Antonio's Card / La Tarjeta de Antonio

by Rigoberto González, Cecilia Concepción Álvarez (Illustrator)

Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether — or how — to express his connection to both of the special women in his life.

Rigoberto González's bilingual story resonates with all children who have been faced with speaking up for themselves or for the people they love. Cecilia Concepción Álvarez's paintings bring the tale to life in tender, richly hued detail.

Genres: Picture Books, LGBT, Family, Childrens, Cultural, Spanish Literature, Queer

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 11, 2005

Reviews

[Michelle Nigro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio’s Card by Rigoberto Gonzalez and illustrated by Cecilia Alvarez
Antonio wants to make his mom and Leslie a Mother’s Day Card, but the other kids at school make fun of Leslie because of the way she dresses. Antonio loves his mother, and he loves Leslie. Leslie picks him up from school every day and reads with him after school. Antonio also loves words; a love he shares with Leslie. He isn’t sure what to do. As Antonio struggles with his decision, he sees the beautiful painting Leslie has made for Mother. He decides to stand up to the other kids who might make fun of him. He makes Leslie and Mother a card for Mother’s Day.
This touching book is written in English and Spanish. Each page has the English text written in traditional type at the top and then a mirror of this in Spanish on the bottom half of the page. Antonio is a bright and sensitive young boy who realizes at a young age that others can be cruel when they judge by appearance and single-story concepts. While not everyone has had the same circumstances as Antonio, we all have had a similar experience. It is over this experience that we all can empathize and find connection to Antonio and his struggle. His voice cannot be ignored. It is true that Antonio’s specific heartache and circumstance in life may be underrepresented in children’s literature, but his story, and his heart, transcend circumstance. Gonzalez and Alvarez paint a picture with color and language. Diversity has multiple meanings in this text as we see so many voices being given the power to speak. The reader is given courage to stand for love and respect as we watch Antonio make a decision to honor the people he loves, regardless of what others may think or do. The bright color palette Alvarez has chosen for the illustrations also speak power and courage, unconditional love and heritage.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Antonio loves his routine–being dropped off at school by his mother in the morning and picked up by her partner, Leslie, in the afternoon. His family, though different from a lot of kids, suits him perfectly. Then some of the children begin to make comments about Leslie's unusual height, her masculine appearance, and her paint-splattered overalls. Antonio withers under the force of this scrutiny, withdraws a bit, and wants to change the routine so that the other children won't see Leslie. Still, even the negative peer pressure cannot keep him from drawing a lovely card for Mother's Day, a card for both of his mothers. When his teacher announces that the cards will be displayed in the lunchroom, the child becomes afraid all over again. It takes sharing a love of art and of family with Leslie for Antonio to feel ready to claim his family publicly. Sensitively written in English, with an excellent translation by Jorge Argueta, the narrative captures the social worries and concerns that children in nontraditional families may experience. The acrylic illustrations are bright and colorful. Unfortunately, they are a bit amateurish in execution, with perspectives flattened and occasional problems with distorted facial features. Regardless, this story deals brilliantly with issues of inclusion. (Thanks Amazon!)

Written By: Rigoberto Gonzalez

Audience: Grades 1-3

Social Issues:

Use:

Awards/Recommended By: Kristin Bratt

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonio loves words, because words have the power to express feelings like love, pride, or hurt. Mother's Day is coming soon, and Antonio searches for the words to express his love for his mother and her partner, Leslie. But he's not sure what to do when his classmates make fun of Leslie, an artist, who towers over everyone and wears paint-splattered overalls. As Mother's Day approaches, Antonio must choose whether — or how — to express his connection to both of the special women in his life.

Rigoberto González's bilingual story resonates with all children who have been faced with speaking up for themselves or for the people they love. Cecilia Concepción álvarez's paintings bring the tale to life in tender, richly hued detail.
Thanks Goodreads!

Reading Level: 3rd-5th grade

Genre: Multilingual Picture Book

Topic: Family, Love & Bullying

Use: Independent Reading & Read Aloud

Social Issues: Gay/Lesbian Parents and Bullying

Text/Images: Antonio's Card is a multilingual picture book. The book is written in both English and Spanish. The illustrations match the text very nicely.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antonio's parents are two lesbians, both of whom he loves very much. Leslie is taller than most mothers, has very short hair, and dresses in paint-spattered overalls when she comes to keep him company at the school while he waits for his mother to pick them up. One day he hears the other children making fun of Leslie, not (one senses) because they know she's lesbian, but because of how she looks. This embarrasses Antonio. The rest of the story, told in both English and Spanish, is about how Antonio deals with this.

