Summary
This story is about a young girl and her abuela that go out to the market for Plátanos. The girl’s grandmother tells her that Plátanos are love and they feed in more ways that one. It discusses how their ancestors who were slaves used to pick them and the food has always been significant in their history. The recipes used to be secretly passed down, since the ancestors were forbidden to read or write, now the young girl and her abuela honor their ancestors by using Plátanos to cook many recipes.
Theme(s):
Family, Tradition, Culture
Personal Response
This book is an educational and entertaining story that dives into the history of Plátanos and the Latinx culture. It talks about the significance of passing down traditions as Latinx people were not always free to do so. I thought it was an interesting story that mixed in food, traditions, and history to create a heartfelt tale about a girl and her family’s culture. I liked how the author used Plátanos to connect the family with their ancestors, as well as the use of both English and Spanish.
Teaching Ideas
This story could be a great introduction to a unit about cultures and food. Every culture has different food traditions and recipes that are passed down throughout generations. The students can “interview” their family to tell their class about a common recipe their family makes. Additionally, for the upper elementary level, this story is educational in the fact that it explains that Latinx people were also slaves. At a young age, students are often unaware of other cultures who were enslaved.
Recommended Reading Level
Grade 01, Grade 02, Grade 03
