I Love Saturdays y domingos [Paperback]

Alma Flor Ada (Author), Elivia Savadier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 24, 2004 | Age Range: 5 and up

Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the child in this story. On Saturdays, she visits Grandma and Grandpa, who come from a European-American background, and on Sundays -- los domingos -- she visits Abuelito y Abuelita, who are Mexican-American. While the two sets of grandparents are different in many ways, they also have a great deal in common -- in particular, their love for their granddaughter.

While we follow our narrator to the circus and the pier, share stories from her grandparents' pasts, and celebrate her birthday, the depth and joy of both cultures are conveyed in Spanish and English. This affirmation of both heritages will speak to all children who want to know more about their own families and ethnic backgrounds.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Through this affectionate and revealing portrait of a bilingual girl's weekend visits to her two sets of grandparents, Ada (Where the Flame Trees Bloom) and Savadier (A Bedtime Story) prove that straddling two worlds can be a blessing rather than a hardship. The left of each spread depicts the narrator spending Saturdays with her paternal grandparents, with whom she speaks English; on the right, she passes los domingos (Sundays) with her Mexican-American Abuelito and Abuelita and converses in Spanish. The situations in the two households share enough similarities that readers can extrapolate the meaning of the Spanish words in context. For instance, on one spread, the colors of the balloons her paternal grandparents give her also appear in the kite that her Abuelito makes for her. Each pairing makes for a loving comparison and contrast, enlivened by Savadier's graceful, warm-toned watercolor spot illustrations. At book's end, both sets of grandparents coordinate a cooperative gift for the girl's birthday. The balance tips slightly in Abuelito and Abuelita's favor, in terms of fun and exoticism (e.g., Grandpa and Grandma watch a video about the circus while the Mexican-American grandparents "take me to a real circus"). Youngsters, however, will come away with the idea that this girl is very lucky to have four such interesting people who love her. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-A little girl recounts the joy of her weekends, Saturdays spent with her Euro-American Grandma and Grandpa and Sundays (los domingos) with Abuelito and Abuelita, her Mexican-American grandparents. She does different things in each place and goes on different outings: off to the circus, to the pier, out floating balloons or flying kites. She hears different stories that reflect her grandparents' heritages. However, on her birthday, it is clear that both sets of relatives are united in their love of their granddaughter. Lively, childlike prose that integrates Spanish words flawlessly and understandably makes this a winner for storytimes. Savadier's watercolor cartoon illustrations are bright, clear, and stylistically reminiscent of Lillian Hoban's work. Paired with books like Carmen Santiago Nodar's Abuelita's Paradise (Albert Whitman, 1992), or even such old standbys as Helen Buckley's Grandfather and I (Lothrop, 1994), this book will make a strong statement about cultural diversity and the universality of love.

Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (August 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068987409X
• ISBN-13: 978-0689874093
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.4 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #249,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alma Flor Ada, Pro­fes­sor Emerita at the Uni­ver­sity of San Fran­cisco, has devoted her life to advo­cacy for peace by pro­mot­ing a ped­a­gogy ori­ented to per­sonal real­iza­tion and social jus­tice. A for­mer Rad­cliffe Scholar at Har­vard Uni­ver­sity and Ful­bright Research Scholar she is an inter­na­tion­ally re-known speaker and the author of numer­ous children's books of poetry, nar­ra­tive, folk­lore and non fic­tion. Her books have received pres­ti­gious awards; among many: Christo­pher Medal (The Gold Coin), Pura Bel­pré Medal (Under the Royal Palms), Once Upon a World (Gath­er­ing the Sun), Par­ents' Choice Honor (Dear Peter Rab­bit), NCSS and CBC Notable Book (My Name is María Isabel). She is also the author of a book of mem­oirs, Vivir en dos idiomas, two nov­els for adults, En clave de sol and A pesar del amor, and sev­eral pro­fes­sional books for edu­ca­tors, includ­ing A Mag­i­cal Encounter: Latino Children's Lit­er­a­ture in the Class­room, as well as a wealth of edu­ca­tional mate­ri­als. Her work, in col­lab­o­ra­tion with F. Isabel Cam­poy in pro­mot­ing author­ship in stu­dents, teach­ers, and par­ents is the con­tent of their book Authors in the Class­room: A Trans­for­ma­tive Edu­ca­tion Process. Alma Flor Ada has been awarded the Amer­i­can Edu­ca­tion Research Asso­ci­a­tion [AERA] His­panic Issues Award for Research in Ele­men­tary, Sec­ondary and Post­sec­ondary Edu­ca­tion and the Cal­i­for­nia Asso­ci­a­tion for Bilin­gual Edu­ca­tion [CABE] Life Long Award.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Circle of Love November 5, 2003

By BeatleBangs1964 TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

A bright, beautiful little girl shares her pride in her Latin heritage. She describes the time she enjoys with both sets of grandparents and the excursions she takes with them. I like the way the young protagonist is so well loved that readers feel as if they are being drawn into a loving vortex.

I love the way Spanish words are included in this story and descriptions of Latin celebrations. This is a book to be savored and shared with others. The characters are very appealing and there is a sharing of cultural information and ideas. This is an excellent teaching tool. This book is for everyone. I heartily and happily recommend this book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I Love Saturdays and ???? October 4, 2007

By 80sLady

Format:Paperback

"I Love Saturdays y domingos" is one of the few children's book on the market that integrates two different cultures. In this book, a little girl spends Saturdays with her father's parents. The grandfather comes from Europe and the grandmother comes from California. On Sundays, the girl spends time with her mother's parents: abuelito (grandfather), who comes from Mexico and abuelita (grandmother), who is Native American.

Throughout the story, the little girl learns about her family's cultures. The little girl and two sets of grandparents play with animals, watch movies, go to the circus and do other things that families love to do. At the end of the story, they all come together for her birthday party.

Those who speak/read little or no Spanish may have difficulty with the Spanish text. The book does not offer pronunciation keys or meanings to the words. Although some of the words written in Spanish may be explained in the adjoining page when the girl visits her English-speaking relatives.

This book may be more appropriate for families familiar with both cultures or for children who are just beginning to learn about the Latin American culture.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! October 6, 2009

By Irene LL

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was great because my kids could identify with the cultures of both sets of grandparents.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A+ Multicultural Book April 4, 2009

By Christine Ramirez

Format:Hardcover

This book is fantastic for discussing multicultural issues. I am a German while my husband is Mexican. We have raised 4 lovely and very accepting girls. Our grandchildren are now old enough to understand the issues of a multicultural family. This book is a MUST.

CRR

Me encantan los Saturdays y los domingos (Spanish Edition)
I Love Saturdays y domingos

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved The Book, I Love Saturdays y Domimingos October 28, 2012

By Isaac Ruiz

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed reading, I Love Saturdays Y Domingos to my three grandchildren. It is a beautifully illustrated book and it is one of my grandkids favorites.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great purchase July 11, 2012

By kathleen smith

Format:Paperback

Love this wonderful children's book about grandparents of two cultures....perfect gift for my niece and family... book arrived quickly and in perfect condition...great purchase from Amazon! Kathleen

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book....but July 28, 2010

By Melissa Hernandez

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great multicultural book to use with children. However I thought it to be a bit bias comparing what the white grandparents and hispanic grandparents did. I myself am half white and half hispanic....