Estela's Swap

by Alexis O'Neill

Estela, a young Mexican-American girl, accompanies her father to a swap meet where she hopes to sell her music box for money for dancing lessons with the Ballet Folkl=rico.

Genres: Picture Books, Spanish Literature, Latinx, Childrens, Cultural

Hardcover

First published September 9, 2002

About the author

Alexis O'Neill grew up in Boston and Wakefield, Massachusetts. She earned a Ph.D. in Teacher Education from Syracuse University. She teaches writing for the UCLA Extension Writers' Program and was a Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI) in the Central-Coastal region of California.
She has also been educator and consultant for a number of musea: Erie Canal Museum, Onondaga Historical Association, Everson Museum of Art, Museum of Ventura County and the J. Paul Getty Museum. (information obtained through the author's website)

Reviews

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Estela goes to a swap meet with her father and brother to try to sell her music box. She is hoping to sell it for $10 so that she has enough money to add to her savings. Estela has been saving her money so that she can take a special dance class. While at the swap, she learns about buying and selling goods. She also befriends a lady who is selling flowers. Estela helps the flower lady and is pleasantly surprised. Sweet and heartwarming, Estela’s Swap is a picture book to be shared and enjoyed.

[Ann Marie Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: 4-8
Read-aloud

Estela's Swap is a story about a Mexican-American little girl who decides to sell her music box at a swap meet in order to earn enough money for dance lessons. The story is definitely diverse because it takes place in a swap meet and everyone in the story is Mexican. The main morals of this story are: if you work hard you will succeed, friendship with the elderly, learning to receive and give to others, and compassion.

I think I could potentially use this book to teach about generosity and kindness. It also touches a little bit on the Spanish culture and their language, so I could use this book to introduce this culture and show that people of all cultures can have a special wish and work to make it come true.

[Jaylyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal response- A good read that shows a different culture and the idea behind friendship. Estela helps others and it ends up helping her. Good illustrations of Hispanic culture.

Purposes:

This story could be for 2nd-3rd grade classes. This story does a nice job of showing Hispanic culture and the fun colors that come along with it. The names used in the book are good for showing culture as well. Estela, the main character, is working hard for a goal and ends up helping others and earns a great friendship through her kindness. Another good book on a lesson on friendship and working hard for what you want and also if there was a lesson over Hispanic culture. The vocabulary used is a great show of culture, I enjoy that aspect of the book the most.

[Erin Black]

This book has a combination of English and Spanish mixed into the text so this would be an easier transition book for English Language Learners. I think that this book could easily be used to explain the Latino culture of buying and selling, or bartering for the things you want/need. This book is about a little girl who goes to a swap meet, hoping to sell her music box for ten dollars so she can get dance lessons. However, she ends up giving her music box away and in exchange the woman she gives it to matches her spirit of giving by giving Estela the skirt she was making, perfect for dancing.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estela learns that even though she went to a swap for a certain purpose, sometimes it is more important to care for others than to make money. She gives her music box to a nearby seller after all of her items blow away from a huge gust of wind.

This book is perfect for focusing on other traditions/cultures and learning to emphasize with others. Could use to help teach morals as well, and how to think of others.

Author: Alexis O'Neill
Title: Estela's Swap
Illustrator: Enrique O. Sanchez
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Date: April 13, 2013
Genre: Realistic Fiction

[Morgan Czopur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. This story is about a Mexican-American young girl who sells her music box in order to earn money for dance lessons. I would consider this story to be diverse because everyone that is presented in the story is Mexican. This can motivate young children who are reading this book that if they want something, they can make it happen. It also teaches children about friendship.

[Abby Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was heart warming and involved great feelings of compassion. Estela wanted to give the woman selling the flowers her music box to help her out! Overall a good story especially for those who want to include multiculturalism into the classroom.

[Colleen]

What's It Worth? unit 7
Leveled Books - Advanced

[Alissa Pletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estela is an independent, spirited little girl with a good heart. This story has prompted meaningful discussions about empathy. It's a great book for your family collection.