Ada, Alma Flor 1938–
Ada, Alma Flor 1938–
Personal
Born January 3, 1938, in Camagüey, Cuba; daughter of Modesto A. (a professor) and Alma (a teacher and certified public accountant) Ada; married Armando Zubizarreta, 1961 (divorced 1971); married Jörgen Voss, 1984 (divorced 1995); children: (first marriage) Rosalma, Alfonso, Miguel, Gabriel. Education: Universidad Complutense de Madrid, received diploma, 1959; Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, M.A., 1963, Ph.D., 1965; Harvard University, postdoctoral study, 1965-67.
Addresses
Home—1459 18th St., No. 138, San Francisco, CA 94107-2801. Office—School of Education, University of San Francisco, 2130 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94117-1071.
Career
Educator and author. Colegio A. von Humboldt, Lima, Perú, head of Spanish department, 1963-65, 1967-69; Emory University, Atlanta, GA, associate professor of Romance languages, 1970-72; Mercy College of Detroit, Detroit, MI, professor, 1973-75; University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, professor of education, 1976—, and director of Center for Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. University of Guam, Agaña, visiting professor, 1978; University of Texas, El Paso, visiting professor, 1979, 1991; Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain, visiting professor, 1989, 1990, 1991; St. Thomas University, Houston, TX, visiting professor, 1992, 1993; Fundación José Ortega y Gassett, Madrid, 1996, 1997, 1998. Member of selection committee, Fulbright Overseas Fellowship Program, 1968-69, 1977-78; chairperson, National Seminar on Bilingual Education, 1974, National Policy Conference on Bilingualism in Higher Education, 1978, and International Congress of Children's Literature in Spanish, 1978, 1979, 1981; publishing consultant, 1975-95; member of the board, Books for Youth and Children's Television Workshop's Sesame Street (Spanish edition), Loose Leaf, Between the Lions, and Journal of Latinos in Education. Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education, founder and first editor-in-chief, University of San Francisco Reading the World annual conference, faculty advisor.
Member
International Reading Association, International Board on Books for Young People, National Association for Bilingual Education (founding member of Michigan and Illinois branches), California Association for Bilingual Education.
Awards, Honors
Fulbright scholar, 1965-67; grants from Institute for International Education, 1965-67, Emory University, 1971, and Michigan Endowment for the Arts, 1974; University of San Francisco Distinguished Research Award from School of Education, 1984; Marta Salotti
gold medal (Argentina), 1989, for Encaje de piedra; University of San Francisco Outstanding Teacher Award, 1985; Christopher Award (ages eight-ten), 1992, and Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies/Children's Book Council, both for The Gold Coin; Parents' Choice Honor Book, 1995, for Dear Peter Rabbit; Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Association, and American Booksellers Pick-of-the-List designation, both 1995, both for Mediopollito/Half-Chicken; Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance Award, 1998, for Gathering the Sun; Gold Medal, Parenting magazine, 1998, for The Lizard and the Sun; California PTA Association Yearly Award; Latina Writers' Award, José Martí World Award (Costa Rica), and named San Francisco Public Library laureate, all 2000; Purá Belpré Award, American Library Association, 2000, for Under the Royal Palms.
Writings
FOR CHILDREN
(With Maria del Pilar de Olave) El enanito de la pared y otras historias (title means "The Wall's Dwarf and Other Tales"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
(With Maria del Pilar de Olave) Las pintas de la mariquitas (title means "The Ladybug's Dots"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
(With Maria del Pilar de Olave) Saltarín y sus dos amigas y otras historias (title means "Springy and His Two Friends, and Other Stories"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
(With Maria del Pilar de Olave) La gallinita costurera y otras historias (title means "The Little Hen Who Enjoyed Sewing, and Other Stories"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Amigos/Friends, illustrated by Barry Koch, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1989.
¿Quién nacera aquí/Who's Hatching Here?, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1989.
Me gustaría tener/How Happy I Would Be, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1989.
El canto del mosquito/The Song of the Teeny-Tiny Mosquito, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1989.
Una extraña visita/Strange Visitors, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1989.
The Gold Coin, translated from the Spanish by Bernice Randall, illustrated by Neil Waldman, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1991.
(With daughter, Rosalma Zubizarreta) Despues de la tormenta/After the Storm, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) La piñata vacia/The Empty Piñata, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) La jaula dorada/The Golden Cage, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Como nació el arco iris/How the Rainbow Came to Be, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) No quiero derretirme/I Don't Want to Melt, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) La hamaca de la vaca, o, Un amigo mas/In the Cow's Backyard, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) No fui yo … /It Wasn't Me, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Rosa alada/A Rose with Wings, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) La sorpresa de Mamá Coneja/A Surprise for Mother Rabbit, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) ¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias!/Turkey for Thanksgiving? No Thanks!, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) ¿El susto de los fantasmas?/What Are Ghosts Afraid Of?, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1991.
Los seis deseos de la jirafa, illustrated by Doug Roy, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992, translated by Shirleyann Costigan as Giraffe's Sad Tale (with a Happy Ending), 1992.
Una semilla nada más, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992, translated by Shirleyann Costigan as Just One Seed, 1992.
Serafina's Birthday, illustrated by Louise Bates Satterfield, translated from the Spanish by Ana M. Cerro, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1992.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) El papalote/The Kite, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1992.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Olmo y la mariposa azul, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Laredo Publishing (Torrance, CA), 1992, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta published as Olmo and the Blue Butterfly, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1995.
(With Janet Thorne and Philip Wingeier-Rayo) Choices, and Other Stories from the Caribbean, illustrated by Maria Antonia Ordonez, Friendship Press (New York, NY), 1993.
Barquitos de papel/Paper Boats, illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1993.
Barriletes/Kites, illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1993.
Canción de todos los niños del mundo (title means "Song of All Children of the World"), Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1993.
Días de circo, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1993, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta published as Circus Time, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1993.
La tataranieta de cucarachita Martina/The Great-great-granddaughter of La Cucarachita Martina, illustrated by Ana López Escrivá, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.
Me gusta … (title means, "I Like…"), illustrated by Denise y Fernando, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1993.
¡Me gusta jugar! (title means, "I Like to Play!"), illustrated by Jon Godell, McGraw Hill (New York, NY), 1993.
El pañuelo de seda, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Laredo Publishing (Torrance, CA), 1993, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta published as The Silk Scarf, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1995.
