Best Selling Books by Alma Flor Ada

A third grader realizes the importance of her name in this classic story of heritage and self-identity. For María Isabel Salazar López, the hardest thing about being the new girl in school is that the teacher doesn''t call her by her real name. "We already have two Marías in this class," says her teacher. "Why don''t we call you Mary instead?" But María Isabel has been named for her Papá''s mother and for Chabela, her beloved Puerto Rican grandmother. Can she find a way to make her teacher see that if she loses her name, she''s lost the most important part of herself?

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.

In this timely tale of immigration, two cousins learn the importance of family and friendship. A year of discoveries culminates in a performance full of surprises, as two girls find their own way to belong. Mexico may be her parents’ home, but it’s certainly not Margie’s. She has finally convinced the other kids at school she is one-hundred percent American—just like them. But when her Mexican cousin Lupe visits, the image she’s created for herself crumbles. Things aren’t easy for Lupe, either. Mexico hadn’t felt like home since her father went North to find work. Lupe’s hope of seeing him in the United States comforts her some, but learning a new language in a new school is tough. Lupe, as much as Margie, is in need of a friend. Little by little, the girls’ individual steps find the rhythm of one shared dance, and they learn what “home” really means. In the tradition of My Name is Maria Isabel—and simultaneously published in English and in Spanish—Alma Flor Ada and her son Gabriel M. Zubizarreta offer an honest story of family, friendship, and the classic immigrant experience: becoming part of something new, while straying true to who you are.

Sixth-grader Amalia learns many important life-lessons while spending Friday afternoons with her beloved grandmother, and the teaching goes on even after Abuelita''s sudden death as Amalia finds a way to connect with relatives and a friend who has moved away.

Juanita lives in New York and is Mexican. Felipe lives in Chicago and is Panamanian, Venezuelan, and black. Michiko lives in Los Angeles and is Peruvian and Japanese. Each of them is Latino. Thirteen young Latinos and Latinas living in America are introduced in this book celebrating the rich diversity of the Latino and Latina experience in the United States. Free-verse fictional narratives from the perspective of each youth provide specific stories and circumstances for the reader to better understand the Latino people’s quest for identity. Each profile is followed by nonfiction prose that further clarifies the character’s background and history, touching upon important events in the history of the Latino American people, such as the Spanish Civil War, immigration to the US, and the internment of Latinos with Japanese ancestry during World War II. Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy’s informational yet heartwarming text provides a resource for young Latino readers to see themselves, while also encouraging non-Latino children to understand the breadth and depth of the contributions made by Latinos in the US. Caldecott Medalist David Diaz’s hand-cut illustrations are bold and striking, perfectly complementing the vibrant stories in the book. YES! WE ARE LATINOS stands alone in its presentation of the broad spectrum of Latino culture and will appeal to readers of fiction and nonfiction.

The author of My Name Is María Isabel offers an inspiring look at her childhood in Cuba in this collection that includes Where the Flame Trees Bloom, Under the Royal Palms, five new stories, and more. These true autobiographical tales from renowned Hispanic author and educator Alma Flor Ada are filled with family love and traditions, secrets and deep friendships, and a gorgeous, moving picture of the island of Cuba, where Alma Flor grew up. Told through the eyes of a child, a whole world comes to life in these pages: the blind great-grandmother who never went to school but whose wisdom and generosity overflowed to those around her; the hired hand Samoné, whose love for music overcame all difficulties; the beloved dance teacher who helped sustain young Alma Flor through a miserable year in school; her dear and daring Uncle Medardo, who bravely flew airplanes; and more. Heartwarming, poignant, and often humorous, this wonderful collection encourages readers to discover the stories in their own lives—and to celebrate the joys and struggles we all share, no matter where or when we grew up. Featuring the classic and award-winning books Where the Flame Trees Bloom and Under the Royal Palms, Island Treasures also includes a new collection, Days at La Quinta Simoni, many new family photographs, and a Spanish-to-English glossary.

Includes eleven stories about the relatives and friends that were part of the author''s childhood in Cuba.

Explores the contradictions between what is expected of teachers and the education and support they have received, and provides teachers with advice on how to teach writing and generate their students'' interest in writing.

The author recalls her life and impressions growing up in Cuba.

El sol es de oro la luna es de plata y las estrellitas son de hoja de lata. The sun''s a gold medallion. The moon''s a silver ball. The little stars are only tin; I love them best of all. Here is a groundbreaking bilingual collection of traditional rhymes that celebrates childhood and Spanish and Latin American heritage. From playing dress up to making tortillas, and from rising at daybreak to falling asleep, these joyful rhymes are sure to delight young readers. Passed down from generation to generation, the twenty-nine rhymes included have been lovingly selected by distinguished authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. English adaptations by Alice Schertle capture the spirit of each rhyme and have a charm all their own. Accompanied by enchanting illustrations by Spanish artist Viví Escrivá, this collection is destined to become a beloved classic for children already familiar with the rhymes as well as those encountering them for the first time.

Includes biographical sketches of 11 Spanish, Latin American, and Hispanic American painters and an example of a work of each one, accompanied by a short poem which counts the people in the paintings and names the seasons and the days of the week.

A collection of Hispanic folktales.

