children can draw upon what “Maria Isabel” goes through when the teacher calls her a different name. In “Clementine”, Clementine wants to do what she thinks is right but others are thinking differently. In “Dear Mr. Henshaw,” Leigh misses his dad and writes to an author revealing what happens in school and also his feelings about being accepted. Finally in “Stuart Goes To School”, Stuart wants to be liked and innocently does the impossible to be liked.
The stories can be read in chapters a day or two and bring the relation and connection children experience in real life events. They can write on those reflections and connect them and talk about their own.
Example: The teacher states, “Let’s read chapter one, from Clementine”, they read the chapter together and discuss how Clementine feels when others don’t understand why she does things the way she does.
Or chapter one in “Stuart Goes To School”, they discuss the first day of school and how it would feel to have to wear something that has to be worn and they don’t like. How it feels to want to be accepted by others.
The teacher can tell the children to write about their experiences and how it relates to Clementine’s or Stuart’s experiences and the relation they share in common. This can lead to a discussion and a paper written by students, like a journal. This can also lead to children allowing their feelings to float freely and know that there are many ways and forms to do writings. Books such as the ones in the materials section, leads students to understand that writings take many forms and that they can produce it as such.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Stuart Goes to School-Sara Pennypacker(10/11/08)
Stuart Goes To School-(10/11/08)
I think that the story by Sara Pennypacker is funny, humorous, and very interesting to read because these are things that a child does happen to think about while growing up. I remember the first day of school and how I wanted to be liked, as Stuart does. First impressions and how we look like can be a big deal to a child when they are entering school. Pennypacker portrays Stuart as a very interesting little boy, who is curious and dreams a lot. His imagination is beyond because with his magic cape he discovers and sees the world through different eyes. He lets himself think about something else blocking what is reality. He is also a kid that worries a lot about what others think of him. I think that the story is very funny and I like it a lot, this is a very good book to have for any grade level in my opinion because if we choose to read it to a kindergarten class by chapters, in my opinion I think that they will still be interested in it and probably want to read even more. I think that this book is a good way of relating back to our childhood and there can also be a connection when we read it to young children. In my opinion I think that this is a good book to have involved in a craft lesson because children can write about their experiences and their similarities with that of Stuart’s. The story is about a child who doesn’t want to wear a a cowboy shirt that his mother chose for him to wear, and from then on the story involves about his imagination and worries of not wanting to be stuck in the toilet, being the shortest kid in class, getting locked inside his locker, and many other little things that at that age are huge to children. I think that many of us still might go through situations as Stuart and I think that young children experience them much more. He wants to be liked and wants to find something interesting so that everyone will want to be his friend.
I think that the story by Sara Pennypacker is funny, humorous, and very interesting to read because these are things that a child does happen to think about while growing up. I remember the first day of school and how I wanted to be liked, as Stuart does. First impressions and how we look like can be a big deal to a child when they are entering school. Pennypacker portrays Stuart as a very interesting little boy, who is curious and dreams a lot. His imagination is beyond because with his magic cape he discovers and sees the world through different eyes. He lets himself think about something else blocking what is reality. He is also a kid that worries a lot about what others think of him. I think that the story is very funny and I like it a lot, this is a very good book to have for any grade level in my opinion because if we choose to read it to a kindergarten class by chapters, in my opinion I think that they will still be interested in it and probably want to read even more. I think that this book is a good way of relating back to our childhood and there can also be a connection when we read it to young children. In my opinion I think that this is a good book to have involved in a craft lesson because children can write about their experiences and their similarities with that of Stuart’s. The story is about a child who doesn’t want to wear a a cowboy shirt that his mother chose for him to wear, and from then on the story involves about his imagination and worries of not wanting to be stuck in the toilet, being the shortest kid in class, getting locked inside his locker, and many other little things that at that age are huge to children. I think that many of us still might go through situations as Stuart and I think that young children experience them much more. He wants to be liked and wants to find something interesting so that everyone will want to be his friend.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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