Pin, pin, sarabín, illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1993.
Pregones, illustrated by Pablo Torrecilla, Laredo Publishing (Torrance, CA), 1993, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta published as Vendor's Calls, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1995.
El reino de la geometría, illustrated by José Ramón Sánchez, Laredo Publishing (Torrance, CA), 1993, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta published as The Kingdom of Geometry, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1995.
(Reteller) The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding: A Latin-American Folktale, illustrated by Kathleen Kuchera, Putnam (New York, NY), 1993, published as El gallo que fue a la boda de su tio, PaperStar (New York, NY), 1998.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Dear Peter Rabbit, illustrated by Leslie Tryon, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994, reprinted, Aladdin (New York, NY), 2006.
En el barrio/In the Barrio, illustrated by Liliana Wilson Grez, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) El unicornio del oeste/The Unicorn of the West, illustrated by Abigail Pizer, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Me encantan los sabados … and Saturdays too, illustrated by Michael Bryant, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994, English translation published as I Love Saturdays y Domingos, illustrated by Elivia Savadier, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1998.
El ratón de la ciudad y el ratón del campo, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1994.
Los tres gatitos, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1994.
Y colorín colorado, Turtleback Books (Madison, WI), 1995.
(With Pam Schiller) A Chance for Esperanza/La oportunidad de Esperanza, McGraw Hill (New York, NY), 1995.
Bernice the Barnacle/Más poderoso que yo, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, McGraw Hill (New York, NY), 1995.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Mediopollito/Half-Chicken: A New Version of a Traditional Story (bilingual edition), illustrated by Kim Howard, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1995.
Mi mamá siembra fresas/My Mother Plants Strawberries, illustrated by Larry Ramond, McGraw Hill (New York, NY), 1995.
El vuelo de los colibríes (title means "The Hummingbirds' Flight"), illustrated by Judith Jacobson, Laredo Publishing (Beverly Hills, CA), 1995.
Jordi's Star, illustrated by Susan Gaber, Putnam (New York, NY), 1996.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el sol: A Folktale in English and Spanish, illustrated by Felipe Dávalos, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1997.
El árbol de Navidad/The Christmas Tree (bilingual edition), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1997, new edition, illustrated by Terry Ybanez, Hyperion (New York, NY), 1997.
The Malachite Palace, illustrated by Leonid Gore, translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1998.
Yours Truly, Goldilocks, illustrated by Leslie Tryon, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1998.
En la playa (title means "At the Beach"), illustrated by Roberta Ludlow, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 1999.
Three Golden Oranges, illustrated by Reg Cartwright, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1999.
Daniel's Mystery Egg, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000, bilingual edition, 2007.
Friend Frog, illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.
Daniel's Pet, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Harcourt, (San Diego, CA), 2001, bilingual edition, 2007.
En el mar (title means "In the Ocean"), illustrated by Richard Bernal, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2001.
With Love, Little Red Hen, illustrated by Leslie Tryon, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2001.
(With Douglas Hill) Brujas y magos, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2002.
One More Friend, illustrated by Sophie Fatus, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2007.
Extra! Extra! Fairy-Tale News from Hidden Forest, illustrated by Leslie Tryon, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2007.
Also author of Así pasaron muchos años; Canción y alegría; and (with F. Isabel Campoy) Cieto abierto, En un lugar muy lejano, Erase que se era, Letters, ¿Quieres que te cuente?, The New Hamster, Villacuentos, and Y fueron felices.
POETRY
Una vez en el madio del mar (title means "Once upon a Time in the Middle of the Sea"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Escuela Española (Madrid, Spain), 1987.
A la sombra de un ala (title means "Under the Shade of a Wing"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Escuela Española (Madrid, Spain), 1988.
Abecedario de los animales (title means "An Animal ABC"), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Espasa-Calpe (Madrid, Spain), 1990.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Gathering the Sun: An ABC in Spanish and English, illustrated by Simón Silva, English Lothrop (New York, NY), 1997.
Coral y espuma (title means "Coral and Foam"), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Espasa-Calpe (Madrid, Spain), 2003.
CHAPTER BOOKS
Encaje de piedra (title means "Stone Lace"), illustrated by Kitty Lorefice de Passalia, Editorial Guadalupe (Buenos Aires, Argentina), 1989.
El manto de pluma y otros cuentos (title means "The Feather Cloak and Other Stories"), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Alfaguara (Compton, CA), 1990.
My Name Is María Isabel, translated from the Spanish by Ana M. Cerro, illustrated by K. Dyble Thompson, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1993.
¿Quién cuida al cocodrilo? (title means "Who Will Keep the Crocodile?"), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Espasa-Calpe (Madrid, Spain), 1994.
(With F. Isabel Campoy) Ecos del pasado (title means "Echoes from the Past"), Harcourt Brace (Orlando, FL), 1996.
PLAYS; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Primer acto, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Risas y aplausos, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Escenas y alegrías, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Actores y flores, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Saludos al público, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Ensayo general, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Acto final, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Top Hat, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Curtains Up!, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Rat-a-Tat, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002, published as Rat-a-Tat Cat, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2002.
Roll 'n' Roll, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002, published as Roll 'n' Role, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2002.
FOR CHILDREN; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Sigue la palabra, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.
Imágenes del pasado, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1995.
Música amiga (anthology of Hispanic folklore; includes tapes and teacher's guide), ten volumes, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1996-98.
Una semilla de luz (title means "A Seed of Light"), illustrated by Felipe Dávalos, Alfaguara (Madrid, Spain), 2000.
Tablado de Doña Rosita/Curtain's Up, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
¡Feliz cumpleaños, Caperucita Roja!/Happy Birthday, Little Red Riding Hood!, illustrated by Ana López Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
El nuevo hogar de los siete cabritos/The New Home of the Seven Billy Goats, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
Ratoncito Perex, Mailman/Ratoncito Perez, cartero, illustrated by Sandra López Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
One, Two, Three, Who Can It Be?/Uno, dos, tres: ¿Dime quién es?, illustrated by Viví Escrivá, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
On the Wings of the Condor/En alas del condor, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
Eyes of the Jaguar/Ojos del jaguar, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2002.
The Quetzal's Journey/Vuelo del quetzal, illustrated by Felipe Davalos, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2002.
