My Abuelita by Tony Johnston

My Abuelita Reviews

• 
  Abigail

  A young boy narrates this story about his Abuelita, and how she gets ready for her day. The routines and rituals of their mornings together - a shower and bath, respectively; a meal with starry (fried) eggs; some singing and yodeling together, along with Abuelita's cat, Frida Khalo - are lovingly described. Finally, the boy "helps" his grandmother get dressed for her job, which turns out to be working as the storyteller at the local library...
  
  With an engaging narrative from author Tony Johnston, and eye-catching artwork from illustrator Yuyi Morales, My Abuelita is a sweet tribute, both to the loving relationship between a little boy and his grandmother, and to the important role of stories in the community. The text is sprinkled with Spanish words, all explained in the course of the story. The artwork, "created with polymer clay, wire, felting wool, acrylic paints, fabric, wood, metals, and Mexican crafts," netted Yuyi Morales a Pura Belre Honor, in the category of illustrator. Although a little sinister - I always have mixed feelings about these posed doll/figurine illustrations - the visuals here are also quite inventive. The clay figures were photographed by Tim O'Meara. All in all, a lovely book, one I would recommend to those readers looking for children's stories about grandparents and/or storytellers, as well as to those seeking picture-books with a Latino cultural background.
• 
  Amanda

  My Abuelita is a GREAT children's book. The story is about a little boy and his grandmother (and the cat), throughout the book the boy is describing his grandmother, and their day to day activities: Waking up with the sun, shower/bath time, and breakfast of "huevos estrellados" (starry eggs) among other special things. The little boy mentions the grandmothers important work, work that she loves, throughout the story, at the end we find out that abuelita is a storyteller and the young boy hopes to one day become a storyteller too! From the way the boy describes his abuelita- “Her face is as crinkled as a dried chile”, and the Spanish words mixed throughout, the writing and storytelling by Tony Johnston was absolutely perfect. You add to the excellent writing beautifully whimsy and magical illustrations by Yuyi Morales and you get one of my favorite children’s books. My Abuelita is a must read.
• 
  Jim

  
  5.0 out of 5 stars Good Enough to Eat, March 11, 2010
  
  When I was younger, my neighbor's mom used to make apple-head dolls. Apparently this was some strange Kansas custom that she brought with her to Ohio. I remember wondering what arcane process she used to transform a juicy delicious apple into the wizened little faces that topped her efforts. Yuyi Morales seems to have brought a modern version of the apple-head to her latest work of art. Not content with the rich, colorful perfection of her earlier paintings, Morales now brings a sense of dimensionality to her work, by creating and photographing dolls of her characters. Still there are the vibrant colors, the curved, flowing compositions and the expressive, connected characters. But now they fairly jump off the page. Kids will love this story, a homage to grannies and storytellers everywhere.
• 
  Diana D

  In this Pura Belpre award winning book, we learn about a little boy and his day to day life with his grandma, or Abuelita, as he calls her. The illustrations are very bold and vibrant and bring the readers right to where it all happens. The boy tells us about Abuelita's daily routine and her extravagent ways of doing things while getting ready. His love and admiration for her is very prevalent throughout the story. The boy wants to do what his grandma does, which we find out at the end is being a storyteller.
• 
  Maria

  I am a big fan of Yuyi's work, and she ventured into a new medium here. She is a miracle worker with the clay puppets as she is with acrylics. She is brave, adventurous and innovative and this book proves even more than her previous books have.
• 
  Mary Ann

  I just loved this little boy's relationship with his grandmother - it's a celebration of storytelling, imagination, and finding joy in life.
• 
  Christina Michaels shaw

  My kids loved this book. It is a great book to use for Similes- Figurative Language. I plan on added this book to my teaching books to do with all my kids every year. :)
• 
  Jo Oehrlein

  Some words in Spanish, but not many and the meaning is clear from context.
  
  A boy helps his grandmother get ready for the work day. Her job? Storyteller!
  
  Illustrations are 3D mixed media.
• 
  Johna Brown

  This story is a celebration of power, family, and imagination. Tony loves his grandmother so much and she has so many different jobs, he wants to know what it is his that his Abuelita does. Abuelita means grandmother in Spanish. The main characters in this fiction story are Abuelita, the grandmother, and Tony, the author/narrator in the book.
  This text is appropriate for instructional use because it can teach about using your imagination, the importance of family and learning a new language (Spanish). The students could talk about the different things that they do with their family, specifically grandparents, and they could say the Spanish words as a class on each page of the book. Ex: the author says a different Spanish word on each page of the book and points it out as a learning tool.
  The author and illustrator’s cultural backgrounds relate to the content of the text in many different ways. Johnston has written many different Spanish poems, and she spent years living in Mexico. The illustrator, Yuyi Morales is born and raised in Mexico, so both of these women have a Mexican and or Spanish background. The author did a great job incorporating the Spanish words in the story, and the illustrator did great with bringing out the Mexican abstract in the pictures. Abuelita has on Spanish clothing in the story. This text can teach children that there are many different types of grandmothers. Grandmothers who are darker skinned, grandmothers who are lighter skinned, and grandmothers who do different things. Everyone has their own special way of spending time with their grandmother.
  
