My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia : The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz

This was beautifully written and illustrated. As a Cuban American, this book filled me with so much joy! The authentic representation of our culture was perfect. I loved the rich descriptions Brown uses with similes, onomatopoeias, and adjectives so perfect the reader can digest the words through the senses. In addition to the beautiful choice of words and gorgeous illustrations, the book delivers important lessons for children. For one, Brown mentions the difficulty that Celia Cruz faced due to the color of her skin and her perseverance to be heard anyway. The book mentions that Celia was poor, but describes a warm and loving family that cherished music. Brown also explains that Celia had to leave Cuba due to the revolution, but she show more “carried her people in her heart.” With so many students that are immigrants, this is a beautiful message. The United States is a melting pot and we can carry our cultures in our hearts as we celebrate what it means to be American. I recommend this book for any classroom. It would be a great read for Hispanic Heritage month too! show less

My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz is beautifully written by Monica Brown and the vibrant art is illustrated by Rafael López. It is a bilingual picture book about Cuban-American singer Celia Cruz, we follow a first-person narrative from her upbringing to her rise of fame. The words are lyrically entwined throughout the book, with reoccurring onomatopoeia that accentuate the story that flows off the pages. There's a theme of childhood all over this book, we see how Celia was brought up, in a busy but warm and loving home. Even in fame, she reflects on how home, Havana, Cuba, created the artist she is.
I enjoyed every page of this book and the incorporation of traditional Cuban art.

A first-person biography of Celia Cruz for kids. What looks like paintings on wood are bursting with color, reflecting Celia's outrageousness, the heat of salsa and the tropical colors of her native Cuba. Descriptive and poetic with basic facts about Celia's life. An afterward provides slightly more detail. Only part that falls flat is the literal translation of her signature shout "Azucar!" "Sugar!" doesn't emote the same passion.

This bilingual biography of Celia Cruz is a masterfully done sensory excursion into the life of a young girl in Havana, Cuba through her life in the limelight. Not only does Brown use highly descriptive words, for example "My voice feels like feet skipping on cool, wet sand, like running under a waterfall...", she enlists the assistance of the readers in creating the world of Cruz as she directs the reader's actions while immersed in the text. Large blocks of text make it more appropriate for children who can sit still but the colorful images will appeal to younger children. Festive, highly contrasted collage illustrations accompany the storyline, lending a party atmosphere to the story. Recommended for public libraries with an interest show more in diversifying their collections. Ages 8-10 show less

personal response: The color in this book is fantastic. The language is as enthusiastic as the illustrations. I don't speak spanish so half the book is useless to me, but it is fun to pick out what I remember from the 4 years i took spanish in highschool and middle school.

curricular connection:
excellent for coinciding with learning spanish or english
have student write and illustrate their own short autobiographies

I liked this book because of the illustrations. The bright and vibrant artwork in the book captures the colorful life of Celia Cruz and the joy of her music. The rich colors on each page reflect Salsa music as well as Latino culture. All of the animals and nature portrayed in the illustrations are harmoniously cheerful with Celia about her music. For example, one page is filled with different shades of golds, yellows, and oranges with a red sun beaming down. The animals on the page are happily playing music while a young Celia sings and dances along. I also liked how the writing changed into bold, big letters to emphasize the sound or movement. For example, the author would write "CLAP, CLAP, CLAP" or "SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE." By changing show more the style of the text, it can get children excited and help them participate in reading. The big idea of the story is to tell children about the life of Celia Cruz, the queen of salsa, while sharing the colorful/ musical aspect of Spanish culture. show less

My Name is Celia tells the vibrant story of Cuban legend Celia Cruz. Ever since she was a little girl, Celia dreamed of being a singer. Her mother wanted her to become a teacher, but Celia had other plans. With a lot of work and determination, Celia becomes a famous singer known as the Queen of Salsa. The illustrations and imagery in the book were done spectacularly, mirroring the joy and rhythm Celia Cruz emitted in real life. Told in Spanish and English, this book was a fun and entertaining read.