Something about the story didn't work for me. I think it's the ending. The reader never gets to see how Antonio is going to deal with the other children's remarks, or how Leslie herself will deal with it. The story feels unfinished. It's ok as far as it goes. However, if using this in a classroom one can always use the unfinished ending as a starting point for speculative discussion.

I also didn't care for the illustrations--the heads on the people weren't always shaped right or proportionate to the bodies. A disappointing book that I recommend with reservations.

[Cherina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: Antonio loves his family and words. One day at school, some kids in Antonio's class make fun of Leslie, Antonio's mom's partner. Antonio is embarrassed of Leslie. For Mother's Day, Antonio makes a card for his mom and Leslie, but they gets too embarrassed to show it. Leslie takes Antonio to her studio to show him a Mother's Day project she has been working on. Antonio realizes that he shouldn't be ashamed of his family or Leslie, so they go back to the school to check out Antonio's card.

Uses: independent reading for late-early or transitional readers, read-aloud to expose students to different family styles, exposure to Spanish text

Social Issues: gay/lesbian families, peer pressure and wanting to fit in, family, nontraditional homes, pride in yourself and your family

Other: Illustrations leave a lot to be desired, but the figure of the tree on page twenty-six is pretty cool with the words spelled out of leaves.

[Caroline (Cary) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Antonio loves to draw and spell, making a Mother's Day card at school for his mother and her partner, Leslie. After some of his schoolmates make fun of the way Leslie looks and dresses when she comes to meet him after school one day, Antonio feels self-conscious of his different family, afraid that his classmates will tease him about Leslie. The reader follows Antonio through his personal conflict and sees the elements that influence his decision whether or not to show off his family. The book is written in both Spanish and English, with the English generally at the top of the page and the Spanish at the bottom. Each two-page spread contains a page of painted picture and a page of text. Cecilia Alvarez illustrated the book using acrylic paint, and showed Antonio's emotions plainly through his expression. Suitable for ages 6-10.

[Salsabrarian]

Antonio loves Leslie, his mother's partner, but is embarrassed when the kids make fun of how tall she is and how she looks like a clown in her paint-spattered overalls. When she meets him after school he hurries her off the school grounds so they can go elsewhere to read under a tree. For Mother's Day, the kids all make cards but when the teacher announces they will be displayed, Antonio fears more teasing. Then he sees the painting Leslie has made for his mother, of the three of them reading under a tree. He realizes Leslie is a part of the family and that is nothing to be embarrassed about.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bilingual English/Spanish. A boy feels embarrassed about his mom's partner, Leslie, who his classmates make fun of for looking like a guy and dresses in messy paint-splattered overalls. When Mother's Day comes, will he be too embarrassed to show the two women in his life how important they are to him?

[Allison Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonio’s Card by Rigoberto Gonzalez is a must read with a phenomenal lesson for all ages! It is a book that discusses the experience of Antonio, a child who is bilingual and loves to spell words in both English and Spanish. He has a great love for his mother and her partner, Leslie, both of whom share a very special place in his life. While Antonio loves both women, he finds himself feeling conflicted and ashamed of Leslie after the kids at school start to make fun of her when she picks him up from school. This leads to Antonio developing feelings of shame and guilt about being seen with Leslie. With Mother’s Day approaching, Antonio is faced with the difficult decision of whether or not he should openly express his love for both his Mom and Leslie. As a child who loves words, he realizes the power of words – that they can hurt but in the end he learns that they can also heal.

This story is one that teaches the reader about love, acceptance of oneself and being courageous despite the negative opinions of others. Antonio’s experience as a child to a same-sex couple is one that sheds light on the experiences some children may face in his familial circumstances. The ending provides a beautiful lesson that both children and adults can enjoy and embrace. Each page of the story is also written in both English and Spanish, so that readers can learn how to read and communicate in both languages. This makes it a LGBTQ+ book that is not only accessible to English speaking children but also Spanish speaking children as well. It also conveys the experience of a young Hispanic boy and provides appropriate representation for young children of same-sex couples.

Cecilia Concepcion Alvarez also does an excellent job of conveying the story through beautiful illustrations. My favorite illustrations were of Leslie picking up Antonio from school. The way the children exaggerated her features was hilarious in comparison to what she was depicted as. It goes to show how silly children can be when it comes to making fun of people. Another favorite was the illustration of Leslie’s painting of the family sitting under the tree having a picnic because it was the same exact image that Antonio created for his Mother’s Day card. It really details the huge sentiment between Antonio and his two mothers.