(With F. Isabel Campoy) Tales Our Abuelitas Told: An Hispanic Folktale Collection, illustrated by Felipe Dávalos, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2004.
Mama Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury/Un tesor de rimas infantiles, illustrated by Maribel Suárez, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2004.
Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelitas, Atheneum (New York, NY), 2006.
"MÚSICA AMIGA" SERIES; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Gorrión, Gorrión, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
El verde limón, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
La rama azul, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Nuevo día, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Huertos de coral, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Ríos de lava, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Dulce es la sal, Harcourt School Publishers (Orlando, FL), 1996.
Canta la letra, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
Caracolí, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
Con ton y son, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
Corre al coro, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
¡Do, re, mi, sí, sí!, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
El camino de tu risa, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
El son de sol, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
¡Qué rica la ronda!, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
Sigue la música, illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998, with music by Suni Paz, 2003.
"HAGAMOS CAMINOS" SERIES; WITH MARIA DEL PILAR DE OLAVE
Partimos (title means "We Start"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
Andamos (title means "We Walk"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
Corremos (title means "We Run"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
Volamos (title means "We Fly"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
Navegamos (title means "We Sail"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
Exploramos (title means "We Explore"), illustrated by Ulises Wensell, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1986.
"GATEWAYS TO THE SUN" SERIES; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Smiles/Sonrisas (biographies of Pablo Picasso, Gabriela Mistral, and Benito Juarez), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.
Steps/Pasos (biographies of Rita Moreno, Fernando Botero, and Evelyn Cisneros), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.
Voices/Voces (biographies of Luis Valdez, Judith F. Baca, and Carlos J. Finlay), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.
Paths/Caminos (biographies of José Marti, Frida Kahlo, and Cesar Chavez), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 1998.
Yo/I Am, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Rimas/Rhymes, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Poemas/Poems, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Palabras, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Mis relatos/My Stories, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Mis recuerdos, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Mambru, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Letras, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Lapices/Pencils, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Crayones/Crayons, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Colores/Colors, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Así soy/This Is Me, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Acuarela, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 1999.
Blue and Green/Azul y verde, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Brush and Paint/Brocha y pinchel, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Artist's Easel/Caballete, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Canvas and Paper/Lienzo y papel, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
(Selector) Dreaming Fish/Pimpón (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
(Selector) Laughing Crocodiles/Antón Pirulero (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
(Selector) Singing Horse/Mambrú (poetry), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
(Selector and contributor) Flying Dragon, Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2000.
Series published in Spanish translation as 'Colleccion Puertas al Sol."
"STORIES TO CELEBRATE" SERIES; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Celebrate Thanksgiving Day with Beto and Gaby, illustrated by Claudia Rueda, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Samantha and Lola, illustrated by Sandra Lavandeira, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with Mrs. Park's Class/Celebra ed día de Martin Luther King, Jr. con la clase de la Sra. Park, illustrated by Monica Weiss, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Joaquin, Harlequin/Celebra el Mardi Gras con Joaquìn, arlequìn, illustrated by Eugenia Nobati, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Hannukah with Bubbe's Tales/Celebra Hannukah con un cuento de Bubbe, illustrated by Mariano Epelbaum, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Fourth of July with Champ, the Scamp/Celebra el cuatro de julio con Campeón, el glotón, illustrated by Gustavo Mazali, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Christmas and Three Kings' Day with Pablo and Carlitos/Celebra la navidad y el día de los reyes magos con Pablo y Carlitos, illustrated by Walter Torres, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Kwanzaa with Boots and Her Kittens/Celebra Kwanzaa con Botitas y sus gatitos, illustrated by Valeria Docampo, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead with Cristina and Her Blue Bunny/Celebra el Halloween y el día de muertos con Cristina y su conejito azul, illustrated by Ivanova Martinez, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Mexican Hat Dance/Celebra el Cinco de Mayo con un jarabe tapatio, illustrated by Marcela Gomez and David Silva, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Fong Family/Celebra el año nuevo chino con la familia Fong, illustrated by Mima Castro, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
Celebrate a Powwow with Sandy Starbright/Celebra un powwow con Sandy Starbright, illustrated by Maria Jesus Alvarez, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2006.
TEXTBOOKS AND EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Sale el oso ("Big Book, Rimas y Risas Green" series), illustrated by Amy Myers, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1988.
¡Manzano, Manzano!, illustrated by Sandra C. Kalthoff, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1989.
El oso mas elegante, illustrated by Sandra C. Kalthoff, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1989.
Cassette Guide: Culture through Literature and Music (Spanish Elementary series), illustrated by Jan Mayer, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1989.
Sol Kit, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1989.
Whole Language and Literature: A Practical Guide, Addison-Wesley (Reading, MA), 1990.
Cinco pollitos y otras poesías favoritas: Tan Small Book Set ("Días y días de poesía" series), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1991.
Classroom Set: Tan Set ("Días y Días de Poesía" series), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1991.
El patio de mi casa ("Early Learning Packs" series), illustrated by Liz Callen, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1991.
Caballito blanco y otras poesías favoritas: Green Small Book Set ("Días y días de poesía" series), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992.
Chart Set: Green Set ("Días y Días de Poesía" series), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992.
Classroom Set: Green Set ("Días y días de poesía" series), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992.
Días y días de poesía: Complete Program (available with small books or tapes), Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992.
Bear's Walk ("ESL Theme Links" series), illustrated by Jan Myers, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1993.
(With Violet J. Harris and Lee Bennett Hopkins) A Chorus of Cultures: Developing Literacy through Multicultural Poetry (anthology), illustrated by Morissa Lipstein, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1993.
Hampton-Brown Pre-K Program, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1993.
(Editor, with Josefina Villamil Tinajero) The Power of Two Languages: Literacy and Biliteracy for Spanish-speaking Students, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 1993.
A Magical Encounter: Latino Children's Literature in the Classroom, Santillana USA (Compton, CA), 1994, 2nd edition, Allyn & Bacon (Boston, MA), 2003.
(With Pam Schiller) DLM Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Early Childhood Programs, McGraw-Hill (New York, NY), 1995.
Actividades para el hogar, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Teatro del gato garabato, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Teatrín de Don Crispin, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Stories the Year 'Round/Cuentos para todo el año, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Stories for the Telling/Libros para contar, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Guía del Maestro, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
Escenario de Polichinela, Santillana USA (Miami, FL), 2001.
