Melanie's Children's and Young Adult's Literature Page

Alma Flor Ada
Home | Inclusive Literature | Author Studies | Asian Pacific American Literature | Native American Literature | Hispanic American Literature | African American Literature | Fiction, Fantasy and Young Adult | Audiobook | Historical Fiction | Nonfiction | Poetry | Traditional Literature | Picture Books | International Literature

Alma Flor Ada

Did you know??
  • The author's first name is "Alma Flor", not just "Alma"
  • Alma Flor comes from a family of skilled oral storytellers
  • Alma Flor's grandmother taught her to read before she was three years old
  • Alma Flor was born in an old house in Cuba that the neighbors thought was haunted!
  • Most of Alma Flor's books are published in both English and Spanish
  • Dr. Ada is also a professor at the University of San Francisco

THE LIZARD AND THE SUN is the story of the disappearance of the sun in an Aztec community.  Lizard continues looking for the sun even when others have given up the search.  Finally, she finds the sun asleep in a rock.  The community must dance in their finest garb and play their most rousing music in order to wake the sun and restore the light.  The tale explains that this is why lizards like to sun themselves on rocks even to this day.

 

The story is told bilingually, with English on the right page and Spanish on the left.  The two-page illustrations help to integrate the two languages.  In the Author’s note, Ada explains, “I hope to awaken in children an interest in acquiring the gift of a second language.”  The text will probably succeed in piquing interest in children, although the vocabulary is someone advanced for young readers. 

 

Aztec culture is represented in the art’s style and colors.  School Library Journal writes, “The colorful double-page illustrations evoke the native culture by featuring characters in their decorated tunics and headdresses.  In addition, the use of musical instruments such as drums reinforces Indian culture.”  Together, the art and the words create an endearing tale for readers of all ages.

 

I LOVE SATURDAYS Y DOMINGOS is the fun story of a girl who spends her weekends with her grandparents.  She spends Saturdays with her European American Grandma and Grandpa, and los domingos with her Abuelita y Abuelito, who are Mexican-American.  Ada tells the tale with Saturdays presented on the right and their counterpart -los domingos- on the left.  Ada draws parallels between the grandparents, showing how much the girl loves each of them and how much they each love her.

 

The narrative on both sides is very similar, similar enough so that the Spanish usually does not have to be directly translated.  Kirkus Reviews points out "Even those without a background in Spanish will recognize familiar words and be able to decipher the meaning of unfamiliar ones through the illustrations and context."  School Library Journal calls Ada’s writing style in this book, “Lively, childlike prose,” and children will respond to that tone when they read (or listen).

 

Through the activities of each group, we learn a little more about the grandparents.  At times, it does seem that Ada lends the more “adventurous spirit” to the Mexican American family.  For example, they take her to a real circus when the other grandparents show the video.  Abuelito makes her a handmade kite of colorful paper while Grandpa blows up some balloons for her.  However, the families mesh well and the central theme of love and acceptance is easily communicated.

 

In both of these books, Alma Flor Ada has tried to imbue a little bit of Hispanic culture in the story.  She succeeds, though in different ways.  She tells one fantastical tale set in the past and one realistic tale set in the present.  She uses Spanish in both stories, but uses this differently as well.  The English and Spanish translations in LIZARD seem interesting and exotic, while the Spanish mixed into the modern tale seems to fit right in with the English.  Whichever path the author decides to take, readers will enjoy the stories as well as the Hispanic culture they impart.

ilovesaturdays.jpg

lizardandthesun.gif

almaflorada.jpg

Alma Flor Ada

LINKS:
 
 
 

A Select Bibliography
by Melanie Machos
Books in English
from Hispanic American Culture

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by K. Dyble Thompson. Translated from the Spanish by Ana M. Cerro. 1993. MY NAME IS MARIA ISABEL. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. ISBN: 0689315171.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Neil Waldman. Translated from the Spanish by Bernice Randall. 1994. THE GOLD COIN. New York: Maxwell Macmillan International. ISBN: 0689717938.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Antonio Martorell. 1994. WHERE THE FLAME TREES BLOOM. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689319002.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Kim Howard. Translated by Rosalma Zubizarreta. 1995. MEDIOPOLLITO (HALF-CHICKEN). New York: Doubleday Book for Young Readers. ISBN: 0385320442.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Simon Silva. English translation by Rosa Zubizarreta. 1997. GATHERING THE SUN: AN ABC IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. ISBN: 0688139043.

 

-*Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Felipe Davalos. Translated by Rosa Zubizarreta. 1997. LIZARD AND THE SUN (LA LAGARTIJA Y EL SOL): A FOLKTALE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. New York: Doubleday Book for Young Readers. ISBN: 038532121X.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. 1998. UNDER THE ROYAL PALMS: A CHILDHOOD IN CUBA. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689806310.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Reg Cartwright. 1999. THREE GOLDEN ORANGES. New York: Atheneum Books. ISBN: 0689807759.

 

-*Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Elivia Savadier. 2002. I LOVE SATURDAYS Y DOMINGOS. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689318197.

 

-Ada, Alma Flor. Illustrated by Viví Escrivá. English adaptations by Alice Schertle. 2003. PIO PEEP! : TRADITIONAL SPANISH NURSERY RHYMES. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN: 0688160204.

 

* Used as a reference for this Web page