Book Detail

Calling the Doves

Publication Information
Author:  Herrera, Juan Illustrator:  Simmons, Elly
Title:  Calling the Doves Date:  1995
Publisher:  Children's Book Press City:  San Francisco
ISBN, paperback:  0-89239-132-4 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Yes Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    biography and autobiography, memoirs/reminiscences, true story, bilingual

HSE Descriptor(s):   

Summary:
The author joyously recounts the songs, the food, and the love of his parents of his boyhood in a migrant Mexican family in rhythmic, lyrical language with a bilingual format. The colorful illustrations recall both Diego Rivera and Marc Chagall in their folk origins.

Teaching Ideas:
This book could be used with other books on migrant workers, i.e., Voices from the Fields or to contrast with European immigration, in Freedman's Immigrant Kids. The charm of this book lies in the rich family life filled with music, song, food, and friends. As a result, it might stimulate students to reminisce about their childhood experiences. A class might also discuss how parents and community in the story help overcome the hardships of migrant life.

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Social Studies > anthropology > daily life
bullet Ethnic Groups > Mexican-American
bullet Social Studies > sociology > social issues > migrant workers
bullet Work > migrant
bullet Family > family heritage


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