Book Summary:
This book is about a young girl (Mia) and her grandma (Abuela) that has come to live with her. Her Abuela does not speak English very well, and Mia does not speak Spanish very well either. Mia and her Abuela are learning each others languages together to better communicate. When they buy Mango the parrot for Mia's Abuela, he also is learning both languages and helps them learn as well.
APA Reference of Book:
Medina, M. (2015). Mango, Abuela, and Me. Somerville: MA: Candlewick Press.
Impressions:
I liked that this book was written from the perspective of Mia and that the language used in the book is appropriate for her age. This book received an honor in the Pura Belpré awards for both the author and illustrator. I think this is a great book that bilingual children can relate to. I appreciate when books are published that can contribute to experiences children have with their extended family and other languages. I think the illustrations accompany this book very well and the overall story is inspiring. The connection between Abuela and Mia, the effort to learn another language, and the friendship all from the perspective of a young girl is wonderful. I appreciated how the language was appropriate for Mia's age and really allowed us to believe it was completely from her perspective.
Professional Review:
8/15
"When
her "far-away grandmother" arrives, Mia worries. Her grandmother
doesn't speak English, and Mia's "espaüol is not good enough to tell her
the things an abuela should know." Mia can't talk about herself or
about what happens at school; her abuela can't share with Mia stories of
her grandfather and their house nestled between two rivers. What Mia
knows of her grandmother comes from the items she unpacks from her
suitcase, among them the red feather of a parrot that lived in her mango
trees. Mia engages her grandmother in games of Hear and Say, Oyey Di,
and they begin to understand each other. But it isn't until Mia spies a
parrot in a pet-store window and persuades her mother to buy it, naming
it Mango for its brightly colored feathers, that Mia and her abuela
truly connect. With Mango, they learn each other's languages until their
"mouths are full of things to say." Medina ( Tia Isa Wants a Car, rev.
7/11) tells a heartwarming story about intergenerational relationships,
finding common ground, and adapting to change. Dominguez's (Maria Had a
Little Llama, rev. 11/13) digitally adjusted ink, gouache, and marker
illustrations capture the various emotions and moods of the characters,
from shyness to frustration to happiness. The subtle tones of the wintry
city, complemented by splashes of bright tropical colors throughout,
convey the feeling of clashing worlds. Young readers will enjoy seeing
the relationship between Mia and her grandmother develop—with the help
of Mango. "
(Celia C. Pérez, 2015)
Pérez, C. C. (2015). [Review of the book Mango, abuela, and me, by C. Pérez]. Horn Book Magazine, 91(5), 85. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com
Library Use:
I would like to use this book as a part of a display for Hispanic American Heritage month. I think it is a lovely addition to any collection and can help children learn.
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