38. In My Family by Carmen Lomas Garza

 38. In My Family by Carmen Lomas Garza


Garza, C.L. (1996). In my family. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press.

This book is like looking at a family scrap book.  Instead of photographs and newspaper clippings, there is these beautiful paintings that tell the story of the author’s family and what it was like growing up in a traditional Mexican American community in South Texas. She tells stories about cleaning nopalitos, empanadas, birthday barbecues, Easter eggs, stories about the Virgin of Guadalupe, seeing the blessing on her cousin’s wedding day. All of these stories give you a snapshot of the Mexican American culture. 

This book is written in both English and Spanish.  It would be good for an English Language Lerner to read.  They could see both languages at the same time. If they were paired up with a strong reader, they could hear the English version, and follow along with the Spanish version. This is the author’s second book about her family. Her first book is called Family Pictures and is laid out the same way; beautiful artwork, a heartwarming family story and the Spanish translation. 

The first site I found on this book is a downloadable teacher’s guide.  It has lesson ideas, and info on the author.  The second link is her art exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

 https://www.leeandlow.com/uploads/loaded_document/405/In_My_Family_Teacher_s_Guide_2017.pdf

 https://americanart.si.edu/artist/carmen-lomas-garza-6783

 

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