Rene Has Two Last Names / Rene tiene dos apellidos (English and Spanish Edition) - Hardcover

Lainez, Rene Colato

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1558855300 ISBN 13: 9781558855304

Publisher: Arte Publico Press, 2009

Synopsis

In this story based on the author's childhood, a young Salvadoran immigrant is teased for having two last names until he presents his family tree project celebrating his heritage.

About this title

About the Author

RENE COLATO LAINEZ came to the United States from El Salvador as a teen, and he writes about his experiences in children's books such as Waiting for Papa / Esperando a Papa (Pinata Books, 2004) and I Am Rene, the Boy / Soy Rene, el nino (Pinata Books, 2005), which received Special Recognition in the 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. His book, Playing Loteri­a / El juego de la loteria (Luna Rising, 2005), was a finalist in the 2007-2008 Tejas Star Book Award, was named to Criticas magazine's ''Best Children s Books'' of 2005 and received the 2008 New Mexico Book Award for Best Children's Book. Rene is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults and a bilingual elementary teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

FABIOLA GRAULLERA RAMIREZ, a native of Mexico City, graduated from UNAM's National School of Fine Arts with a degree in Graphic Communication. Her work has been part of collective exhibits in Mexico and Spain. She has illustrated many picture books, including I Am Rene, the Boy / Soy Rene, el nino (Pinata Books, 2005).

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 3–René, a new student from El Salvador, doesn't understand why his second last name is missing from his desk's name label. Adding it results in a name so long that his classmates make fun of it by comparing it to that of a dinosaur. He discusses the problem with his parents, but they don't have an answer. That night he dreams of a world without a mother and maternal grandparents who dance, make chocolate, and fix his bike. Half of his world is missing and he is not about to let that happen. When his teacher assigns the students the project of creating a family tree, René is determined to show his classmates and teacher why he has two last names and the importance of his dos apellidos. Colato Laínez introduces readers to a significant Hispanic cultural tradition and the sentiments of many immigrants. The illustrations are simple but beautifully embellish the text. A wonderful bilingual selection for storytime and for units on families.–Diana Borrego Martínez, Salinas, CA END

Edition details

• Publisher: Arte Publico Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1558855300
• ISBN 13: 9781558855304
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Ramirez Fabiola Graullera
• Number of pages: 32