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Family Poems for Every Day of the Week: Poemas Familiares Para Cada Dia de la Semana
A bilingual collection of poems that takes us through the week day by day. Children spend Sunday visiting their grandparents, play with school friends on Monday, daydream on Tuesday, eat popcorn at the local market on Wednesday, and more, until we arrive at Saturday, when they get to play nonstop all day. Along the way, we also learn how the names of the seven days came to be.
Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcon's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States. With her vibrant illustrations, illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez has created a loving tribute to childhood, to family, and to Francisco Alarcon, who passed away in January 2016.
Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcon's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States. With her vibrant illustrations, illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez has created a loving tribute to childhood, to family, and to Francisco Alarcon, who passed away in January 2016.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 2, 2022
Wonderful book of poems that center around the family and days of the week. The past several years have reminded me how very important friends and family are; we don't appreciate how important they are to us until it is often too late. This book would be wonderful to read with family members.
April 25, 2020
This bilingual poetry collection with exuberant illustrations by Maya Christina González is such a treat! Prior to Chicago Public Schools being shut [seven weeks ago], I had the chance to share a bilingual reading from a poem in this book with 2nd graders, and they loved it.
An excerpt from "El lunes me siento como un dragón/ On Monday I Feel Like a Dragon:"
el lunes temperano/ early on Monday
tengo el pelo erizado/ my hair stands out
como erizo de mar/ like a sea urchin
las ostras cerradas/ I can barely open
de mis ojos dormilones/ the shut oysters
apenas las puedo/ of my sleepy eyes....
el lunes de mañana/ Monday afternoon
soy un puercoespín/ I'm a wild porcupine
de muy mal humor/ in a real bad humor
esta cola de humo/ this trail of smoke
que ven dejo al pasar/ you see following me
es el dragón en mi/ is the dragon in me
An excerpt from "El lunes me siento como un dragón/ On Monday I Feel Like a Dragon:"
el lunes temperano/ early on Monday
tengo el pelo erizado/ my hair stands out
como erizo de mar/ like a sea urchin
las ostras cerradas/ I can barely open
de mis ojos dormilones/ the shut oysters
apenas las puedo/ of my sleepy eyes....
el lunes de mañana/ Monday afternoon
soy un puercoespín/ I'm a wild porcupine
de muy mal humor/ in a real bad humor
esta cola de humo/ this trail of smoke
que ven dejo al pasar/ you see following me
es el dragón en mi/ is the dragon in me
November 17, 2017
This is a solid addition to any elementary library poetry collection. The side-by-side English and Spanish versions of the poems are much appreciated. The content of the poems goes much beyond the days of the week and touch on family, holidays, and culture. The illustrations are vivid and the page structure is varied throughout the book.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this title!
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this title!
January 21, 2019
Multiple poems for each day as we step through the week. Explains where the names for the days come from and talks about activities for each day.
Clearly written in Spanish first, but the English translations are good, too.
Clearly written in Spanish first, but the English translations are good, too.
January 15, 2020
La parte que más me gustó de este libro fue la introducción. Aprendí de los nombres de los días de la semana en inglés y español. No sabía que los días en inglés fueron nombrado por los dioses de la mitología nórdica.
Los poemas son lindos también, pero me interesó más lo de los dioses. :)
Los poemas son lindos también, pero me interesó más lo de los dioses. :)
December 23, 2017
Sadly, not too long after this book was almost finished, the poet Francisco X. Alarcón died. He was a renowned poet and educator and a three-time winner of a Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for his bilingual Cycle of the Seasons series of poetry for children, among other honors. It is lovely to have this beautiful book of his poems that celebrate the days of the week.
I see this as a mentor text to inspire students to write their own poems about the days of the week. It's fun to imagine what they might write!
In an author's note written before his death, Alarcón says these poems reflect "the multicultural life experiences of many Latino children in the United States today." Other reviews tell that much of his writing is based on his own life, too. He also gives a brief history of the names of the days of the week and how we ended today with our Sunday through Saturday.
Alarcón's poems vary in their tone and feelings conveyed. Family is celebrated with Sunday "dedicated to the sun--/with family around/it's always sunny/on Sunday" Then, Monday, the speaker whispers "on Monday I feel like a dragon". Yet later in that day, "a friendly 'hello!" is enough/to douse the fire/after I greet and chat/and laugh out loud/with my classmates." Wednesday, "Time is very tricky/through recess and games/time races at full speed/like a hare" But later, "during class hours/time slows to the pace/of a tortoise."
All through the week, days are described by a child with emotion, describing feeling alone when meeting new people, learning from a Grandmother who advises we are never alone for "the wind/the stars/the sea/never stop/speaking to/each of us." And, glorious Saturday for children, that day "to get to play/nonstop all day --/on Saturday." I am reminded that one of my granddaughters asks about this day, too, when she says, "How long till stay-at-home-day?"
