Tia Lola Stories

Gr 3—6—Miguel and Juanita have trouble adjusting to life in a small Vermont town after their parents separate and they leave New York City with their mother in How Tia Lola Came to Stay (Knopf, 2001) by Julia Alvarez. When their mother's aunt, Tia Lola, arrives from the Dominican Republic to help take care of them, their lives are changed forever. At first Miguel is worried that Tia Lola will scare away potential new friends because she doesn't speak English. But her outgoing personality and positive outlook win over everyone around her. The story ends with a family trip to the Dominican Republic where Miguel and Juanita learn more about their heritage. In How Tia Lola Learned to Teach (2010, both Knopf), Tia Lola is reluctant to volunteer to teach Spanish at the children's school, but soon she is teaching and planning a school-wide carnival celebration. She also helps host Wednesday dinners at the local restaurant complete with dishes from the Dominican Republic, dance lessons, and a menu in Spanish. When Tia Lola's visa expires, the family and the community work together to find a way to help her stay in America. Michelle Gonzalez narrates different voices for each character, with appropriate accents. The Spanish vocabulary in the story is understood within its context or translated by one of the characters. These warm and sometimes humorous tales will especially appeal to students who have newly immigrated to the United States and are learning English.—Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA