Cinnamon Girl: Letters Found Inside of a Cereal Box

 

Author: Juan Felipe Herrera

Publisher: Joanna Cooler Books

Publish Date: August 9, 2005

 

Summary: Written in free verse, this story describes how young Yolanda deals with the tragedy of September 11. She keeps poems and letters she finds in and around Ground Zero in a cereal box.  She collects dust around New York City with the intent of returning it to Ground Zero, hoping to silence the ghosts and bring her uncle back to life. 

Award: Americas Award Book

Source: www.arbookfind.com

AR Book Points: 2

Age Range:  13 and up

Life Connections

• Understanding Hispanic (Puerto Rican) culture
• Understanding events in history
• How to deal with tragedy and death

Speak English For Us, Marisol! by Karen English

 

Author: Karen English

Illustrator: Enrique O. Sanchez

Publisher: Albert Whitman Company

Publish Date: December 3, 2005

 

Summary:  Marisol is very excited to get home after a long day at school. She is anxious to see if her chickens have hatched! But all along the way she is asked by her Spanish-speaking family and friends to translate for them.  It is very hard and she sometimes has to deal with adult topics, but she does it anyways because she loves her family and friends. 

Award: American Bookseller Pick of the List Award

Source: www.arbookfind.com

Age Range: K-3 and up

Life Connections

• Learning about the Spanish Culture
• Identifying with other students who might be in the same situation
• English as a Second Language learners