Written by Anika Aldamuy, Illustrations by Lorena Alvarez Gomez, Published by Abrams, 2017. (Picture Book, ages 6-9)
It was great to read a book where there wasn’t an “annoying little sibling”. Instead Carmen learns to be flexible and make some space on her stage for her little brother. Not to mention the illustrations were just over the top colorful and fun, and it’s not everyday you read about a kid that’s into Opera.
BACKGROUND
Carmen is a mix-raced Latina girl that has a flair for drama, but often struggles finding an audience, little does she know she doesn’t have to look very far. #OwnVoices
BEST FOR
About a ten minute read aloud, great for drama lovers, fostering imagination, modeling taking turns, or a fun read for a sibling day.
PAIR WITH
My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki
WHERE TO PURCHASE
If you have an interest in reading Starring Carmen
There are a lot of bedtime stories out there, but I have to say this one is particularly stunning. Originally published in France, kids can still have their imagination sparked while maintaining an overall quiet tone to avoid sabotaging bedtime. If anything I’m sure any kid would love pouring over the illustrations.
I have been in love with Yuyi’s warm and whimsical illustrations forever. She actually tells her own story learning to navigate life in the United States with her young son. For them it was the public library that dissolved obstacles and opened doors to opportunities, and most importantly, dreams. I honestly can’t read this aloud without choking up, so good luck if you’re doing a storytime.
I have always had a personal hope/belief that history was always diverse, even though I didn’t learn about many diverse individuals growing up. Now as an adult and being exposed to new resources and perspectives, untold stories are surfacing proving that yes, history was in fact and always will be diverse. I was in awe of the accomplishments of Ernest Everett Just and was so fortunate to be guided through his life with such beautiful illustrations.
When I worked in schools there was always a fourth or fifth grade class that would do a biography project. Frustrated teachers would always complain that it’s so hard to find diverse individuals to study because of the lack of age-appropriate resources. Hopefully more and more authors will continue to write multiple books about people of color so that students will have piles of resources to choose from!
I first spotted this title in the airport on my way to ALA New Orleans (a library conference). What struck out to me was the fact it is a wordless anti-bullying picture book. Some adults may be hesitant about not having any narration, but wordless books are such an awesome learning opportunity for young kids. Not only do they get the opportunity to tell the story, but visual learners just get to sit longer in the illustrations and you can get a rich open dialogue about themes in the story. It also gives pre-reading kids the opportunity to “read” on their own or to others.
There are many books about construction sites, but this one is quietly charming. The heartwarming relationship between the watchman and kitty is so endearing and it is just an added bonus that it is based on the author’s own experience!
I have read many books about kids who are initially ashamed of their cultural identity but then grow to accept it. However, it is so empowering to show a strong willed girl who is very proud of her cultural roots right from the start, even when others may tease her.
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