Summary
On a hot summer day in Los Angeles, a young boy named José travels through his town in search of the Paletero Man. José asks various community members if they have seen the Paletero Man. Once he finally finds him and orders a piña flavored paleta, he realizes that he does not have any money to pay for it. The community members chase after him to let him know that he dropped his coins when running for the Paletero Man! Due to José’s kindness, the Plaetero Man gives the children free paletas!
Theme(s):
Kindness, Community, Determination
Personal Response
This story is perfect to read at the end of the school year! I enjoyed learning about José’s love for paletas while also learning various Spanish vocabulary words through the text! Students will not only be engaged by the various Spanish words but by the beautiful and bright illustrations! Furthermore, I enjoyed reading about how being kind in a community can further benefit you. The themes within this story are beneficial for children of all ages to learn! I highly recommend this story!
Teaching Ideas
This story can be read within a wide range of subjects. First, if you are an ENL teacher or are teaching Spanish within your classroom, this is a great way to practice reading and saying vocabulary words. Students may practice saying their colors in Spanish when talking about their favorite flavored ice pop. Additionally, this story may be used when teaching students about community members during a Social Students lesson. Furthermore, students may also learn various positive character traits.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
