I Love Saturdays y domingos

Author: Ada, Alma Flor
Title: I Love Saturdays y domingos
Book Genre: Multicultural
Publishing Info: Aladdin Paperbacks,
Pages: 28

Summary: This book gives students a glimpse into Hispanic culture, while giving the accounts of a girl who has both Caucasian and Hispanic family members. Throughout the book, the day she spends with her American grandparents, Saturdays, is described entirely in English, while Sundays are spent with her Hispanic grandparents, and are described using Spanish phrases. The plot of this book would be ideal for welcoming Hispanic students, and their culture, to the classroom. The story seems to contrast the cultural differences between her multicultural families. It also demonstrates the characteristic common to both families, which is love. The families and cultures come together for her birthday as she recognizes the value of having the best of both “cultural” worlds. This book is an effective way to show student the diversity of families and cultures, fluent, in society today. I feel that students of any ethnicity could relate well to this book.

Personal rating: ****

Rationale: Well-written; detailed plot; great introduction to Hispanic culture and language; characters and situations in which many students could relate; realistic illustrations

Reading level: 3.2 Interest level: K-6th

Thematic Areas: Identity; family; diversity of cultures; belonging; appreciation for self and heritage

Content Areas: Spanish language; cultural and social awareness

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Prevalence of Spanish language may cause students to encounter reading or comprehension difficulty, especially if students are unfamiliar with these words

Possible use in classroom: Use in a multicultural thematic unit; use in discussions or lessons about Hispanic culture or history; use as a tool to help make students more aware of the cultural diversity around them; use to reinforce Spanish language and reading skills previously taught; have students complete research, in groups, concerning various Hispanic customs or foods