Module 3 My Abuelita

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnston, Tony. 2009. MY ABUELITA. New York, NY: Harcourt Children’s Books. ISBN 9780152163303. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales

B. PLOT SUMMARY
A child’s grandmother is a lively, exuberant character who tells stories, eats “huevos estrellados” and works as a storyteller.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDLING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Johnston’s book is full of lively descriptive words to characterize a unique and special grandmother. She is “as old as the hills” and “round like a pumpkin” but it is clearly obvious that her grandson loves and respects her. Like most children, the grandson is confused by the ways of adults. When the grandmother yodels and stretches her body all children will find this humorous. Food is one recurring Mexican American theme seen in the book. Grandmother eats “huevos estrellados, starry eggs, queso, cheese, and tortillas.” Johnston chooses to put the English word directly next to the Spanish word and does not include a glossary in the back. The only stereotypical use of Spanish observed was, “Ay!” when the grandmother made a mistake. It felt more like a statement Bart Simpson would have made and not a grandmother. Overall, the incorporation of Spanish words is done appropriately and it does not make the wording choppy or disjointed.

Morales’ illustrations are another highlight of the book. They were created with polymer clay, wire, felting wool, acrylic paints, fabric, wood, metals and Mexican crafts and then digitally manipulated. The bright colors used are traditional of Hispanic culture. Mexican craft elements like a black and white skeleton and food images of tortilla and queso are seen in the background. An Aztec pyramis is also a prop the grandmother uses as she tells stories. The illustrator’s dedication is to “grandmothers of all shapes and colors” and his designs are respectful. Even abuela’s large size is comically exaggerated and not mean spirited. Besides the bright colors on the pages and the brown skin of the characters, the illustrations take on a fantasy perspective due to the digital manipulation and not an overly Hispanic cultural interpretation. All grandmothers and grandchildren could enjoy this book.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS“…The book lacks a glossary and pronunciation guide, but the many Spanish terms are well defined within the boy's engaging and poetic narrative, in which he conveys his admiration and affection for his appealingly peppy grandmother. Some of the verbal imagery may be a bit esoteric for younger or more literal readers, but the eye-catching, mixed-media illustrations, sparked with bright patterns, textures, and color, will help reinforce the meaning in the words. A charming tribute to family and the joys and inspiration that storytelling can bring.” BOOKLIST

“…The story follows the boy narrator as he helps his adored grandmother, a professional storyteller, get ready for a performance at a local school. Johnston conjures up a senior citizen of enormous creativity and indomitable spirit—Abuelita exercises her voice with deep, boggy, froggy notes and wraps herself in a striped towel that makes her look and hum like a great big bee. But Morales is already conveying all that through her impishly expressive puppets (in a scene where the rotund grandmother describes herself as being round like a calabaza, her reflection in the mirror envisions her as a pumpkin), unpredictable perspectives (including a bird's-eye view of a bathroom) and a glowing palette drawn from Mexican folk art. The vignettes seamlessly knit together realism and fantasy, giving every spread a dreamy physicality.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“…Characters molded from polymer clay are dressed in brightly patterned fabrics and placed among images that evoke Mexican art. Abuelita's mirror is framed by traditional metalwork, and her storytelling props include a winged serpent and a Day of the Dead skeleton. While the story is firmly placed in a Mexican context, children of all ethnic and racial backgrounds will be drawn to the eye-catching illustrations and the universal story of a loving intergenerational relationship.” SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

E. CONNECTIONS
Discuss students’ relationships with their grandparents. What kinds of foods to they fix? What types of stories do they share with their grandchildren?
What did students notice about Morales’ illustrations? Many details in the pictures need to be seen close up to catch.