Maya Christina Gonzalez's bold and vibrant illustrations swirl through the words and bring the poems to life in rainbows of colors. She finds the poems' focus in larger pictures with bits and pieces of what one might imagine happening on that day. Here is one example, that awesome, looked-forward-to day, SATURDAY (Saturn day)! In her note, she says that "the art is heavily inspired by the eternal beauty of Mexico's indigenous crafts." I hope you'll be able to discover and enjoy this book sometime soon. It is a joyful celebration of a culture, children, and family life. The end poem shares that this child has concluded that he sees
"every day as part
of one big family
where every family
member is unique
so worthy and special."
I see this as a mentor text to inspire students to write their own poems about the days of the week. It's fun to imagine what they might write!
In an author's note written before his death, Alarcón says these poems reflect "the multicultural life experiences of many Latino children in the United States today." Other reviews tell that much of his writing is based on his own life, too. He also gives a brief history of the names of the days of the week and how we ended today with our Sunday through Saturday.
Alarcón's poems vary in their tone and feelings conveyed. Family is celebrated with Sunday "dedicated to the sun--/with family around/it's always sunny/on Sunday" Then, Monday, the speaker whispers "on Monday I feel like a dragon". Yet later in that day, "a friendly 'hello!" is enough/to douse the fire/after I greet and chat/and laugh out loud/with my classmates." Wednesday, "Time is very tricky/through recess and games/time races at full speed/like a hare" But later, "during class hours/time slows to the pace/of a tortoise."
All through the week, days are described by a child with emotion, describing feeling alone when meeting new people, learning from a Grandmother who advises we are never alone for "the wind/the stars/the sea/never stop/speaking to/each of us." And, glorious Saturday for children, that day "to get to play/nonstop all day --/on Saturday." I am reminded that one of my granddaughters asks about this day, too, when she says, "How long till stay-at-home-day?"
Maya Christina Gonzalez's bold and vibrant illustrations swirl through the words and bring the poems to life in rainbows of colors. She finds the poems' focus in larger pictures with bits and pieces of what one might imagine happening on that day. Here is one example, that awesome, looked-forward-to day, SATURDAY (Saturn day)! In her note, she says that "the art is heavily inspired by the eternal beauty of Mexico's indigenous crafts." I hope you'll be able to discover and enjoy this book sometime soon. It is a joyful celebration of a culture, children, and family life. The end poem shares that this child has concluded that he sees
"every day as part
of one big family
where every family
member is unique
so worthy and special."
October 16, 2018
Summary-This poetry collection contains numerous poems which focus around family and the days of the week. It uses emotions towards days of the week to describe how one would feel about a specific day. For example, Monday poems are about day dreaming, being sleepy, and hoping for the weekend. It also has poems which include interactions between numerous family members. It talks about dreaming and talking with grand parents, parents, and siblings.
Personal reflection: I like how this book incorporated a sense of community and family among the poems. Its relevant for all ages and anyone who may live with someone other than their mom and dad or may or may not have siblings. It teaches children emotions draw from interactions during the week.
Illustrations: The illustrations have a hispanic theme to them. It offers many bright vibrant colors with the use of water color. It also has an effective style throughout the book which gives the text shape and movement. The stanzas are curved and shaped to reflect the emotion portrayed towards what the poem is about.
Classroom Connection: One classroom connection could be for ELL and ESL specific classrooms. This book offers the poem written in Spanish with an English translation as well. Using this book to teach children to speak and read at any age would be appropriate for this type of classroom. Another activity which could be used is the integration of poetry and geography. In a classroom that has a lesson focused on Latin/South America, using poetry to introduce the culture and how important family is would be an appropriate lesson at any age.
Personal reflection: I like how this book incorporated a sense of community and family among the poems. Its relevant for all ages and anyone who may live with someone other than their mom and dad or may or may not have siblings. It teaches children emotions draw from interactions during the week.
Illustrations: The illustrations have a hispanic theme to them. It offers many bright vibrant colors with the use of water color. It also has an effective style throughout the book which gives the text shape and movement. The stanzas are curved and shaped to reflect the emotion portrayed towards what the poem is about.
Classroom Connection: One classroom connection could be for ELL and ESL specific classrooms. This book offers the poem written in Spanish with an English translation as well. Using this book to teach children to speak and read at any age would be appropriate for this type of classroom. Another activity which could be used is the integration of poetry and geography. In a classroom that has a lesson focused on Latin/South America, using poetry to introduce the culture and how important family is would be an appropriate lesson at any age.
January 25, 2018
Through the eyes of a child these poems written in English and Spanish share the likes and the dislikes of the seven days of the week. Monday’s make this child feel like a dragon and a porcupine until someone offers a friendly hello. On Tuesday maybe, some other child is looking up at Mars in the night sky. Wednesday’s the family celebrates the Roman god of trade. Or it could be the worst day because the day moves so slow. On Thursday a celebration takes place on Alcatraz Island the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering. Friday is a friendly day while getting ready for the weekend. On Saturday siblings offer to wash cars for friends and neighbors. Sunday is time for reflection of the week.
These delightful poems share family, and the history of Mesopotamia and how the gods are associated with the Sun, Moon, and planets. Readers will be fascinated by the vibrant colors and images depicting the days of the week. Readers can also learn Spanish or learn to read the simple text displayed throughout the pages. Parents and teachers can use this tool to teach poetry and the culture that this Hispanic family shares.