(With Colin Baker) Guía para padres y maestros de niños bilingües, Multilingual Matters (Clevedon, England), 2002.
Also author of Transformative Family Literacy: Engaging in Meaningful Dialogue with Spanish-speaking Parents.
COMPILER
Poesía menuda (anthology; title means "Tiny Poetry"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1970.
Poesía pequeña (anthology; title means "Little Poetry"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1973.
Poesía nińa (anthology; title means "Child Poetry"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1973.
Poesía infantil (anthology; title means "Poetry for Children"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Fabulas de siempre (title means "Everlasting Fables"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Cuentos en verso (title means "Stories in Verse"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Vamos a leer (title means "Let's Read"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Adivina adivinador (title means "A Collection of Traditional Riddles"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
El nacimiento del imperio Incaico (history; title means "The Origins of the Inca Empire"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
El descubrimiento de America (history; title means "The Discovery of the New World"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
El sueño de San Martín (history; title means "San Martin's Dream"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
Las aceitunas y la cuchara (plays; title means "The Olives and the Wooden Spoon"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
La condesita peregrina y La desposada del rey (plays; title means "The Wandering Countess and The King's Bride"), Editorial Arica (Lima, Peru), 1974.
El cuento del gato y otras poesías favoritas, Hampton-Brown (Carmel, CA), 1992.
(With F. Isabel Campoy) ¡Pío peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes (bilingual edition), illustrated by Viví Escrivá, English adaptations by Alice Schertle, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.
(With F. Isabel Campoy) Merry Navidad!: Christmas Carols in Spanish and English, illustrated by Vivi Escrivá, Rayo (New York, NY), 2007.
TRANSLATOR
Lucille Clifton, El niño que no creía en la primavera (translation of The Boy Who Didn't Believe in Spring), illustrated by Brinton Turkle, Dutton (New York, NY), 1975.
Evaline Ness, ¿Tienes tiempo, Lidia?, (translation of Do You Have Time, Lydia?), Dutton (New York, NY), 1975.
Norma Simon, Cuando me enojo (translation of When I Get Mad), illustrated by Dora Leder, A. Whitman (Chicago, IL), 1976.
Judith Vigna, Gregorio y sus puntos (translation of Gregory's Stitches), A. Whitman (Chicago, IL), 1977.
Barbara Williams, El dolor de muelas de Alberto (translation of Albert's Toothache), illustrated by Kay Chorao, Dutton (New York, NY), 1977.
Barbara Brenner, Caras (translation of Faces), photographs by George Ancona, Dutton (New York, NY), 1977.
Mary Garcia, The Adventures of Connie and Diego/Las aventuras de Connie y Diego, illustrated by Malaquis Montoya, Children's Book Press (San Francisco, CA), 1978.
Lila Perl, Piñatas and Paper Flowers/Piñatas y flores de papel: Holidays of the Americas in English and Spanish, illustrated by Victori de Larrea, Clarion Books (New York, NY), 1982.
Harriet Rohmer, The Legend of Food Mountain/La leyenda de la montaña del alimento, illustrated by Graciella Carrillo, Children's Book Press (San Francisco, CA), 1982.
Judy Blume, ¿Estás ahí, Dios? Soy yo, Margaret (translation of Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret), Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1983.
Judy Blume, La ballena (translation of Blubber), Bradbury Press (Scarsdale, NY), 1983.
Donald Charles, El año de gato Galano (translation of Calico Cat's Year), Children's Book Press (San Francisco, CA), 1985.
Judith Viorst, Alexander y el día terrible, horrible, espantoso, horroso (translation of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day), illustrated by Ray Cruz, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1989.
Judith Viorst, Alexander, que era rico el domingo pasado (translation of Alexander, Who Was Rich Last Sunday), illustrated by Ray Cruz, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1989.
Robert Baden, Y domingo, siete, edited by Judith Mathews, illustrated by Michelle Edwards, Albert Whitman (Chicago, IL), 1990.
Watty Piper, La pequeña locomotora que si pudo (translation of The Little Engine That Could), illustrated by Doris Hauman, Putnam (New York, NY), 1992.
Ruth Heller, Las gallinas no son las unicas (translation of Chickens Aren't the Only Ones), Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1992.
Val Willis, El secreto en la caja de fosforos (translation of The Secret in the Matchbox), illustrated by John Shelley, Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 1993.
(With Rosalma Zubizarreta) Harriet Rohmer, Uncle Nacho's Hat/El sombrero del tío Nacho, illustrated by Mira Reisberg, Children's Book Press (San Francisco, CA), 1993.
Karen Ackerman, Al amanecer (translation of By the Dawn's Early Light), illustrated by Catherine Stock, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Keith Baker, ¿Quíen es la bestia? (translation of Who Is the Beast?), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1994.
Kristine L. Franklin, El niño pastor (translation of The Shepherd Boy), illustrated by Jill Kastner, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1994.
James Howe, Hay un dragón en mi bolsa de dormir (translation of There's a Dragon in My Sleeping Bag), illustrated by David S. Rose, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Lynne Cherry, El gran capoquero (translation of The Great Kapok Tree), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1994.
Nancy Luenn, El cuento de Nessa (translation of Nessa's Story), illustrated by Neil Waldman, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Barbara Shook Hazen, Fue el gorila (translation of The Gorilla Did It), illustrated by Ray Cruz, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Barbara Shook Hazen, ¡Adiós! Hola! (translation of Goodbye! Hello!), illustrated by Michael Bryant, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1995.
Nancy Luenn, La pesca de Nessa (translation of Nessa's Fish), illustrated by Neil Waldman, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1995.
Carolyn S. Bailey, El conejito que queria tener alas rojas (translation of The Little Rabbit That Wanted to Have Red Wings), illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers, Putnam (New York, NY), 1995.
Margery Williams, El conejito de pana (translation of The Velveteen Rabbit), illustrated by Florence Graham, Putnam (New York, NY), 1995.
Ann Hayes, Te presento a la orquesta (translation of Meet the Orchestra), illustrated by Karmen Thompson, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.
Carol Snyder, Uno arriba, uno abajo (translation of One Up, One Down), illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1995.
Judith Viorst, Alexander que de ninguna manera—¿le oyen?—¡lo dice en serio!—se va a mudar (translation of Alexander Who Is Not—Do You Hear Me?—Going—I Mean It!—to Move), illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, Libros Colibri (New York, NY), 1995.