This book was a wonderful read and embodies lessons that its young readers can carry with them for a lifetime. It conveys the lesson that people’s words are only as important as we make them and that we determine the weight that harsh words can carry. Antonio was faced with this lesson because he had to decide whether or not he was going to allow the ridicule of his fellow classmates affect the way he felt about Leslie. As a mother to a young boy, I would recommend this book as a must-read for children! It shows children that acceptance begins from within and that it is the first step when it comes to embracing self-love. Antonio teaches us the timeless lesson that we should embrace the love we have for ourselves and our families, regardless of anyone else’s opinions. Middle school is a crucial time in a child’s development and being exposed to this literature can certainly teach the younger audiences valuable lessons.

[Elizabeth]

Most of Taylor Pittman's "17 LGBTQ-Friendly Books To Read To Your Kid In Honor Of Pride" feature white folks, but I was pleased that the first one on the list is a bilingual English/Spanish book with a Mexican-American protagonist.

It's an Issue book -- kids make fun of Antonio's mom's partner, Leslie (she looks mannish, her clothes are paint-splattered) -- but it takes some time to get to that. We start with Antonio's love of letters/spelling, and I appreciated that his is a bilingual household. There's also a passing mention of family in Mexico. Antonio's affection for Leslie is woven throughout the narrative, and although his shame about his classmates' reactions resurfaces various times, it's also not omni-present.

I sometimes found the illustrations jarring -- like Leslie sometimes looks blonde and sometimes red-headed, and characters sometimes look significantly fatter sitting down than standing up. (One reviewer notes, "The acrylic illustrations are bright and colorful. Unfortunately, they are a bit amateurish in execution, with perspectives flattened and occasional problems with distorted facial features.")

Oh, and I did appreciate that one of background scenes had a woman in hijab amongst the parents.

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet bilingual picture book that introduces you to Antonio and his family. Antonio's mami loves a woman named Leslie who is an artist. Throughout the book Antonio struggles with the fact that the other students in his class laugh at how tall Leslie is and how she's always covered in paint when she picks him up from school. By the end of the book, Antonio is proud of his family and can't wait to share his own art.

[Emone Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio is a hispanic boy in first grade who has two mommies. His birth mother is the one who takes care for him and drops him to school and his mother's girlfriend Leslie plays with him and picks him up from school. Antonio spends every afternoon reading to Leslie and helping her paint. They both love each other and enjoy spending time together. One day at school Leslie came to pick Antonio up and he realized that the other children were laughing at her because she was wearing her mocks from painting and she was much taller than the other parents there. He quickly tried to get Leslie to leave so that the children would stop laughing at him. His mother told him that he has nothing to be ashamed of and if he loves Leslie for who she is than that is all that matters. He agrees and makes a card with the three of them on the card, but he can't help but be embarrassed the next day when all of the children start to laugh at her again. He doesn't even let Leslie see the card because of his humiliation but when she takes him to show him a surprise that she has been working on in her art studio, it is the same exact picture of that he drew of the three of them on the card at school. The illustrations matches the outline to the story and help bring forth all of the images that the author is trying to portray. I liked this book because of the cultural connections. He was a hispanic boy who goes through the same challenges and family struggles just like everyone else. The author of this book also identifies with the LGBTQ community and he happens to be latino, so he knows what it is like to be judged.

[Mallori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: This story is about a young boy who has same sex parents. He loves both of his moms very much and they would both do anything for him. One day in school Antonio makes a card for Mother's Day and draws a picture of him and both of his moms on it. The teacher tells the class that they will display their cards in the cafeteria, but failed to tell the students until they were finished with them. Antonio begins to get nervous that his classmates will make fun of him if they see his card. He soon gets over his embarrassment after seeing a picture that his one mom made for the other. He realizes that he needs both of his moms in his life and could not live without them.

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Genre: Picture Book

Uses: Guided Reading, Independent Reading, Read-Aloud, Shared Reading

Social Issues: This is a great book to explain that same sex parents should be respected and that they can care for a child just the same as any other parents. Children need to learn to accept the fact that some parents will be same sex and making fun of classmates for this reason should not occur.

Literary Elements: This book is an easy read for the reading level it is designed for. It creates a great theme of family and how diverse families are found all over the world.

Text & Image: The text follows along with the pictures perfectly. The book follows along in a chronological order of Antonio's day at school and the text allows the reader to follow along easily.