These delightful poems share family, and the history of Mesopotamia and how the gods are associated with the Sun, Moon, and planets. Readers will be fascinated by the vibrant colors and images depicting the days of the week. Readers can also learn Spanish or learn to read the simple text displayed throughout the pages. Parents and teachers can use this tool to teach poetry and the culture that this Hispanic family shares.
November 11, 2017
Each day of the week offers something worth celebrating, and these poems provide a gentle nudge for anyone who has forgotten that families remain bonded through shared experiences. The poems, written in Spanish and in English, describe the blahs many of us feel on Mondays as we wish we could roll back the clock a few hours as well as the sudsy pleasures of washing cars on Fridays in preparation for the weekend and as a money-making scheme. The handsome and imaginative gouache and watercolor illustrations fit the poems perfectly. There's even information provided about the origin of the names of the days of the week. This is a good collection of poems devoted to one topic by a poet whose verses will be sorely missed for their ability to capture relatable experiences so vividly.
January 26, 2018
This was one of my MCBD reviews for 2018. This is a great book. It is a bilingual book with the poems written side by side to each other: spanish and english. Great way to introduce reading Spanish and English for all children. The way the author fit so many "teaching points" about the days of the week into the poems was genius.
The art work is an added bonus. My favorite art work in the book goes with the poem called "Time is Very Tricky"- which I found appropriate for a "Wednesday" poem.
Time Is Very Tricky
through recess and games
time races at full speed like a hare
but during class hours
time slows to the pace
of a tortoise.
The Rabbit drawn on the page has children playing in it's body. In the body of the tortoise is rows and rows of desks- very clever!
The art work is an added bonus. My favorite art work in the book goes with the poem called "Time is Very Tricky"- which I found appropriate for a "Wednesday" poem.
Time Is Very Tricky
through recess and games
time races at full speed like a hare
but during class hours
time slows to the pace
of a tortoise.
The Rabbit drawn on the page has children playing in it's body. In the body of the tortoise is rows and rows of desks- very clever!
October 25, 2017
Vibrant watercolor and gouache illustrations and easy to read poetry that is both factual and whimsical invite readers to open this appealing book of poetry. Bilingual English/Spanish poems on the days of the week and corresponding family activities make the book relatable, even to readers hesitant about reading poetry. Familiar images of family activities, honoring the author's Latino family, as well as folkloric creatures mentioned in the poetry combine to add depth. Author's and illustrator's notes add insight to the illustrations, and a bibliography is a source for readers interested in pursuing further information.
March 14, 2018
With bold, colorful illustrations that practically jump off the page, this book of poems, presented in Spanish and English, is a feast for the eyes! Each day of the week is celebrated and explored in at least two poems written from a child's perspective. The writing reflects the experiences and thoughts of a Hispanic person, but all readers will connect to these poems. A must-have book for schools with a significant Spanish speaking population and a recommended addition to any elementary poetry collection.
July 22, 2017
Beautiful book that checks many boxes for me as a teacher: gorgeous illustrations, bilingual poetry, multicultural references, poetic devices embedded to use as mentor texts...My teaching partner weaves the history of how our names of the days of the week were forged in her social studies curriculum. This book would make a great addition to both of our classrooms.
Thanks to Edelweiss Above the Treeline for the sneak peek!
Thanks to Edelweiss Above the Treeline for the sneak peek!
January 9, 2018
I'm a sucker for a good poetry book, especially if it is in both English and Spanish. I loved learning about the origin of the days of the week names-I honestly never knew how they got their names. I think teachers will love using this book when they are working on poetry in their lessons. I see this being very popular in my Library.
July 24, 2017
A beautifully illustrated collection of bilingual poems celebrating the name origin for each day of the week, while following the daily activities of a family.
September 2, 2017
Bilingual poetry that shows latino families enjoying life in different way for every day of the week.
November 12, 2020
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
January 7, 2018
#wonderful poems celebrating every day of the #week from a child's perspective. Descriptive language and great illustrations liven every page!
March 20, 2018
Lovely!
April 29, 2021
I read this to my daughter to celebrate National Poetry Month. I like to read bilingual books to her. I read this book throughout the course of the week like Monday poem was read on Monday and so on. The illustrations are beautiful and I like how the poems are side by side in English and Spanish and I enjoy learning about the days of the week and how they get their names and I also learned a bit about Latino culture too. I had no idea that Wednesday is market day like the family goes to the farmer's market. Where I live, it is Tuesday and Saturday. I will have to ask my Latino friends if the best times to go to the Latino markets are on Wednesday?
May 3, 2019
Lovely collection of short poems in English and Spanish (both flow equally well) with vibrant illustrations. Kids enjoyed hearing the poems in both languages even if they only understood and spoke one of them. Author note about the names of the days of the week at the beginning.
March 22, 2019
Loved it. My kids loved it. Family favorite.
December 22, 2019
Beautiful Spanish and English poem book featuring the days of the week.
April 26, 2020
peom, days of the week, mexican , culture
February 20, 2026
This bilingual book about the family and the days of the week is very beautiful. The illustrations are colorful, unique, and fun to linger in.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews