Island treasures : growing up in Cuba : includes Where the flame trees bloom, Under the royal palms (winner of the Pura Belpré Award), and the new collection Days at La Quinta Simoni

Cover image for Island treasures : growing up in Cuba : includes Where the flame trees bloom, Under the royal palms (winner of the Pura Belpré Award), and the new collection Days at La Quinta Simoni

Title:

Author:

Ada, Alma Flor author.

ISBN:

9781481442459

9781481429009

Uniform Title:

Memoirs. Selections

Edition:

First edition.

Physical Description:

227 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

Contents:

Where the flame trees bloom -- Days at La Quinta Simoni -- Under the royal palms.

Abstract:

Told through the eyes of a child, this anthology of true autobiographical tales from Hispanic author and educator Alma Flor Ada presents inspiring reflections on a unique childhood spent on the island of Cuba. Includes Spanish to English glossary.

Reading Level:

NC1080L Lexile

Program Information:

Accelerated Reader AR MG 6.7 6 175639.

Accelerated Reader AR 6.7 6.0 175639.

Personal Subject:

Ada, Alma Flor-Childhood and youth-Juvenile literature.

Ada, Alma Flor-Homes and haunts-Cuba-Juvenile literature.

Subject Term:

Authors, American -- 20th century -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Authors, Cuban -- 20th century -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Cuban American women -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Families -- Cuba -- Juvenile literature.

Added Author:

Rodriguez, Edel

Martorell, Antonio, 1939-

Ada, Alma Flor Where the flame trees bloom.

Ada, Alma Flor Under the royal palms.

Holds:

Available:

Library	Material Type	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... LSC-Tomball Community Library	HCPL Book	B Ada	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

The author of My Name Is María Isabel offers an inspiring look at her childhood in Cuba in this collection that includes Where the Flame Trees Bloom , Under the Royal Palms , five new stories, and more.

These true autobiographical tales from renowned Hispanic author and educator Alma Flor Ada are filled with family love and traditions, secrets and deep friendships, and a gorgeous, moving picture of the island of Cuba, where Alma Flor grew up. Told through the eyes of a child, a whole world comes to life in these pages: the blind great-grandmother who never went to school but whose wisdom and generosity overflowed to those around her; the hired hand Samoné, whose love for music overcame all difficulties; the beloved dance teacher who helped sustain young Alma Flor through a miserable year in school; her dear and daring Uncle Medardo, who bravely flew airplanes; and more.

Heartwarming, poignant, and often humorous, this wonderful collection encourages readers to discover the stories in their own lives--and to celebrate the joys and struggles we all share, no matter where or when we grew up. Featuring the classic and award-winning books Where the Flame Trees Bloom and Under the Royal Palms , Island Treasures also includes a new collection, Days at La Quinta Simoni , many new family photographs, and a Spanish-to-English glossary.

Notes

Alma Flor Ada, an authority on multicultural and bilingual education, is the recipient of the 2012 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and in 2014 she was honored by the Mexican government with the prestigious OHTLI Award. She is the author of numerous award-winning books for young readers, including Dancing Home with Gabriel Zubizarreta, My Name Is María Isabel , Under the Royal Palms (Pura Belpré Medal), Where the Flame Trees Bloom , and The Gold Coin (Christopher Award Medal). She lives in California, and you can visit her at AlmaFlorAda.com.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-6-In this memoir collection, Ada vividly recounts childhood stories, painting pictures with words that allow readers to almost taste Cuban foods, smell her grandmother's talcum, and feel the red clay used to make pottery. Ada presents five original vignettes in the section "Days at La Quinta Simoni," which is sandwiched between her classic Where the Flame Trees Bloom (1994) and her award-winning Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba (1998, both S. & S.). Ada adopts the tone of an older adult fondly sharing childhood memories with a beloved child-the reader. She weaves life lessons and Cuban customs and values throughout her recollections of eccentric relatives and community members and incorporates descriptions of childhood joys, tragedies, and humorous anecdotes. Although most Spanish terms are translated or defined within the text, a glossary aids those new to the language. VERDICT A lovely addition to memoir collections.-Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Excerpts

Island Treasures Excerpted from Island Treasures: Growing up in Cuba: Includes Where the Flame Trees Bloom, under the Royal Palms, and Five Brand New Stories by Alma Flora Ada All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.