In this cumulative folktale from Latin America, the sun sets off a chain of events which results in the cleaning of Rooster''s beak in time for his uncle''s wedding.

Presents articles, editorials and ads from the "Hidden Forest Times" that retell many well-known stories, including Jack and the beanstalk, Pinocchio, and the Tortoise and the Hare. When the residents of Hidden Forest wake up and open their morning papers, they are in for a surprise. When the residents of Hidden Forest wake up and open their morning papers, they are in for a surprise. An enormous beanstalk has mysteriously sprouted outside of Jack Blake''s house, and Jack is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Pinocchio and Half-Chicken have set out on adventures of their own, and Tortoise and Hare are off to the races. Will they all find their happy endings? Hidden Forest News has got the scoops. Written and laid out in newspaper format, this installment in the enchanting Hidden Forest series has received a new twist from Alma Flor Ada and Leslie Tryon.

Everyone who''s anyone will be at the Three Little Pigs'' housewarming party. Goldilocks and Little Red Riding Hood have already marked it on their calendars. Unfortunately, so have the wolves -- those who''ve caused the Pigs to build their brick house in the first place! In this wonderfully creative sequel to Dear Peter Rabbit, Alma Flor Ada imagines what it would be like if a few beloved fairy-tale characters were pen pals. Leslie Tryon''s intricate and colorful illustrations make the unique epistolary format fun for young readers.

Animals do silly things in this charming book. Rhyming words, repeated text, and beautiful illustrations.

Un año de revelaciones culmina con una actuación llena de sorpresas, mientras dos niñas descubren su lugar en el mundo. México es el país de sus padres, pero no el de Margie. Ella ha logrado convencer a sus compañeros de escuela que es cien por ciento estadounidense, igual que ellos. Pero cuando Lupe, su prima mexicana, va a vivir a su casa, la imagen de sí misma que había creado se deshace. La situación de Lupe no es fácil. Siente que su casa de México no es un hogar desde que su padre se fue al norte. La esperanza de poder encontrarlo en los Estados Unidos le da algo de consuelo, pero aprender un idioma nuevo en una escuela nueva representa un gran desafío. Al igual que Margie, Lupe necesita una amiga. Poco a poco, los pasos de cada niña van encontrando el ritmo de un baile compartido, a medida que descubren el verdadero significado del hogar. Siguiendo la tradición de Me llamo María Isabel, Alma Flor Ada y su hijo Gabriel M. Zubizarreta ofrecen un relato honesto de los valores de la familia, y de la amistad y de la experiencia que debe atravesar el inmigrante: volverse parte de algo nuevo y, a la vez, conservar la propia identidad.

Far on the other side of the mountains, next to an enchanted castle, grows a tree with three golden oranges. It is there that the three brothers -- Santiago, Tomás, and Matías -- must journey if they wish to find a wife. Once they reach their destination, the brothers must carefully pick the oranges and bring them back to the old woman who lives in a cave on the cliffs overlooking the sea. But, "In order to find your wives, you will need to work together," the old woman has said. "Woe to you if you do not follow my advice!" Each of the brothers wants something different. Santiago wants a wife who is beautiful. Tomás wants one who is both rich and beautiful. But Matías, the youngest brother, longs for a woman who is kind, joyful, and loving...someone he could love very much in return. Will the brothers be able to avert misfortune by working together? Will they be strong enough to break the spell that a wicked sorcerer has placed on the castle? Master storyteller Alma Flor Ada offers a poetic and magical retelling of a well-loved traditional story about Blancaflor, a mythical young woman who appears in various stories throughout the Hispanic world. Reg Cartwright''s boldly colorful and exquisitely stylized art is a perfect accompaniment.

"When he finds an egg, Daniel and his friends try to guess what is inside."--Source inconnue.

Many interesting and colorful things happen each day in the neighborhood.

A young boy takes good care of his pet chicken, and when she is grown up she gives him a surprise.

Presents letters between such fairy tale characters as Goldilocks, Baby Bear, Peter Rabbit, and the Three Pigs.

People who are dedicated to improving the lives of others possess special qualities. José Martí, Frida Kahlo, and César Chávez are three such people. Explore their lives and the way each one helped to change our world.

When the sun disappears, all the animals try to find it, but only one courageous lizard keeps on looking.

In simple words and sun-drenched paintings, Alma Flor Ada and Simón Silva take us into the fields and orchards, and into the lives of the people who work them. Simple poems in Spanish and English, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet, describe the wonder of the vegetable and fruit farms. Together, the poems and the rich illustrations celebrate the glory of nature and the hearts of all who dedicate their lives to working the land.

A guide to Latino literature for young readers by literature professor Alma Flor Ada.

Determined to steal an old woman''s gold coin, a young thief follows her all around the countryside and finds himself involved in a series of unexpected activities.

Three children tell each other a Hanukkah story while their grandmother prepares a special meal of latkes. Includes factual information about the holiday.

A collection of old, new, and classical folkloric poems by some of the best authors from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Argentina.

A series of animals join the ant in the hammock in the cow''s backyard and even when the elephant comes, the ant continues to say "There''s always room for one more friend."

A robin, butterfly, and squirrel try to help a mysterious animal find his identity.

Great elementary grades reading.