Who ever heard of a girl glassblower? In Mexico, where the sun is called el sol and the moon is called la luna, a little girl called Elena wants to blow into a long pipe… and make bottles appear, like magic. But girls can’t be glassblowers. Or can they? Join Elena on her fantastic journey to Monterrey — home of the great glassblowers! — in an enchanting story filled with magic realism.
Americas Award For Children’s And Young Adult Literature. Commended.
Related: Awards, Fantasy, Mexico, Primary (ages 6-9)
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- ISBN: 9780689849084
- Authors: Geeslin; Geeslin, Campbell; Juan, Ana
- Illustrator:
Juan, Ana
- Published: 2004, Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books
- Themes: Acceptance, Children, Helping, Hope, journeys, Magic, Moon, stereotypes, Sun, Women and girls
- Descriptors: Awards, Fantasy, Mexico, Primary (ages 6-9)
- No. of pages: 40
Elena’s Serenade is a delightful tale of a determined little girl. She decides to go off on her own dressed as a boy, because she has been told there is no such thing as a girl glassblower. She has a special talent with her glass blowing pipe and my students thought that was very fun. We came to the conclusion that glass blowing like her Papa` was also very important. So much so that she was willing to travel to Monterrey to learn how to be a glassblower. My students did not understand why she couldn’t be a glass blower and said that was not fair. They said home and her family were important to her and they could tell this because she wanted to be a glass blower like her Papa` and that when she was in Monterrey she went home to her bedroom and found her Papa` the next morning. They thought her talent of making music set her apart from the other glass blowers and they thought it was funny how the other glass blowers couldn’t make shapes like Elena. We talked about how her pipe made music and theirs did not. My sudents said that Elena was very helpful and kind becuase of the things she did for the animals she met on her trip to Monterrey.
Determination and spunk are what Elena displays as she attempts to prove her father wrong in Elena’s Serenade by Campbell Geeslin. A little girl cannot possibly be a glassblower in Mexico. It is unheard of! You are going to fall in love with this little girl as she ventures through the desert on her way to Monterrey – the home of the great glassblowers.
Little girls hearing this story take offense and respond with outrage when Elena is told she cannot possibly be a glassblower. Geeslin’s portrayal of the underdog gives children today a lesson on how willpower, perseverance, and fortitude can carry you towards your goals.
Elena’s kind heart and helpful spirit shine through as she aids many animals along her journey. The beautiful illustrations bring these animals to life and make for a delightful children’s tale of overcoming obstacles, and never giving up on your dreams.