Judith Pinkerton Josephson

Armando and the Blue Tarp School is eye opening, but hopeful story. Armando is part of a Colonia, and with his father picks trash everyday. Mr. Davis comes every day with a tarp and teaches the local students, giving Armando a chance at a better life. Armand and the Blue Tarp School does not shy away from abject poverty; everything in the story reminds the reader of it from the shacks for houses, to child labor, to the school being a blue tarp. This book can be an eye opening experience for a privileged reader, these characters truly struggle everyday. However, the book is hopeful that with education Armando can have a better life. The illustration is interesting, the style makes it look like construction paper cutouts which is unique. Overall Armando and the Blue Tarp School has a strong story, that will give context for the struggle many people have to go through.… (more)

All Armando wants is to go back to Senor David's school during the summer again, but he knows he needs to help his father with their work as trash-pickers to make money now that he is older. However, his parents re-think and decide that they want Armando to gain an education for his future. Armando learns all kinds of things, from Spanish words, English words, numbers, and animals, even though their school is just Senor David and the children gathered together on a blue tarp. One night, their colonia catches on fire, and Armando and many others lose their homes. Still, they go back to school the next day. A reporter comes and writes a story about the school and the fire, using Armando's drawing of it on the front page. An anonymous donor sees the article and donates money for them to build a real school. The people of the colonia work to build a school in between rebuilding all of their houses. Armando is beyond thrilled to be able to learn in his new school building and its walls, its roof, its floor with a blue rug, and even its art easel.

This was one of my favorite books I have read in this class so far. The teacher in the book, Senor David, is based on a real man from New York named David Lynch that came to the colonia of Tijuana. He continued to come to Tijuana to teach small groups of students there for twenty-seven years. Armando was a composite of all the students the author met when learning about Lynch's story. The illustrations were interesting. They were a mix of abstract shapes and realistic looking faces, which I think might be symbolic to how the story is based on a true story.… (more)