Reviews

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

adeleon's review

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4.0

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is a very short and sweet story about a girl who does not understand her name. Her father sits her down to explain why her name is so long and the history behind it. He explained that each name is tied to a relative, and that each of those relatives can teach her something. My favorite was great-aunt Pura, who believed that the dead never left. The following page shows the little girl, Alma, saying hello to her departed great-aunt Pura. After the father explained each relative, Alma would chime in saying how she was similar to them in some way. By the end of the story, Alma felt that her name fit her perfectly.

I would definitely highly recommend this for anyone to read. It is a beautiful way of showing how people can receive their names and the history behind it. Understanding the history behind one’s name is so important and special. It makes you feel connected to relatives that you may have never met, and feel a sense of family within the name. I also think this book is wonderfully illustrated. The pictures are more simplistic and soft, but still tell a wonderful message. Overall another one of my favorite books.

acourtofreading's review

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5.0

This book is just lovely. The illustrations are simple but adorable and the story of Alma and all the people she's named after is heartwarming.

teganbeesebooks's review

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5.0

I loved this book. Such a great story about how people from our past can influence our lives and how we can tell our own stories. I loved the illustrations and all of the Spanish words for kids to learn. Monarch 2020 nominee.

beths0103's review

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4.0

A beautiful story about the importance of names and how they shape our identity.

joyousreads132's review

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4.0

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.

jennchandler's review

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3.0

I liked this, but didn’t love it.

ivyinthepages's review

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5.0

Rating: 5 leaves out of 5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Genre: Children
Type: Book
Worth?: Yes

allmadhere106's review

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4.0

For: readers looking for a sweet own voices book that celebrates family history.

Possible red flags: protesting; social issues hinted at but not explained.

profeshbooknerd's review

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5.0

We all have stories to our names. Sometimes we get to know them - my middle name is after my great-grandmother. Sometimes we don't - my birth mother insisted my adoptive parents keep my birth name, though none of us know why. There's something magical about learning the story of your name. Alma's story is just as magical. Family history and embracing one's own identity make this book a major win.

miszjeanie's review

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4.0

Sweet story about what's in a name.