Latin American Picture Books on Spanish Language
Stories of Kids Dealing With a Communication Barrier
Dec 10, 2008
These books all portray realistic children dealing with the strain and frustration of a Spanish and English language barrier. In some cases children struggle with the barrier because they themselves cannot understand what is being said around them. In other situations, children feel the strain of a communication barrier as they are constantly being called on to translate and interpret English for their family.
Teachers Use These Picture Books in the ESOL, Spanish, and Regular Classroom
Teachers and parents can use these stories to help English speaking kids become more sensitive to the struggles of a child who isn’t fluent in English yet. The books are also great to read in ESOL classrooms because they demonstrate that kids facing a language barrier aren’t alone. Finally, Spanish instructors can use one or more of these books as an introductory unit to demonstrate how important learning another language truly is.
Picture Books Concerning a Spanish and English Language Barrier
Uncle Rain Cloud by Toni Johnston tells the story of Carlos, a young boy living in Los Angeles whose Spanish speaking Uncle has just come to stay with them. Carlos must not only deal with his uncle’s bitterness at being forced to learn another language, but also with his own conflicting feelings about translating for his non-English speaking Uncle.
La Mariposa by Francisco Jímenez opens with young Francisco on his first day at a new school. His excitement is quickly quenched by the realization that he can’t understand a word anyone is saying. The effort of trying to make out words sends Francisco home with headaches every night. And even though another boy in his class speaks Spanish, the two are forbidden by Francisco’s teacher to speak anything except English at school. Francisco withdraws deeper into himself and grows to identify with the class caterpillar who’s barricaded itself into a protective cocoon. Will he break free like the butterfly by the story’s end?
Speak English for Us Marisol by Karen English portrays Marisol’s frustration on being the only translator and interpreter for her friends and relatives. As the story begins, Marisol is rushing home from school to see if her pet cat has delivered her litter of kittens yet. Marisol’s frustration mounts as she is waylaid time and time again to help bargain for a palm tree, fill out an application, and sort out a telephone bill discrepancy.
I Speak English for My Mom by Muriel Stanek is the story of Lupe who is called on to help her immigrant mother in almost every daily situation. Lupe must deal with her confecting emotions at being a constant translator for her parent. When Rosa starts attending night school to learn English though, Lupe admits she will miss helping.
A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting is the story of Francisco who is asked to translate for his grandfather as they look for work. Francisco tells a man needing his garden tended that his grandfather is an expert gardener but never translates the lie. When his grandfather, who is a master carpenter, is berated at day’s end for ruining the garden, he is furious on discovering Francisco’s deception. Francisco helps his grandfather make the situation right and learns a valuable lesson about his role as a translator and his relationship with his grandfather.
Gracias Rosa by Michelle Markel is the story of Kate and her new Spanish speaking baby sitter Rosa. Kate isn’t sure whether she likes Rosa at first because they have difficulty communicating. But when Rosa gives Kate a Guatemalan doll and opens up about her homeland and daughter, Kate warms to the new relationship. When Rosa returns to her daughter, Kate sends a favorite doll from her collection as a present for Rosa’s little girl.
Parents and teachers who found these Latin American theme story books dealing with communication barriers useful might also enjoy checking out books featuring Latin American kids fitting into school, Hispanic folk tales, traditional Latin American foods, and ways Hispanic people celebrate holidays such as Christmas.
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