Judith Viorst, Alexander se muda (translation of Alexander Moves), Atheneum (New York, NY), 1995.
Audrey Wood, La casa adormecida (translation of The Napping House), illustrated by Don Wood, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.
Julie Vivas, La Natividad (translation of The Nativity), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.
Sue Williams, Sali de paseo (translation of I Went Walking), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1995.
Jane Yolen, Encuentro (translation of Encounter), illustrated by David Shannon, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.
Cynthia Rylant, Henry y Mudge: el primer libro de sus aventuras (translation of Henry and Mudge), illustrated by Suçie Stevenson, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1996.
Cynthia Rylant, Henry y Mudge con barro hasta el rabo: segundo libro de sus aventuras (translation of Henryand Mudge in Puddle Trouble), illustrated by Suçie Stevenson, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1996.
Cynthia Rylant, Henry y Mudge y el mejor día del año (translation of Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All), illustrated by Suçie Stevenson, Aladdin (New York, NY), 1997.
Pat Hutchins, El paseo de Rosie (translation of Rosie's Walk), Aladdin (New York, NY), 1997.
TRANSLATOR; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Lois Ehlert, Plumas para almorzar (translation of Feathers for Lunch), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.
Lois Ehlert, A sembrar sopa de verduras (translation of Growing Vegetable Soup), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.
Gary Soto, ¡Que montón de tamales!, (translation of Too Many Tamales), illustrated by Ed Martinez, PaperStar (New York, NY), 1996.
Ellen Stoll Walsh, Salta y brinca (translation of Hop Jump), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1996.
Henry Horenstein, Béisobol en los barrios, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1997.
Mem Fox, Quienquiera que seas (translation of Whoever You Are), illustrated by Leslie Staub, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Gerald McDermott, Zomo el conejo: un cuento de Africa occidental (translation of Zomo the Rabbit), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Peter Golenbock, Compañeros de equipo (translation of Teammates), illustrated by Paul Bacon, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2002.
Lois Ehlert, Día de mercado (translation of Market Day), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2003.
George Ancona, Mis bailes/My Dances, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mis amigos/My Friends, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mi familia/My Family, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mi escuela/My School, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mi casa/My House, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mi barrio/My Neighborhood, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2004.
George Ancona, Mis quehaceres/My Chores, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.
George Ancona, Mis juegos/My Games, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.
George Ancona, Mis fiestas/My Celebrations, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.
George Ancona, Mis comidas/My Foods, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.
George Ancona, Mi musica/My Music, photographs by Ancona, Children's Press (New York, NY), 2005.
FOR ADULTS; WITH F. ISABEL CAMPOY
Home School Interaction with Culturally or Language-diverse Families, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
Ayudando a nuestros hijos (title means "Helping Our Children"), Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
Comprehensive Language Arts, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
Effective English Acquisition for Academic Success, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
(With F. Isabel Campoy and Rosalma Zubizarreta) Authors in the Classroom: A Transformative Education Process, Allyn & Bacon (Boston, MA), 2004.
OTHER
(Author of introduction) Mayra Fernandez, Barrio Teacher, Sandcastle Publishing, 1992.
Where the Flame Trees Bloom (memoir), illustrated by Antonio Martorell, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.
Escribiendo desde el corazón/Writing from the Heart (video), Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1996.
Meeting an Author (video), Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1996.
Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba (autobiography), Atheneum (New York, NY), 1998.
Aprender cantando I y II (sound recording; title means "Learning through Songs"), voice and music by Suni Paz, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
Como una flor (sound recording; title means "Like a Flower"), voice and music by Suni Paz, Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998.
A pesar del amor (novel for adults; title means "Love Notwithstanding"), Alfaguara (Miami, FL), 2003.
Alma Flor Ada and You, foreword by Janet Hill and Anthony L. Manna, Libraries Unlimited (Westport, CT), 2006.
Also author of Pedro Salinal: el diálogo creador, and Aserrin Aserran. Coauthor of "Cuentamundos" literature-based reading series, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 1993. Contributor to In Grandmothers' House: Award-winning Authors Tell Stories about Their Grandmothers, edited by Bonnie Christiensen, HarperCollins, 2003.
Adaptations
Andamos, Corremos, Exploramos, Navegamos, Partimos, and Volamos were adapted for audiocassette by Addison-Wesley, 1987; Gathering the Sun, Coral y espuma, and Abecedario de los animales/An Animal ABC were voiced by Suni Paz for audio recording and produced by Del Sol (Westlake, OH), 1998; many of the author's books were adapted for audiocassette by Santillana USA, 1999-2000.
Sidelights
Alma Flor Ada is a prolific storyteller as well as a prime mover in the bilingual education movement. As an educator, she promotes the use of literature as an integral part of the curriculum and emphasizes that everyone—teachers, students, and students' families—has important stories, life experiences, and thoughts that deserve to be written and shared. Through her many books, Ada also serves as a cultural liaison by retelling traditional Latin-American tales, presenting stories set in Latin America, and giving voice to children confronting new cultures and learning to take pride in their Hispanic heritage. Her materials are often used in classrooms where both English and Spanish are taught, and she has done much to give Hispanic culture a wider representation through her nonfiction children's books. At the same time, her children's books, which are available in both English and bilingual versions, have garnered a devoted following among English-speaking children, and Ada expanded into adult fiction in 2003 with the novel A pesar del amor.
Ada was born in Camagüey, Cuba, in 1938, and spent her childhood in a region rich with stories. The eleven vignettes in her book Where the Flame Trees Bloom contain Ada's memories of growing up in Cuba. In the evenings, family members would reminisce, telling the stories on which Ada has based many of her bilingual tales for children. One of the short stories in Where the Flame Trees Bloom offers a portrait of Ada's grandfather, who was confronted at the same time with his wife's imminent death and the collapse of the Cuban economy. Another story recounts how Ada's blind great-grandmother crafted dolls for poor children. Ada also recalls the time when her uncle, a schoolteacher, feared for his students' lives when the school was struck by lightning, an experience that helped him realize the significance of his job as a teacher. According to a critic in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Ada's writing "evokes the warmth and character of her family," and School Library Journal contributor Marilyn Long Graham described Ada's writing as "elegant."