• 
  Jasmine Robinson

  The main idea of the story is trying to figure out what Abuelita does for a living. This story is a celebration of power, family, and imagination. Tony loves his grandmother so much and has so many different jobs and he wants to know what does his Abuelita do. The main characters in the story are Abuelita, the grandmother, and Tony, the author/ narrator in the book. This text is a fiction book.
  This text is appropriate for instructional use because it can teach about using your imagination, the importance of family and learning a new language (Spanish). The students could talk about the different things that the do with their grandparents, and they could say the Spanish words as a class on each page of the book. Ex: the author says a different Spanish word on each page of the book and points it out as a learning tool.
  The author and illustrator’s cultural backgrounds relate to the content of the text in many different ways. Johnston has written many different Spanish poems and she spent years living in Mexico. The illustrator, Yuyi Morales is born and raised in Mexico. So both of these women have a Mexican and or Spanish background. The author did a great job incorporating the Spanish words in the story and the illustrator did great with brining out the Mexican abstract in the pictures. Abuelita has on Spanish material and the story. This text can teach children that there are many different types of grandmothers. Grandmothers who are darker skinned, grandmothers who are lighter skinned, and grandmothers who do different things. Everyone has their own special way of spending time with their grandmother.
  
• 
  Alisha

  When reading this book to a group of preK kids, I had them act out parts of Abuelita's morning routine. My tongue got a little bit twisted over the Spanish words (sorry Spanish-speaking friends! I tried!) but I thought it was a fun read. I don't think any of the kids in my group guessed that Abuelita was a storyteller but I think older kids might.
• 
  Tyler Shank

  Annotation: The main character and her Abuelita have a strong relationship together. They wake up around the same time, they stretch together, they get breakfast together, and then they get ready to start their day. Abuelita likes to sing and yodel saying it prepares her for work. On this certain day getting ready for work Abuelita almost forgets to change out of her robe into her clothes. Then they get in the car together and they travel together to Abuelita's work with lots of props in the back seat. When they finally arrive to the place they are traveling, they find that Abuelita is a storyteller at a library.
  
  Classroom Connection/Reader Response: This book won the Pura Belpre Honor award, which is given to Latino cultured books for children. Teachers could gather together a few other Belpre honor award books for students to read, and then they could complete a Venn diagram of the stories, basing the Venn Diagram on the illustrations and story, do both the stories have really good illustrations, are the stories similar or different who are the main characters etc. They could then hang the Venn diagrams around the room to display all the Pura Belpre award books for Latino Culture. Focusing on the book itself students could draw or find pictures of themselves and there grandma for a collage which then they can share with the class, and bring their grandma in to share.
• 
  Brooke Snyder

  Summary: Abuelita’s grandson admired and loved her. He tells a story of her- describing her looks, her morning routine, and her job. Abuelita inspires her grandson. He wants to do what his grandma does- perform and tells a story on stage to the audience.
  
  Personal Response/Critical Response: I enjoyed this book. It was culturally diverse and Spanish students will be able to relate to this book. Not only will Spanish children be able to relate to this book but all children will be able to if they have a grandparent that they look up to. I feel like all the children in my class will enjoy and be interested in this book.
  
  Description of Illustrations: The illustrations are bold and vibrant. The illustrations are cartoony but look real in a way. I like the pictures a lot in this book!
  
  Classroom Connections: After reading this book aloud to my class, I will have each student write a little story about a person they look up to—describing what they look like, things they like about them, and then draw a picture of this person. I could also have these children bring in these favorite people in their lives and share them with the class. I could also have them construct and all about me collage that talks about that person and displays them and what they mean to the student.
  
• 
  Kari Martycz

  Tony Johnston's and Yuyi Morales story about a young boys storyteller grandma is truly amazing. Morales digital photographs of Morales’s unique polymer-clay sculptures, which are unique to Mexican colors and crafts brighten up the story. Grandma (Abuelita) is described with many similes (She is as old as the hills), but no matter what she does, the young boy loves her, and she loves him. They incorporate some spanish words in the story, which add to the meaning of the story.
  
