My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito [Paperback]

Amada Irma Perez (Author), Maya Christina Gonzalez (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: K and up

The young Mexican American girl at the center of this charming book loves her family — five younger brothers, her two parents, and several visiting relatives — but in such a crowded house, she can never seem to find a moment alone. Told in both English and Spanish, this boldly illustrated title delivers the inspiring story of a California family that pulled together to give a young girl her own corner of the world. Imparting lessons about collective problem solving, the unshakable bonds of familial love, and the possibilities that arise when you dream big, this book is one for every child's shelf.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tired of sharing a room with her five brothers, an eight-year-old Mexican American girl longs to find a corner of the house she can call her own ("a place where I could read the books I loved, write in my diary, and dream"). She persuades her mother to let her take up residence in a storage room, and the whole family gets involved in refurbishing the new space. An uncle who is heading back to Mexico donates his bed; one brother finds a wooden crate to use for a bookcaseAand the books come from the library. Based on Perez's own childhood, this bilingual picture book paints an affectionate portrait of life in a big family that often provides a home base to newly arriving relatives and friends ("There was always a long line to use the bathroom, but the toilet seat was always warm") and offers strong testimony to the heroine's resourcefulness. Gonzalez's (Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems) warm palette, simple lines and uncluttered images flow through the story like a series of murals. This inspiring tale will resonate with anyone who's ever wished for a room of one's own or worked hard to achieve an important goal. Ages 6-up. (Aug.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-In the tradition of Elizabeth Starr Hill's Evan's Corner (Puffin, 1993), the nine-year-old protagonist of this story longs for a room of her own in the crowded house she shares with her parents, five brothers, and frequent guests. When the child sets her sights on a small storage closet, the whole family helps to make her dream room a reality. This bilingual book is based on an incident from the author's childhood, and it reads more like a brief autobiographical essay than a picture book. The story lacks tension since the main conflict is resolved quickly, but it does show that a child's need for privacy doesn't preclude being a loving family member. Gonzalez's rich, robust illustrations heighten the otherwise quiet story. Smiling Mexican-American children with rounded body curves and widened facial features march across pages splashed with bold brush strokes of primary colors. A deserving purchase for bilingual and larger picture-book collections.
Denise E. Agosto, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; First Trade Paper Edition edition (March 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892392231
• ISBN-13: 978-0892392230
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #712,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for everyone, February 10, 2006

By 

N. Salazar "Cristy Salazar" (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito (Hardcover)

Even though this is a picture book, it touches social issues such as immigration, poverty, "Blue chip" stamps, and a father the girl rarely sees because he works the whole day. What I like about this book is that the little girl never complained about her family. She just needed her own space, but she never hatred her relatives for steeling her privacy.

This is a beautiful book which portrays the social conditions of many families in a lot of countries, where they live in much reduced spaces and the money is not enough to build more rooms.

I also like the fact that the relatives and the family were together and had a great harmony. They helped the little girl to clean up the storage room, and to obtain donated furniture. I appreciate the author for emphasizing the girl's love for literature.

This is also a book that teaches about being happy even if the economic resources are limited.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All you need is family, and a little space!, September 27, 2010

By 

Robin Bartel (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito (Hardcover)

My Very Own Room reminded me so much of my childhood. Being the baby of six I never had my own room, or privacy. One of my sisters was so desperate for her own room that she moved into the laundry room, this is very similar to the young lady in the book. The young lady loved her family and it was never about being away from family as much as it was about needed her own space, being the only girl.

The one thing that I was not a fan of was when it went into her getting a new lamp. I would have loved the book to be more about her and her family, not the lamp. I understand why the author went into needing stamps for the lamp, but the idea of needing family was sufficient enough.

This is a great book about learning to make the most of what you have. I think it also can show kids that no matter how little you have you always have family.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Familia/Family, September 23, 2006

By 

Robin Hernandez "luv horr" (Ventura) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito (Hardcover)

This beautifully illustrated picture book which is in both Spanish and English clearly and magically enthralls both children and adults alike. It shows the warmth of family life despite five brothers and one sister living in such close quarters and the ingenuity and generosity of the whole family making one little girl very happy. I loved it.