More memories of growing up in Cuba during the 1940s fill the pages of Ada's Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba and Tales Our Abuelitas Told: An Hispanic Folktale Collection contains remembered tales as well as an introduction in which Ada and collaborator Campoy "explain … how stories develop and change over time," according to School Library Journal critic Kirsten Cutler. While in Where the Flame Trees Bloom Ada recounts stories she was told as a young girl, the narrative of Under the Royal Palms presents her own childhood experiences. "At the core of the collection, there is a heartfelt portrayal of a quickly disappearing culture and a vastly beautiful land," observed a contributor to Publishers Weekly. Under the Royal Palms received the Purá Belpré Award of the American Library Association in 2000.
Leaving Cuba as a young woman, Ada enrolled at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain, and then earned her doctorate in Peru. Postdoctoral studies at Harvard University and at the Radcliffe Institute led Ada to a teaching position at Emory University. She has spent the major part of her career at the University of San Francisco, as both a professor of education and the director for the Center for Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. Her work as a scholar of Romance languages—she is the author of a major study on Spanish poet Pedro Salinas—has been a strong influence on her writing. Another major influence has been her active promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism. The author also credits her children as a "constant source of inspiration." She once told SATA, "I was brought back to my childhood calling, when, in the midst of writing a very scholarly work, my daughter, who was three years old at the time, complained that I was writing very ugly books." Ada's daughter, Rosalma Zubizarreta, has become an author in her own right and has translated many of her mother's books, her role as inspiration taken over by Ada's grandchildren.
In The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding, a retelling of a traditional Latin-American folktale, Ada creates an "unusually appealing readaloud," according to a Kirkus Reviews writer. In this humorous cumulative tale, a rooster spends so much time grooming himself in preparation for his uncle's wedding that he forgets to eat breakfast. On the way to the wedding, he cannot resist pecking at a kernel of corn he finds in a mud puddle. The rooster asks the grass to clean his muddy beak, but the grass will not help. A lamb refuses to eat the grass, and a dog refuses to bite the lamb … but at last the sun, who has always enjoyed the rooster's sunrise song, agrees to help the rooster. School Library Journal critic Lauralyn Persson recommended The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding as a "solid addition to folklore collections."
Ada retells a Spanish folktale in The Three Golden Oranges, as three brothers who wish to marry are instructed by a wise old woman to travel to a distant castle and return with three golden oranges. The two foolish older brothers refuse to follow instructions, but the faithfulness of the kind younger son is ultimately rewarded by marriage to the beautiful princess Blancaflor, who helps the young man rescue his brothers. In addition to detecting a feminist twist in the story's ending, in which Blancaflor's sisters refuse to marry the foolish brothers, reviewers praised Ada's simplified rendition of a fairly complex traditional tale. Moving her focus to Mexico, Ada's bilingual picture book The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el sol includes an English translation by Zubizarreta. In the story, the Sun has disappeared, and everyone has gone out to search for him. Long after others have given up, Lizard continues to search, eventually finding the Sun curled up inside a rock. "Readers will cheer Lizard as she find the Earth's source of light and warmth," observed Vianela Rivas in School Library Journal.
Set in colonial Mexico, Mediopollito/Half-Chicken: A New Version of a Traditional Story tells the story of how the weathervane came to be. The story begins with the birth of Half-Chicken, whose unusual appearance—he was born with only one wing and one leg—makes him something of a celebrity in his small village. Desiring more fame, Half-Chicken travels to Mexico City to meet the Spanish viceroy. Along his journey, he befriends a stream, fire, and wind, all of whom end up coming to his aid when the viceroy's cook decides that Half-Chicken would make a tasty soup. Mediopollito is "brimming with silliness and the simple repetition that children savor," remarked Annie Ayres in Booklist.
In addition to folk-tale adaptations, Ada has created numerous original picture-book stories. Featuring a fairy-tale theme, The Malachite Palace features a lonely young princess who captures a songbird to be her friend. When the songbird ceases to sing, the princess realizes she needs to release him. Once free, the bird helps the girl learn to venture out of her own cage and make friends with children her own age, regardless of their social differences. "Although the story is not highly original, youngsters will enjoy its gentle familiarity," remarked Denise E. Agosto in School Library Journal. Another lonely character is at the center of Jordi's Star, another original picture book by Ada. Here Jordi tends a herd of goats on a barren hillside. In his loneliness, he comes to believe that a star's reflection in a pool of water is a fallen star which has come to befriend him. Jordi tends the star with care, decorating the place where it dwells until the barren landscape is transformed by his love. "Written with strong emotion and a sense of wonder, this story has the tone and resonance of a folktale," noted Joy Fleishhacker in School Library Journal, while Booklist critic Susan Dove Lempke called the book a "touching, lyrically told story."
Ada received a Parents' Choice Honor Award for Dear Peter Rabbit, a fantasy illustrated by Leslie Tryon that weaves together the tales of storybook characters such as the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter Rabbit, Goldilocks, and Baby Bear. Goldilocks is recast as the daughter of Mr. McGregor, the farmer who almost catches Peter Rabbit in the beloved stories by Beatrix Potter. Through the letters the two send to one another, readers learn about the pair's various adventures and misadventures. "Children will be enchanted by this opportunity to meet familiar faces in new settings," commented School Library Journal reviewer Joy Fleishhacker. Pointing out that Ada's book belongs to the genre of fairy-tale parodies, Roger Sutton asserted in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books that Dear Peter Rabbit "is as clever as most in the genre."
Ada and Tryon present a sequel to Dear Peter Rabbit in Yours Truly, Goldilocks, which finds the fairy-tale characters continuing to corresponding in preparation for a housewarming party at the Three Little Pigs' new, wolf-proof home. "This is fairy-tale fun at its best," wrote Beth Tegart in School Library Journal. Another sequel, With Love, Little Red Hen, covers the arrival of Little Red Hen in the Hidden Forest, the enchanted wood that provided the setting for the first two books. "Lovers of fractured fairy tales will be amused by this further peek into the personal letters of familiar characters," predicted a contributor to Kirkus Reviews, while Bina Williams wrote in School Library Journal that With Love, Little Red Hen and its prequels combine to present readers with a "fun look at nursery rhymes and at letter writing."
