Campbell Geeslin

This book was about how when someone wants to do something, if they put their mind to it, they can do it. I really liked this book for many reasons. The first reason is the language. It was in English but certain words were in Spanish. For example, "El sol blazes like Papa's furnace, and the road is long." The writing was very engaging and was very well paced. I also really enjoyed the illustrations. They were very detailed and helped to enhance the story. The last reason why I loved the show more book was that it pushed readers to think about tough issues. All the people in the story doubted Elena because she was a girl. Many girls in today's world are doubted just because they are female and apparently are not capable. I loved how in this story, Elena proved that to be false. show less

I loved Elena’s Serenade. It was a great story about a little girl who wanted to become a glass blower, but her dad wouldn’t let her because she was a girl. Therefore, she disguised herself as a boy and left home on a journey to become a glass blower. One thing I really enjoyed about the story was its message. Though it is a fictitious story, it shows that girls can do anything boys can do and defies gender stereotyping in the types of jobs people have. Also, I enjoyed the illustrations. show more I can’t tell what medium was used to create the illustrations, but I loved the detail and bright colors throughout them because they really enhanced the story. Finally, I loved the emphasis on Hispanic and Latin culture. Elena lives in Mexico, so the setting and culture is different than what many students in America know, so this book would definitely help broaden their horizons on it.
I would recommend this story for early readers K-2 because it’s a fun and heartwarming story with beautiful illustrations that young kids would love to hear in a read aloud. show less

In my opinion, this is a great multicultural book that addresses gender stereotypes and cultural aspects of Mexican heritage. The expressive language is clear and engaging for readers. The writing is paced well and the events are organized nicely in chronological order. Spanish words are used in the story, which gives it ethnic features. For example, the book reads, “In Mexico the sun is called el sol, and the moon is called la luna. I am called Elena.” Students who originate from Mexico show more will love that this book contains words from their native language. Students who do not speak Spanish are able to learn terminology in a foreign language. The main character, Elena, is very relatable and well developed. Elena is determined to be a glassblower, even though her father states that girls cannot have this job. Readers who are unfamiliar with glassblowing can learn something new about Mexican heritage. Even if they have not experienced glassblowing, the situation that Elena faces is still relatable to some females. They may have also been rejected from a task due to gender. Elena’s strong willed personality allows her to run away from home and practice her passion. She is given a chance to blow glass and she creates glass stars and butterflies, which the men cannot do. She returns home and is rewarded for her skills. The illustrations are gorgeous; desert colors with scratches and splatters of ink perfectly depict the mood and style of the text. The book pushes readers to broaden their perspectives of the roles of gender. You can do anything if you set your mind to it. I really enjoy Elena’s determination to succeed at glassblowing. It teaches children an important lesson on following their dreams. The big idea of this story is that individuals should follow their passion, regardless of gender stereotypes. show less

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are three very short stories, almost fables, that are engaging and magical for very young readers. What I dislike about this, and other books by Geeslin, is the mixing of Spanish words into an English text. As a parent trying to raise a bilingual child, I make a point of separating the two languages in order to model good language skills. The sprinkling of Spanish words might be desirable for Anglo parents who want their kids to pick up a little show more Spanish vocabulary, but is of little use for those of us wishing to develop true fluency in both languages for our children. When I read this book aloud to my daughter, I simply translate it, telling the story in EITHER English OR Spanish, without mixing the two. show less