I enjoyed the book “The Storyteller’s Candle” by Lucia Gonzales for a lot of reasons. First, this book is about a day in which the two kids in the text can offer a relation to in the Mexican and Christian culture. The book is in regards to Three King’s Day which is to honor the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus Christ. The book was fun to read because it allows room for perspective and growth. It can have kids wonder what three king’s day is, how could some classmates in their class inform them about it more, and the significance of its celebration. It is possible for students to connect especially if they were raised in this culture and they could speak on how they are familiar with this or differences there are between the authors family and theirs. This book is a good book to have in the classroom for purposes of exposure and culture accessibility. Overall, I believe that this book does a great job of creating growth for children in an aspect not only to language, but culture as well. ( )

this is a very interesting dual language book, it is a book written in both English and Spanish. it is a story about 2 children that want to go to the library but their titi (aunt) Maria says the books are only in English. then Pura Belpre invites them to the library and she shares traditional folktales with them, included is Belpre's own story about a cockroach and a mouse. Students can observe the social gatherings and the interactions among the people in this book to understand their culture.

extra note: I think its really cool how the book includes actual newspaper stories from the 1930s. ( )

This is a book about Puerto Rica Immigrants in New York City. Folks are homesick. At school the children hear a presentation by Pura Belpré, a librarian, who shares traditional folktales with the children--included is Belpre's own story about a cockroach and a mouse. Also, the artwork includes actual newspaper stories from the 1930s.

A bilingual picture book that tells the story of New York's first Latina librarian: Pura Belpre.

Summary: About a Puerto Rican family who moves to New York during the early years of the Great Depression. The children want to go inside the library but their Titi Maria says no at first because she thinks they wouldn't be welcome since they can only speak Spanish. Then one day, a librarian from the public library visits the young girl's school and she realizes that the woman speaks English and Spanish! She becomes so excited and tells all of her family and neighbors that they speak Spanish at the library. Everyone starts going and they get involved in a play to celebrate part of the Puerto Rican culture called, Three King's Day. (Every paragraph written in the book is in English and Spanish).

Critique of Genre: Realistic fiction because the things that happen in this book could really happen in real life and I'm sure have happened to a lot of Spanish speakers. (multicultural).

Age: Intermediate

Media: Oil washes, paper collage on bristol paper, primed with clear gesso ( )