In Ada's award-winning picture book The Gold Coin a greedy thief named Juan watches through the window, Doña Josefa admires a gold coin and tells herself aloud that she must be the richest woman in the world. Hoping to steal the elderly woman's wealth, Joan lies in wait until she departs. He finds no treasure when he ransacks the home, so Joan begins to pursue the elderly Doña Josefa, intending to force her to give him her gold. When he asks around for her, everyone assumes he must be her friend, and Juan is gradually transformed as he encounters the friendship and goodwill of all the people Doña Josefa has helped. As Ann Welton remarked in School Library Journal, The Gold Coin "makes an important point" about the nature of true wealth and the consequences of greed. A critic for Publishers Weekly described Ada's story as "unusual" and "rewarding," concluding that it is "worthy of repeated readings."
Raising the self-esteem of Spanish-speaking children and children of Hispanic origin living in a society where Anglo culture dominates is the unstated goal of most of Ada's work. In My Name Is María Isabel, María Isabel's family has moved, and she must attend a new school. There are already two Marías in her class, so the teacher decides to give the new girl the name "Mary Lopez" instead of María Isabel Salazar López. María Isabel has difficulty identifying herself as "Mary," which leads to some unhappy situations. Yet when María Isabel describes her difficulties in an essay she has been assigned, the teacher realizes her mistake and finds a way to remedy the situation. As Irvy Gilbertson wrote in Five Owls, the "link of María Isabel's name with her heritage is an important theme in this story," and various Spanish words are used to "expose the reader to a different culture."
I Love Saturdays y Domingos makes "a strong statement about cultural diversity and the universality of love," remarked Ann Welton in School Library Journal. In this book, a little girl recounts with joy the pleasures she experiences on the Saturdays she spends with her grandma and grandpa, as well as the Sundays (domingos) she spends with her abuelito and abuelita. Both sets of grandparents join together in a celebration of the girl's birthday, illustrating the blessing of belonging to two worlds. Reviewers noted that Ada's bilingual format encourages young readers to understand Spanish-language terms, and a contributor to Kirkus Reviews remarked of I Love Saturdays y Domingos that "children eager to explore their own heritage will enjoy watching as the heroine embraces all the diversity in her life."
Ada's bilingual picture books, such as Gathering the Sun: An ABC in Spanish and English and ¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes, are often credited as proof that bilingual education can be attractive and motivating for children while offering high aesthetic, literary, and human values. The books in her "Gateways to the Sun" series, coauthored with Campoy, incorporate poetry, theater, art, and biographies of cultural leaders. This collection offers children the opportunity to enjoy the various contributions that have shaped Hispanic culture. "Nothing can surpass the inherent musicality of the [Spanish] language, the deep cultural values incorporated in it," she noted in her publicity release. "Yet [Spanish-speaking] children also need to read the literature that their peers are reading in English, so that their introduction to American culture occurs through the best medium the culture has to offer."
Biographical and Critical Sources
BOOKS
Children's Literature Review, Volume 62, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 2000.
Notable Hispanic American Women, Book II, Thomson Gale (Detroit, MI), 1998.
Zipes, Jack, editor, The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 2000.
PERIODICALS
American Book Review, November-December, 1997, George R. Bodmer, review of Gathering the Sun: An ABC in Spanish and English, pp. 12-13.
Booklist, March 1, 1991, review of The Gold Coin, pp. 1395-1396; March 1, 1993, Graciela Italiano, review of The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding, p. 1231; June 1, 1993, Ilene Cooper, review of My Name Is María Isabel, p. 1828; May 1, 1994, Ilene Cooper, review of Dear Peter Rabbit, p. 1606; February 1, 1995, Isabel Schon, review of La pesca de Nessa, p. 1012; September 15, 1995, Annie Ayres, review of Mediopollito/Half-Chicken: A New Version of a Traditional Story, p. 165; December 1, 1996, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Jordi's Star, p. 652; April 15, 1997, Annie Ayers, review of Gathering the Sun, p. 1431; December 15, 1997, Julie Corsaro, review of The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija el sol: A Folktale in English and Spanish, p. 698; May 1, 1998, Ilene Cooper, review of Yours Truly, Goldilocks, p. 1520; May 15, 1998, Hazel Rochman, review of The Malachite Palace, p. 1629; November 15, 1998, Hazel Rochman, review of Under the Royal Palms, p. 582; May 15, 1999, Hazel Rochman, review of The Three Golden Oranges, p. 1698; September 15, 1999, review of Under the Royal Palms, p. 254; August, 2000, Isabel Schon, review of Antón Pirulero, p. 2154; July, 2001, Carolyn Phelan, review of Daniel's Mystery Egg, p. 2022; September 15, 2001, Lauren Peterson, review of With Love, Little Red Hen, p. 229; February 1, 2002, Annie Ayres, review of I Love Saturdays y Domingos, p. 944; February 15, 2002, Isabel Schon, reviews of Ratoncito Perez, Mailman, The New Home of the Seven Billy Goats, and Happy Birthday, Little Red Riding Hood!, p. 1022; March 15, 2005, Jennifer Mattson, review of Mama Goose: A Latino Nursery Treasury/Un tesoro de rimas infantiles, p. 1296; September 1, 2006, Hazel Rochman, review of Tales Our Abuelitas Told: An Hispanic Folktale Collection, p. 124.
Book Report, May-June, 1995, Sherry York, review of Where the Flame Trees Bloom, p. 45.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April, 1994, Roger Sutton, review of Dear Peter Rabbit, p. 249; February, 1995, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Where the Flame Trees Bloom, p. 190; December, 1996, Amy E. Brandt, review of Jordi's Star, p. 126; June, 1997, Janice M. Del Negro, review of Gathering the Sun, pp. 348-349; October, 1997, Janice M. Del Negro, review of The Lizard and the Sun, p. 40; March, 1998, Pat Matthews, review of The Malachite Palace, pp. 234-235; May, 2005, review of Mama Goose, p. 370; March, 2007, Hope Morrison, review of Tales Our Abuelitas Told, p. 282.
Five Owls, September-October, 1993, Irvy Gilbertson, review of My Name Is María Isabel, p. 14.
Horn Book, January-February, 1988, Laurie Sale, review of The Adventures of Connie and Diego/Las aventuras de Connie y Diego, p. 89; March-April, 1995, Martha V. Parravano, review of Where the Flame Trees Bloom, p. 218; November-December, 1995, Martha V. Parravano, review of Mediopollito, p. 749; January-February, 2002, Kitty Flynn, review of I Love Saturdays y Domingos, p. 65.
