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What's in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.
If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flower What's in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.
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It all starts with a name, Alma's long name. And then a conversation with her father, tracing each part of her name that belonged to someone in her family tree. Each name that connects her to the past and to her family and to her current and future self.
I love the structure of the book, the way sweet Alma peeks into and enters the past on every other spread, the colors—blue for history and pink for present—and all the facial expressions of the characters.
My favorite page is "I am Candela!" wit It all starts with a name, Alma's long name. And then a conversation with her father, tracing each part of her name that belonged to someone in her family tree. Each name that connects her to the past and to her family and to her current and future self.
My favorite page is "I am Candela!" with Alma holding a sign, her marching buddies stuffed animals, drawings, and dolls.
I am in 💖 with this picture book! Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela is adorable, even if her name is a mouthful. The story is so sweet as her father teaches her about the ancestors who she is named after, and why he chose those names for her. A story about identity, pride, and family, all combined with the stunning illustrations of Martinez-Neal is a must-share in the classroom. Bonus: Spanish version will be released simultaneously with the English version.
Que hermosa historia, que enseña a los niños a conectar con sus antepasados, con sus raíces, que aunque no siempre las puedan ver, están presentes y son parte de ellos.
De los mejores libros infantiles del 2019.
La Edición en español mantiene el mismo ritmo que la narrativa en inglés, que es algo bastante raro cuando se trata de ediciones traducidas, pero esta me encanto. Sin duda me dejan muchas ganas de conseguir la versión en físico en ambos idiomas.
I had to flip through this book a few times and could do it many more times and still get enjoyment. The art has so many interesting layers and details, I kept wanting to look back at it and study it. Martinez-Neal has a very interesting sketchbook-like style. I love the way she sparingly incorporates color and also the way she creates the old photos of people from the MC Alma's family. There is a scrapbook/photo album feel to the way she incorporates these elements.
In addition to the illustrati I had to flip through this book a few times and could do it many more times and still get enjoyment. The art has so many interesting layers and details, I kept wanting to look back at it and study it. Martinez-Neal has a very interesting sketchbook-like style. I love the way she sparingly incorporates color and also the way she creates the old photos of people from the MC Alma's family. There is a scrapbook/photo album feel to the way she incorporates these elements.
@candlewickpress #partner This is the sweet story of how Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela got her name, told to her by her father, and it is absolutely fabulous. It will be available in both English and Spanish editions, although the English version does also include some Spanish words on signs in the book. The author's note about her own LONG name and how she despaired over it while growing up in Lima, Peru before growing to love it later on in the US is a wonderful addition to the story. @candlewickpress #partner This is the sweet story of how Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela got her name, told to her by her father, and it is absolutely fabulous. It will be available in both English and Spanish editions, although the English version does also include some Spanish words on signs in the book. The author's note about her own LONG name and how she despaired over it while growing up in Lima, Peru before growing to love it later on in the US is a wonderful addition to the story. I will be purchasing this for my elementary library collection and reading to grades 1 and 2.
I LOVE this book! Alma and How She Got Her Name written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal shares the story of sweet, little Alma. The story begins with her spelling out Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela and complaining to her father about the many parts of her name. Her dad sits her down and shares the story of each part of her name and offers her the opportunity to understand the history of her name.
Juana Martinez-Neal uses pinks, grays, blacks and blues to delicately illustrate this I LOVE this book! Alma and How She Got Her Name written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal shares the story of sweet, little Alma. The story begins with her spelling out Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela and complaining to her father about the many parts of her name. Her dad sits her down and shares the story of each part of her name and offers her the opportunity to understand the history of her name.
Juana Martinez-Neal uses pinks, grays, blacks and blues to delicately illustrate this book about little Alma. Along with the vivid descriptions of each family member, each page is sprinkled with Spanish words and artifacts inspired by her Peruvian upbringing.
Hello, friends! Our book today is Alma And How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal, a wonderful tale of a little girl with a very big – and very special – name.
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has a very long name, so long that it often doesn’t fit when she tries to write it out. She tells her father, who sits her down and promises to explain what her name means, then she can decide if it fits. He then tells her of five people: her grandmothers, Sofia and Candela, her great-grandmother Esperanza, her grandfather José, and her great-aunt Pura. Each family member was special and unique in their own way, and Alma connects with each over a shared interest or characteristic. At last, her father explains her first name, Alma: he chose it just for her. She is the first Alma, and her story is her own to write. But she will always carry her family with her to encourage and inspire her – they’re right there in her name.
