Carmen Learns English

by Judy Cox, Angela N. Dominguez (Illustrator)

Overview

The first day of school can be scary—especially when no one else speaks your language.
 
Carmen wishes she was back in Mexico, where everyone spoke Spanish and she didn't stand out. But a little bravery, a loving family, and a compassionate, determined teacher help Carmen find her way. Señora Coski's Spanish is muy terrible, but that means Carmen knows she won't laugh if her English sounds terrible, too.
 
Soon, Carmen is confident enough to join in lessons, games, and songs—and she starts to teach her classmates Spanish, too! Uno, dos, tres. . . .
 
Brightly illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor illustrator Angela Dominguez, Carmen Learns English explores the frustrations and triumphs of a young immigrant learning a new language, and celebrates the ways in which we learn from one another.
 
For anyone worrying about their first day of school, this sweet, realistic picture book is sure to reassure and entertain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823421749
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	07/01/2010
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	518,164
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Judy Cox is a former elementary school teacher and the author of picture books such as Haunted House, Haunted Mouse and chapter books including Ukelele Hayley, a Bank Street College Best Book, and The Secret Chicken Society, which was nominated for four state awards and named a Best of the Best title by the Chicago Public Library. She lives in Oregon.

Angela N. Dominguez was born in Mexico City and grew up in Texas. Spanish was her family's first language, and her older brother had to learn English in the first grade. Like Lupita, Angela learned English with his help, so she could be fluent by her first day of school. She received Pura Belpré Illustration Honors for two books: Maria Had a Llama and Mango, Abuela, and Me.

Editorial Reviews

The frustrations of starting school as the only Spanish-speaking student come through clearly in Cox's tale of a girl who slowly gets a handle on English with the help of a compassionate teacher. In first-person narration, Carmen doesn't mince words about her tumultuous emotions when she can't understand her classmates or is teased about her accent ("For a moment I wished I was back in Mexico, where all the people speak Spanish and no one makes fun of me"). Dominguez's mixed-media paintings can feel wooden--she's at her best with closeup images of Carmen that convey her trepidation, anger, and growing confidence. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"This charming celebration of bilingualism captures both the fears and delights of learning a new tongue."—School Library Journal
 
"Cox gets Carmen’s narration just right, folding in both Spanish words and enough malapropisms to give readers a sense of her special voice. Dominguez’s bright paintings present a basically confident little girl whose progress from anxious frowns to smiles will make readers cheer. Muy bueno."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"The frustrations of starting school as the only Spanish-speaking student come through clearly in Cox’s tale of a girl who slowly gets a handle on English with the help of a compassionate teacher."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2—Older sister Carmen tells Lupita, who is about to enter kindergarten, about her first day of school, when she could speak only Spanish. She recalls other children teasing her about saying the wrong words or mocking her accent. Yet with a kind teacher's help, Carmen mastered English well enough to teach her new language to Lupita and then to begin to use it at school, where classmates learn Spanish from her. Dominguez's average-quality paintings convey a childlike energy and effectively express Carmen's moods. This charming celebration of bilingualism captures both the fears and delights of learning a new tongue.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

School Library Journal

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