Kirkus Reviews, January 1, 1991, review of The Gold Coin, p. 42; May 1, 1993, review of The Rooster Who Wentto His Uncle's Wedding, p. 591; March 1, 1994, review of Dear Peter Rabbit, p. 297; July 15, 1995, review of Mediopollito, p. 1020; July 1, 1997, review of The Lizard and the Sun, p. 1026; December 15, 1997, review of El arbol de Navidad/The Christmas Tree, p. 1832; May 1, 1998, review of The Malachite Palace, p. 654; May 1, 1999, review of The Three Golden Oranges, p. 718; September 1, 2001, review of Daniel's Mystery Egg, p. 1284; October 1, 2001, review of With Love, Little Red Hen, p. 1418; December 1, 2001, review of I Love Saturdays y Domingos, p. 1680; March 1, 2003, review of In My Grandmother's House: Award-winning Authors Tell Stories about Their Grandmothers, p. 380; April 15, 2003, review of ¡Pío Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes, p. 603; March 1, 2005, review of Mama Goose, p. 283; August 15, 2006, review of Tales Our Abuelitas Told, p. 837.
Language Arts, November, 1995, Miriam Martinez and Marcia F. Nash, review of Where the Flame Trees Bloom, pp. 542-543; March, 1996, review of Me llamo María Isabel, p. 207.
Library Journal, August, 2001, Lucia M. Gonzalez, review of Abecedario de los animales-Animal ABC, p. S26.
Publishers Weekly, April 22, 1983, review of Piñatas and Paper Flowers, p. 126; June-July, 1987, review of The Adventures of Connie and Diego, p. 82; January 11, 1991, review of The Gold Coin, p. 103; February, 1991, review of Y domingo, siete and Amigos, p. 102; April 19, 1993, review of My Name Is María Isabel, p. 62; April 26, 1993, review of The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding, p. 76; February 21, 1994, review of Dear Peter Rabbit, p. 253; November 4, 1996, review of Jordi's Star, p. 75; March 31, 1997, review of Gathering the Sun, p. 76; October 6, 1997, review of The Christmas Tree, p. 54; May 4, 1998, Jennifer M. Brown, review of The Malachite Palace, p. 212; May 25, 1998, review of Yours Truly, Goldilocks, p. 89; December 7, 1998, review of Under the Royal Palms, p. 61; May 31, 1999, review of Three Golden Oranges, p. 93; December 10, 2001, review of I Love Saturdays y Domingos, p. 69.
Reading Teacher, September, 1993, Kathy G. Short and Kathryn Mitchell Pierce, review of The Gold Coin, p. 46; September, 1998, review of The Lizard and the Sun, p. 58.
School Library Journal, January, 1981, L. Michael Espinosa, review of El niño que no creía en la primavera, Caras, and El dolor de muelas de Alberto, p. 33; February, 1988, Louise Yarian Zwick, review of Volamos, Partimos, Exploramos, Corremos, Andamos, and ¡Manzano, Manzano!, p. 92; February, 1990, review of Alexander y el día terrible, horrible, espantoso, horroso and Alexander, que era rico el domingo pasado, p. 120; August, 1990, Louise Yarian Zwick and Mark Zwick, review of ¿Quién nacera aquí?, Me gustaría tener …, Una extraña visita, El canto del mosquito, and Abecedario de los animales-Animal ABC, p. 172; April, 1991, Ann Welton, review of The Gold Coin, p. 88; September, 1992, Alexandra Marris, review of Serafina's Birthday, p. 196; November, 1992, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of Olmo y la mariposa azul, p. 133; April, 1993, Ann Welton, review of My Name Is María Isabel, p. 117; May, 1993, Lauralyn Persson, review of The Rooster Who Went to His Uncle's Wedding, p. 92; August, 1993, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of El secreto en la caja de fosforos, p. 204; June, 1994, Jane Marino, review of The Unicorn of the West, p. 94; July, 1994, Joy Fleishhacker, review of Dear Peter Rabbit, p. 73; August, 1994, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of El unicornio del oeste, p. 181; November, 1994, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of ¿Quién es la bestia? and Querido Pedrin, p. 130, and review of La Natividad, p. 131; February, 1995, Marilyn Long Graham, review of Where the Flame Trees Bloom, p. 96, and Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of Hay un dragón en mi bolsa de dormir, Fue el gorila, Me llamo María Isabel, and Al amanecer, p. 126; August, 1995, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of One Up, One Down and Good-Bye! Hello!, p. 167; November, 1995, Graciela Italiano, review of Mediopollito, p. 87; February, 1996, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of Sali de paseo and Te presento a la orquesta, pp. 128, 130; June, 1996, Cynthia R. Richey and Doreen S. Hurley, review of The Gold Coin, p. 54; August, 1996, Rose Zertuche Trevino, review of Alexander que de ninguna manera—¿le oyen?—¡lo dice en serio!—se va a mudar, p. 179; December, 1996, Joy Fleishhacker, review of Jordi's Star, p. 84; March, 1997, Ann Welton, review of Gathering the Sun, pp. 169-170; August, 1997, Vianela Rivas, review of The Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el sol, p. 180; October, 1997, Jane Marino, review of The Christmas Tree, p. 40; May, 1998, Denise E. Agosto, review of The Malachite Palace, p. 106; July, 1998, Beth Tegart, review of Yours Truly, Goldilocks, p. 64; December, 1998, Sylvia V. Meisner, review of Under the Royal Palms, p. 132; July, 1999, Sally Bates Goodroe, review of Three Golden Oranges, p. 83; October, 2001, Bina Williams, review of With Love, Little Red Hen, p. 104; January, 2002, Ann Welton, review of I Love Saturdays y Domingos, p. 89; February, 2002, Kathleen Simonetta, review of Daniel's Mystery Egg, p. 96; June, 2003, "The Dynamic Duo of Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy," p. 60; July, 2003, Ann Welton, review of ¡Pio Peep!, p. 121; May, 2005, Ann Welton, review of Mama Goose, p. 118.
ONLINE
Alma Flor Ada Home Page,http://www.almaada.com/ (July 18, 2007).
Houghton Mifflin Reading Web site,http://www.eduplace.com/kids/ (July 18, 2007).
University of San Francisco Web site, http://www.soe.usfca.edu/childlit/ (April 8, 2002), "Alma Flor Ada."
OTHER
Ada, Alma Flor, "Alma Flor Ada" (publicity release), Atheneum (New York, NY), 1994.