The Circuit
Author: Francisco Jimenez
Publisher: Univesity of New Mexico Press
Year of Publication: 1997
Genre: Children’s Literature
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: 2
Summary:
This is a culturally specific multi-cultural book because it describes the life of a migrant farmer family in America. It describes the work of the farmers, their living conditions, and how the children are educated. It describes what it is like to be surrounded by people who only speak English when you can only understand Spanish.
Summary of Professional Reviews:
This wonderful book deserves every one of the four awards it has garnered. Jimenez perfectly portrays an immi-grant child's view of leaving Mexico for California to pursue a better life. The very hard times of the late 1940s are presented without sentiment or melodrama, both by Jimenez and Adrian Vargas. The narrator convincingly takes the listener back in time with a range of accents and ages. He also presents several short musical interludes. The best treat is an afterward presented by the author. Listeners of all ages should enjoy this bittersweet memoir and learn from it.
Review by Rokaya:
This is a great book that describes what is like to be a part of an immigrant family and all of the things that the family goes through. The detailed scenarios help the reader paint a picture in their head and they also make the reader feel like they are a part of the book. The use of Spanish words in the book also introduces a new language to the reader. This would be a great cultural book that teacher can use to include diversity into the classroom.
This book would be useful when teaching…
This book can be used in the classroom to discuss how there are families that live like the family in the story does. This happens in the world today and teachers can read this book with the classroom to incorporate diversity, different cultures, and different living styles in the world.
Publisher: Univesity of New Mexico Press
Year of Publication: 1997
Genre: Children’s Literature
Horn Book or Kirkus Reviews rating: 2
Summary:
This is a culturally specific multi-cultural book because it describes the life of a migrant farmer family in America. It describes the work of the farmers, their living conditions, and how the children are educated. It describes what it is like to be surrounded by people who only speak English when you can only understand Spanish.
Summary of Professional Reviews:
This wonderful book deserves every one of the four awards it has garnered. Jimenez perfectly portrays an immi-grant child's view of leaving Mexico for California to pursue a better life. The very hard times of the late 1940s are presented without sentiment or melodrama, both by Jimenez and Adrian Vargas. The narrator convincingly takes the listener back in time with a range of accents and ages. He also presents several short musical interludes. The best treat is an afterward presented by the author. Listeners of all ages should enjoy this bittersweet memoir and learn from it.
Review by Rokaya:
This is a great book that describes what is like to be a part of an immigrant family and all of the things that the family goes through. The detailed scenarios help the reader paint a picture in their head and they also make the reader feel like they are a part of the book. The use of Spanish words in the book also introduces a new language to the reader. This would be a great cultural book that teacher can use to include diversity into the classroom.
This book would be useful when teaching…
This book can be used in the classroom to discuss how there are families that live like the family in the story does. This happens in the world today and teachers can read this book with the classroom to incorporate diversity, different cultures, and different living styles in the world.