When This World Was New [Hardcover]

D. H. Figueredo (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Danilito and his parents have just arrived in New York from their Caribbean island home. They have a place to live and some warm clothing for their first winter. But Danilto is worried. How can he go to school when he speaks no English? How will he find friends among all these strangers? The next morning Papa wakes Danilito up, telling him to look out the window. "Nieve," Papa explains. "Snow." The two explore the magical world of their first snowfall in New York, and Danilito finds that he is still scared. But not as much.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his first picture book, Figueredo offers a boy's first-person account of his Spanish-speaking family's arrival in the United States from "an island on an ocean that was warm and far away." After taking two airplanes to reach a large northern city, Danilito and his parents are greeted by Uncle Berto, who drives them to his home. Though the child feels anxious about going to a school where no one speaks his language, a blizzard outside his window fills him with wonder (he describes the sight as "a magic I had never seen before"). The story takes a winding path, but Figueredo succeeds in conveying his young narrator's credible emotions and close rapport with his parents and uncle. Sanchez's (Abuela's Weave) acrylic paintings achieve such softness that they appear to be rendered in pastels. Even when set in the intimidating city, the illustrations in gentle tones of reds and blues create the feeling that the boy's transition to a new life and culture will be a smooth one. Ages 3-10. (May)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-When his family leaves their warm Caribbean island to come to the United States, Danilito is apprehensive. Everything is new-the cold weather, the heavy clothing, the language. But the first morning in his new home brings the wondrous discovery of snow, "millions of white rose petals floating downwards," a magic that turns parked cars into polar bears and silences all sounds. Before Uncle Berto comes to drive Danilito to his new school and Pap to a factory job, father and son make snowballs and footprints together. Although the boy is still frightened, it's "not as much." The language is simple and the imagery is appropriate to the viewpoint of a young child. A few phrases of Spanish are used and translated. The rounded forms and soft colors in the acrylic paintings emphasize the gentle affection of this close-knit family. Mam 's smile, Pap 's anxious pleasure, and Danilito's joy in the snowfall are beautifully portrayed in warm tones. Danilito may worry about the unknown, but he accepts and embraces his new world so that even his greatest fear, falling on ice, becomes one more marvel, as readers see him on the last page ice skating while his smiling parents watch.
Marian Drabkin, Richmond Public Library, CA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880000865
• ISBN-13: 978-1880000861
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,472,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'd be scared too, July 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: When This World Was New (Hardcover)

This book was great. My mom asked me to read it because she was giving it to my little cousins and I really liked it. It told about a boy who was feeling both scared and excited - they are feelings I have too. I'd be scared if I had to leave my country forever and not even know what the people were saying when I got to the new place. It would be scarey to have a Mom who is sick and a Dad who has to get a new job. It would also be frightening to think about a new school where you wouldn't know anybody AND you wouldn't even know what they were saying to you or about you. I remember when a boy named Sasha came to our class and he was from Russia and did not know any English. I had heard there were other languages but I didn't know what that could do to a person until I saw what Sasha went through. I think a new adventure is only exciting when you don't have to worry, but Danilito and Shasha had to worry. In the book Danilito was lucky though because he had his mom and dad and his uncle to help him. I think Danilito and Shasha are a lot alike. Danilito may be scared today but just like Sasha, once he learns the new language he will become very happy and his scared feelings will become feelings about excitement about his new adventures in a new home. After all, he already had a happy experience that he didn't need a language for - the snow! It made things new seem good and exciting. I think this author must like little kids because he knew how they feel inside.

Michael Corso III

5.0 out of 5 stars This book brought back memories of my own past, February 5, 2006

By 

George M. Arias (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When This World Was New (Paperback)

I recently got this book for my daughter as an educational tool. The book touched closely my own experiences when I arrived to this country many years ago at the age of 14.

I too came from a warm climate and found myself in the northeast of the US, where the weather, language and customs were much different than my own. Mr. Figueredo was able to accurately describe the many fears and insecurities that an impressionable child goes through when leaving the familiar for the unknown.

I recommend this book as a teaching tool for tolerance and acceptance of those who are different than us. I was very fortunate that I found many new friends in this country who also came from different backgrounds and embraced me as their own. Books like this one go a long way in creating understanding among people.