Reviewed by Donna M. McDine
Title: Joey Gonzalez, Great American
Written by: Tony Robles
Illustrated by: Jim Pryor
Hardcover: 42 pages
Ages: 8-12
Publisher: Kids Ahead
ISBN-13: 978-0-976726-93-7
Publication: March 2008
Tony Robles approaches the subject of affirmative action in a thought provoking way for children in this insightful new picture book.
Third grader, Joey Gonzalez is excited to start the new school year until his teacher points out to him in her narrow-mindlessness that he is a minority and “a little bit different.”
“How can it be that I’m not American?” Joey asks.
“Don’t worry, Joey,” said Mrs. Glass. “There’s a special way to help minorities get ahead. It’s affirmative action. Soon we’ll learn all about it right here in the classroom.”
Joey is confused by the revelations of his teacher and arrives home at the end of the school day visibly upset. He discusses what occurred in school with his mother. The next day, armed with confidence, Joey explains his family heritage to his teacher and classmates. Suddenly feeling good about themselves, Joey’s friends also take a stand with Mrs. Glass and they proudly tell about their own heritages.
Colorful illustrations by Jim Pryor help bring the text alive, which is provided in both English and Spanish on every page. Joey Gonzalez, Great American is a wonderful story of determination and pride that will surely hold a place in many families’ bookshelves.
NOTE: Listen to this interview with author Tony Robles on Book Bites for Kids.
_____________________
Donna McDine’s publishing credits include Stories for Children Magazine, Stories for Children Newsletter, Kid Magazine Writers, Long Story Short, Institute of Children’s Literature Rx for Writers, SCBWI Metro NY Newsletter, and Once Upon A Time. Her non-fiction children’s article, “Fishing Through a Frozen Lake,” is to be published in Boys’ Quest in December 2012. Learn more about McDine and her writing at: http://www.donnamcdine.com
Book Bites for Kids,
Donna McDine,
Joey Gonzalez,
picture book review,
Tony Robles
Good Morning:
As the long and parched days of summer march on, I find myself wishing that I lived in a cooler region. Somewhere green and lush with the constant buzz of Cicadas.
We lived in Northwest Arkansas from 1992 through most of 1997 and I must admit, I didn't know how fortunate I was to live there. I thought I hated it. I wanted to move back home to California. I didn't have any friends in Arkansas. When it comes down to it, I was a young and immature mother and wife that was looking for something, but I didn't know what I was looking for. Most of my family lives in Arkansas and, I've discovered through the years, my heart lives there also.
We bought a little historical stone home on a hill in the middle of a university town.
The stones on the outside of the house had fossils of snail shells and sticks and other various intriguing shapes.
It had beautiful wood floors and white shutters. When I close my eyes, I can still smell the woodiness of the floors on a hot, humid day. We had one and a third acre of lush green trees. Wild honeysuckle popped up here and there and the old stone paths were out-lined with grape hyacinth. A pleasant hint that at one time, a gardener other than myself, lived there. This is the house that my daughter was brought home to after her birth. My boys were toddlers then, and they played with their Batman figures throughout that little stone house.
For many reasons, mostly petty and selfish, we ended up back in California.
Wiser and stronger, but ultimately regretful of our decision.
So, here we are, in the parched and arid California desert. Living our lives and enjoying it for the most part. I count my blessings each and every day, and I am thankful and truly appreciative of our current home. It is beautiful and, with lots of hard work and water, it is green.... But...there will always be a sadness and aching in the pit of my stomach over the loss of my little stone house, and the buzz of Cicadas that once was the welcoming sound of my days in Northwest Arkansas.
***************************************************
I've listed one ACEO collage print today in My Etsy Shop:
Morning Prayers
Until Tomorrow:
Kim
Garden Painter Art
gnarly-dolls
.jpg?picon=694)
The green, moist climate sounds wonderful to me, too! I'm going to Arkansas in a couple of weeks, to Fayetteville. Just for a quick visit to my dad's friends.. then on to North Carolina and Texas. My dad might retire in either Fayetteville, or NC.
Hang in there with the heat!!
-saffron
Yes..i too miss the green and the summer sounds of the cicadas and bugs and crickets at nite!
I also miss the awesome thunderstorms.. the blizzards and power outages..and having to huddle aruond the fireplace and sit by candle light waiting for the power to come back on!
We have great memories tho..dont we???? :)
xox
sam
Both houses are so sweet, Kim...and both so different. I still consider myself a California girl even though I've lived in Colorado almost eleven years now. I miss things about it. It's good to make changes though...and maybe you wouldn't have been happy if you had stayed in Arkansas. Let those memories of your little stone house warm your heart though. xoxo
Girl, I know about missing home... mine is Georgia! I'm stuck here in Wisconsin where its winter for soooo long.lol
Your work is beautiful! take care...
Both are beautiful homes. The fossils are a pretty cool selling feature though!
Great work, as usual. :)
I've moved so much my entire life I no longer have any home left to go to. So, one reason I had to leave Florida was to get someplace where I could have my four seasons back. While TN has never been home to me in the past it is home now and forever shall be. And I've been blessed that my small family (parents and sister) have followed me up here to the mountains and now I have my sis ten minutes down the road and my folks are on the back of our property. I do know how you feel Kim.
Like the others, I hear you on missing the house of your past. I brought 3 of my kids home to a cottage in Houston that we sold and now could never afford to buy back! I love where I am too, but those memories are so real and those smells! I hate that I can never have that again. One time, when I was down in Houston and I knew no one was at home in my old house, I went up to look in the window and I could smell the musty smell of the foundation! In that minute I connected to those 6 years in that house. It was wonderful and sad. Perhaps in heaven we can relive those years in those places we miss :)