Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the child in this story. On Saturdays, she visits Grandma and Grandpa, who come from a European-American background, and on Sundays — los domingos — she visits Abuelito y Abuelita, who are Mexican-American. While the two sets of grandparents are different in many ways, they also have a great deal in common — in particular, their love for their granddaughter. While we follow our narrator to the circus and the pier, share stories from her grandparents’ pasts, and celebrate her birthday, the depth and joy of both cultures are conveyed in Spanish and English. This affirmation of both heritages will speak to all children who want to know more about their own families and ethnic backgrounds.
Awards
Americas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Commended
2 Comments
This is the book I’ve been meaning to write, one where children who don’t speak Spanish can easily understand the Spanish words used, and where Spanish speaking children can enjoy reading a book with words in their language. Alma Flor Ada cleverly juxtaposes the little girl’s visits to her two sets of grandmothers so children learn that everybody can enjoy being with their grandparents, no matter what language they speak.
This is a lovely book about a girl who has relatives from different ethnicities. The Latino and the Anglo grandparents are given equal weight and it is clear that the child has no difficulty navigating the differences between cultures. Spanish words are integrated in a way that makes it easy for English-speakers to understand. This is a wonderful story for children of mixed heritage, for children who are learning about Latino cultures, or for any child with a loving relationship with their grandparents.