Delightful and dear. Alma’s story celebrates both specific Latin-American naming customs and the tradition and emotion behind them, as well as the notion that our names have meaning, often both as a connection to our past as well as an identity all our own. Alma’s namesakes are presented as individuals admirable for gestures big and small, which adds a nice message about how we honor and connect to our older family members, even after they’ve passed. The illustrations are adorable, using simple, charming characters and an exquisite use of light and shadow to set a range of moods. The length is perfect, and JJ loved it. This one was just wonderful, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!
Oh how I love this book. As one young reader told me, “it makes me want to learn more about my own name.” Alma helps us all feel like we are special for being unique. Alma Sofia Esperanza Josi Pura Candela worries about her long name until her father tells her family stories, one for each person she's named after. The illustrations are soft and gently sweet, showing the distinctive essence of each ancestor and the affections between Alma and her family.
Love the art, love the story. Definitely going on the shortlist of books for baby showers and birthdays.
Warm, endearing artwork. Important story about family names and heritage.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this and will add it to my stack of books for exploring names at the beginning of the year!
Just lovely. The concept, the art, the text. It all works together beautifully.
And also it has the daughter sitting with her father in that platonic ideal of a reading chair.
A beautiful story about the importance of names and how they shape our identity.
Many people in Spanish speaking countries have very long family names. This sweet book offers children a sense of history as they explore what their names might mean, and their own family tree.
Darling tale of how Alma got her name.
Not only is the story uplifting, but the illustrations are gorgeous graphite pencils and soft pastels.
This is such a wonderful story about the history of a little girl's full name.
Alma Esperanza Jose Pura Candela.
Nowadays, the names of our kids hardly reflect our heritage. I know my kids' names don't have any history to speak of. We chose their names for the simple reasons that we liked them. I think it's beautiful when your child asks you where their name came from and you can tell them a short history about it.
Absolutely gorgeous artwork. The carefully chosen color palette and soft pencil drawings create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for this story about a young girl's name. The book does a nice job of explaining to Alma the history of her name and to people from other cultures who may not understand why certain people have such long names.
This is a fantastic book about the importance of names and where they come from. So many times I hear kids making fun of names or kids saying it’s okay when their names are mispronounced. This book celebrates every part of Alma’s name and where it comes from. A wonderful story with lovely illustrations.
A simple conversation between a father and daughter, but a strong message about identity. The blurred lines and gentle palette of the illustrations soften the overall tone, but don't be lulled into thinking this is anything other than a powerful lesson in cultural heritage and pride.
Sweet illustrations and a lovely story of the history of Alma's long name. Would be great to start a name unit for a classroom.
First sentence: Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela had a long name--too long, if you asked her. "My name is so long, Daddy. It never fits," Alma said. "Come here," he said. "Let me tell you the story of your name. Then you decide if it fits."
Premise/plot: After Alma hears the story of her name will she change her mind? This picture book celebrates families and individuality. Also storytelling.
My thoughts: I love, love, love the premise of this one. I love the story telling. I love the emphas First sentence: Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela had a long name--too long, if you asked her. "My name is so long, Daddy. It never fits," Alma said. "Come here," he said. "Let me tell you the story of your name. Then you decide if it fits."
My thoughts: I love, love, love the premise of this one. I love the story telling. I love the emphasis on family and belonging. I love the celebration of life.
Alma And How She Got Her Name is a Caldecott Honor book for 2019.
Super cute story about how a little girl ends up with five middle names! It kind of reminded me of the 1974 Caldecott Honor Tikki Tikki Tembo which also featured a child with a many names.
This is a story about how all of us got our names. Connect this with a little family history research--get the posterity started young learning about and remembering their ancestors. Family stories! Nothing richer.
With a string of six names, Alma is unhappy with her very long name, until her father explains how her various names reflect her family history. Alma realizes that each of her family members, who are apparently all deceased now, are all a part of her, and her name fits her very well after all.
Illustrations are a soft gray-scale with touches of pink and muted blue. The homey art style reflects the themes of the story.
A sweet, short book that makes a child think about how she or he was named.
Juana Martinez-Neal is the recipient of the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for "La Princesa and the Pea" (written by Susan M. Elya, Putnam/Penguin).
"Alma and How She Got Her Name" is her first picture book as author-illustrator. It will be published by Candlewick Press in April 2018. Martinez-Neal says that the essence of ALMA, which has autobiographical elements, is “you are everyone tha Juana Martinez-Neal is the recipient of the 2018 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration for "La Princesa and the Pea" (written by Susan M. Elya, Putnam/Penguin).
"Alma and How She Got Her Name" is her first picture book as author-illustrator. It will be published by Candlewick Press in April 2018. Martinez-Neal says that the essence of ALMA, which has autobiographical elements, is “you are everyone that came before you, and you are uniquely yourself.” Candlewick Press acquired the book in a seven publisher auction and will publish in simultaneous English-and Spanish-language editions.