  The story takes place with grandma getting ready for work, and what she does each morning. The young boy gets ready with his grandma each morning, helping her make breakfast, and singing with her. The young boy repeats many times that no matter what his grandma is like, "he loves her and she loves me". This story shows the young boy looking up to his grandma, and that he wants to be just like her "when his face is as crinkled like a chile."
  
  This story would be great for K-4th grade, for a variety of reasons. You can use this story to introduce some hispanic cultures and ideas to older students, as well as younger. You can also use this book to study the polymer-clay sculptures for older students.
• 
  Dana Still

  Text to Self: This wonderful tale of a grandmother and grandson, reminds me of my grandmother. She would explain everything that she was doing and included us grandchildren in everything that interested us, for me, it was her garden, I loved to eat the fresh peas right out of the garden.
  
  Text to Text: This book reminds me of old claymation cartoons that I watched as a child, the illustrations have the same look. The story shows a closeness between a grandmother and grandson and the lessons that he learns, but does not know he is learning. This book with Spanish words and Mexican themed illustrations is a wonderful addition to any library.
  
  Text to World: With the world becoming more and more culturally diverse, this book adds to any collection that is wanting to introduce Mexican culture and Spanish words. It also tells children that our older generation is one that is loving and has lessons to teach us all.
• 
  Kim

  Audience: Primary
  Genre: Realistic Fiction
  
  Quote: "Then my abuelita booms out words, loud and clear. She always say the words should be as round as dimes and as wild as blossoms blooming."
  
  First, this is a great book to use to teach similes. There are so many in the book that it was hard to choose one that promotes mental images. I really liked this quote because everyone could picture it a little differently. How would round, wild words look? I could picture them just flowing out of her mouth. I doesn't even really matter what she's saying, but I can picture people hanging on to every word when she speaks, just like her grandson.
  
  A side note/connection: I liked how the cat was named Frida Kahlo after the artist in the book Me, Frida that I read right before this one for the assignment.
• 
  Donna

  My Abuelita is the story of the love and admiration a young boy has for his grandmother (My Abuelita). The illustrations are nice and remind me of the claymation characters. Funny how they had a pet cat named Frida Kahlo.....we all know who she was. The spanish words used in this book are followed by their english translation.
  
  Example: caracha, her jalopy; vamonos!, Let's go! "My abuelita is round. Robust, she says, like a calabaza. A pumpkin." After following all of the preparations of the morning as Abuelita prepares for something - a bath, getting dressed up in funny clothes, driving her jalopy we find that My Abuelita is really a storyteller. A sweet book. Appropriate for ages 4-6. Central themes: family life, relationships, Latino culture.
• 
  Laura

  A young boy helps his grandmother get ready for work. The grandmother is a vibrant, caring woman who has a regular routine that the young boy is clearly part of.
  
  I really liked this book! I love the use of mixed media and I found the combination of items with paintings charming. I also liked Johnston's use of repetition and structure. "I know that already. My abuelita says it every day. But I like to hear it anyway." The ending is also wonderful -- a bit mystical with a final reveal that abuelita is a storyteller.
  
  This would be a great book to use in a lesson about figurative speech or descriptive language.
• 
  Genesis

  My Abuelita is a story about a young boy who lives with his grandmother. Throughout the whole book he describes how their mornings are and how his abuelita gets ready for her exciting job. The description of his grandmother are humorous and very imaginative. The illustrations are done so wonderfully. It has bright colors and draws to perfection the descriptions the boy gives of every detail about his grandmother. She is this old, loud, and round lady with a crinkled face who dresses in bright colors who is a storyteller. This book teaches children the celebration of family where he is honoring his grandmother and although she is very different, he loves and admires her.
• 
  Christine Turner

  Winner of a 2010 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor!
  
  Abuelita's hair is the color of salt. Her face is as crinkled as a dried chile. She booms out words as wild as blossoms blooming. She stuffs her carcacha, her jalopy, with all the things she needs: a plumed snake, a castle, a skeleton, and more. Her grandson knows he has the most amazing grandmother ever who has a very important job. What does Abuelita do? With her booming voice and wonderful props, Abuelita is a storyteller. Next to being a grandmother, that may be the most important job of all. Sprinkled with Spanish and infused with love, My Abuelita is a glorious celebration of family, imagination, and the power of story.
  
• 
  Chloe Mathes

  My Abuelita is by Tony Johnston and the illustrator is, Yuyi Moralles.. The book was published in 2009. This children's book is about a grandma (Abuelita) and her granddaughter. Throughout the story it shows the importance of family and the relationships you build with them. Abuelita and her granddaughter are also very imaginative in every page of the book which made it fun to read. During the book they have occasional Spanish words describing characteristics of her Abuelita. I'd recommend ages 3rd graders and up to read this book just because of the descriptive words she uses, I feel that grades below 3rd would have a hard time understanding.