Alma and How She Got Her Name facts for kids
Cover of the book in Spanish
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| Author | Juana Martinez-Neal |
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| Country | United States |
| Publisher | Candlewick Press |
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Publication date
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April 10, 2018 |
| Pages | 32 |
| Awards | Caldecott Honor Ezra Jack Keats Book Award |
| ISBN | 978-0-7636-9355-8 |
Alma and How She Got Her Name is a picture book from 2018. It was written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal. The main character, Alma, has a very long name: Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela. She thinks it's too many names! So, she asks her dad about them. He then tells her the stories behind each part of her name. Each name honors a special family member.
The author, Juana Martinez-Neal, was inspired by her own experiences. She is a Peruvian immigrant and wanted to share her culture. The book was well-received by critics. It even won a 2019 Caldecott Honor for its beautiful pictures. The illustrations are made with graphite and colored pencils. They use a few main colors, like blue and pink. Martinez-Neal wanted the book to feel like an old family photo album. This fits the book's theme of family and history.
About the Book
Juana Martinez-Neal moved to the United States when she was in her twenties. As an immigrant, she thought a lot about her identity. She decided that her culture was a big part of who she was. She wanted to pass this culture on to her children. This desire led her to start writing and illustrating children's books.
The story of Alma is based on Juana's own childhood. She grew up hearing stories about her relatives. The book was published on April 10, 2018. It came out in both English and Spanish at the same time. This was very important to Martinez-Neal.
What Happens in the Story
When the book begins, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela feels her name is too long. Her father hears her complaint. He then offers to tell her the story of her name. For each name, her father tells her about the relative it came from. Alma starts to feel a connection to each of these family members.
After hearing about her five other names, Alma asks about her first name. Her father explains that there is no other Alma. She is the only one. By the end of the book, Alma feels her name fits her perfectly. She realizes she has "a story to tell."
How the Book Was Made
The pictures in the book were created using graphite and colored pencils. This gives the illustrations a soft and gentle feel. Martinez-Neal hoped to make the book feel like an old family photo album. The pictures also show Alma's own creativity. We see her handwriting and drawings in the book.
The artist used blues and pinks to show the difference between the present and the past. Alma herself is drawn in a cream color, similar to the background. This helps her stand out.
Family is a very important part of the story. Each family member's name is signed in a unique way. This shows Martinez-Neal's interest in how words look. She wanted each signature to show the person's unique personality. The illustrations also include hints of Alma's Peruvian heritage. Through her father's stories, Alma connects with her ancestors. She even makes eye contact with them in her imagination. The book ends with a special message. Alma's father tells her, "You will make your own story." This means Alma will create her own unique path in life.
