Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

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Genre: Fiction

Introduction and Justification:

When my niece’s birthday presents this year, I asked her mother what books she would like. My sister then searched a list of books that help children accept their name. One of the books on this list was Alma and How She Got Her Name. This book drew my eye and it was even more special because it had just received a Caldecott Honor in 2019 (Alsc, 2019). It also appears on the 2019-2020 Tejas Star list. This book has been on numerous award lists and can impact so many students.

Evaluation of book:

          In 32 pages from the front cover to the library of Congress Page Martinez-Neal develops a relatable character through her illustrations. The simple text is truly defined and emphasized through the pictures. These illustrations connect Alma to those who she is named after. Alma talks about how she loves books and flowers just like her grandmother (Martinez-Neal, 2018). The illustrations show Alma sitting on a pile of book smelling the flowers (Martinez-Neal, 2018). On every other page you can see how Alma connects to her ancestors in a new meaningful way. The illustrations show the character development and her growth as the story goes on. You can see her love of her Dad and how her mood shifts as she learns and embraces the history of her name.

The use of color is sparse and intentional. The color draws the readers eyes to the action and focus of the page. When Alma’s Daddy is pulling down the photo album it is blue. It is one of the free colors in the page. As he reads you can see the use of blue and pink in the flowers tying the past to the present. Each character from the past has a touch of blue and Alma connects it with her touch of pink. The simple use is soothing to the eye and allows the reader to make connections.

          The text by Juana Martinez-Neal is supported by the illustration. The illustrations reinforce the text by showing you the characters and family members that Alma is named after. On the second page the reader can see how her long name does not fit on the page (Martinez-Neal, 2018). The next page Alma shows her dad the two pieces of paper taped together and explains that it does not fit (Martinez-Neal, 2018).  As the dad goes through each family member, he is able to show photographs that help set the tone of the book and give the reader and Alma a visual image. The text and the illustrations mirror and build upon each other and neither could exist without the other in this book.

Response:

Alma and How She Got Her Name is a story about the importance and value of our names. (g) This book is great for all students. The book focuses on embracing and accepting your name and the uniqueness of your name. All students at some point dislike their name or something about them and need that gentle reminder that they are special and worth it. (G) My niece has a unique name for the area she lives in. It is always being mispronounced and misspelled. This book is perfect for her because it shows she how she is named after family as well and that she is special. This books is simple and effective.  (F) Even the art work is simple with just hints of color that emphasize the meaning. The artist can see the past and present through the artists use of color. The past is done through darker colors, and black and white while Alma is colored.  The artist uses his art in pictures as well as words to tell the story.

Conclusion:

          Alma is an important book for every library to have. Students need to understand they are special and unique. They have family that guides them as well as their own special unique characteristics. Students who are named after parents or have cultural or unique names will enjoy this book. We all need a reminder that our names are important and matter.

APA Citations:

Alsc. (2019). Awards, Grants & Scholarship. Retrieved from Association for Library Service to Children : http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants

Martinez-Neal, J. (2018). Alma and How She Got her Name. Sommerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Williamson, O. M. (n.d.). How to Write a Reaction Paper or Reader Response. Retrieved from Reader Response: http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310link/readerresponse.htm