[Juso · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nonfiction narrative tells a story about a little boy, Antonio, who cares about his mother and his mother's partner, Leslie. With Mother's Day approaching, Antonio wants to make a Mother's Day card for both, his Mami and her partner, Leslie. The card will be hung on the Mother's Day display in the cafeteria. However, Antonio's feelings are hurt by his classmates when they make fun of Leslie because of the way she looks and dresses ("That woman looks like a guy!"). After understanding what it would be like without Leslie, Antonio realizes how important Leslie is to him ("Suddenly Antonio feels so lucky that Leslie is a part of his family. And that is nothing to be ashamed of"). Finally, he shows Leslie the card he made for her that is hanging on the display. As a literacy teacher, I would teach Spanish words because the author, Rigoberto Gonzalez, does a great job of incorporating Spanish words throughout the story (ex. "He writes TE QUIERO- I Love You- on a napkin and draws a heart around the words"). I would have the students interact with the text by having them create cards for someone special in their lives. As a Mexican-American, Rigoberto Gonzalez brings authenticity to the story through his use of the Spanish language and references to Mexico ("Antonio and Leslie sit together and read about Guadalajara, Mexico,..."). The story is about a diverse family composed of a son, the mother, and the mother's partner.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Rigoberto Gonzalez

Illustrations: Cecilia Concepcion Alvarez

Genre: Fiction Picture Book

Publication Info: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition : 2005

Reading Level: Early Transitional; Ages 4-8

Topic/Theme: Mother's Day/ Bilingualism/ Same sex parents/ Bullying

Issues Addressed: Relationship with mothers and coping with the other children's bullying because of it.

Classroom Uses: Read Aloud, Guided Reading

Summary: Mother's Day is coming soon and Antonio wants to make a card that will express his feelings towards his mother and her partner, Leslie. The other children in his class make fun of the way Leslie dresses, acts, and walks. This really hurts Antonio's feelings and asks Leslie not to pick him up at school anymore. Antonio makes a card for both of his mothers. When he finished drawing it, his teacher informed the class that she was going to hang them for everyone to see. Antonio did not want the bullies to see his card.

Text and image: I really enjoyed the colorful illustrations in the book. I liked how Alvarez changed the drawing whenever the page revealed Antonio's crayon drawn card. The text was beautifully written and really put you in the shoes of Antonio. Together, the text and the illustrations correlated wonderfully.

Literary Devices: irony, flashback (to the children making fun of Leslie)

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
From School Library Journal
"Antonio loves his routine–being dropped off at school by his mother in the morning and picked up by her partner, Leslie, in the afternoon. His family, though different from a lot of kids, suits him perfectly. Then some of the children begin to make comments about Leslie's unusual height, her masculine appearance, and her paint-splattered overalls. Antonio withers under the force of this scrutiny, withdraws a bit, and wants to change the routine so that the other children won't see Leslie. Still, even the negative peer pressure cannot keep him from drawing a lovely card for Mother's Day, a card for both of his mothers. When his teacher announces that the cards will be displayed in the lunchroom, the child becomes afraid all over again. It takes sharing a love of art and of family with Leslie for Antonio to feel ready to claim his family publicly. Sensitively written in English, with an excellent translation by Jorge Argueta, the narrative captures the social worries and concerns that children in nontraditional families may experience."

Theme: Nontraditional Families, inclusion

Curricular Use: Read Aloud, Independent Reading, Shared Reading, Guided Reading

Level: Grades 1-3

Illustrations: bright, colorful, some distorted faces

[Rebecca Ashley Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonio’s Card is a touching narrative that tells the story of a little boy named Antonio. Mother’s Day is approaching and Antonio wants to make a card for his Mother and her partner, Leslie. Antonio worries about what his classmates think about his mother and Leslie after his classmates make fun of Leslie and the way she looks. Antonio is conflicted, but in the end, Antonio realizes it doesn’t matter what others think because he loves Leslie and she is an important part of his life. As a teacher, I can use this book to show that you shouldn’t let others opinions affect you. It is also a great way to show other students that they should consider how comments affect other student’s feelings. This book is a great way to teach about other cultures other than our own. The story incorporates the Spanish culture by using both English and Spanish words throughout the text. Also, the story makes references to Mexico. Rigoberto González, is a part of the LGBTQ community, but Cecilia Alvarez is not. Both authors are, however, a part of the Spanish culture which is also represented in this story. Gonzalez’s connection to the LGBTQ culture makes it seem more personal and genuine, as do the personal connection both authors have with the Spanish culture. The illustrations were also done by Alvarez and do a great job of highlighting the story.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really delved into the feelings of a child with same sex parents. It follows Antonio throughout his day. From when he is taken to school by his mother to when his mother's girlfriend, Leslie, picks him up at the end of the day. Antonio goes through slight anxiety after a child at school comments on the way Leslie looks. He slowly overcomes this through the book and presents a mother's day card to both his mother and Leslie.

The book is written in both English and Spanish. I would use this in my classroom to show how English and Spanish are similar languages as well as different. This may help the ELL connect with their friends whose first language is English. They can experience helping their friends learn new words in a foreign language.

The character in the book, Antonio, is very relatable. Students can feel empathy towards him when he is over hears children talk bad about Leslie at school. He not only looks sad in the illustrations but the author connected that Antonio would not want to correctly spell one of his spelling words because he had things on his mind.

[Nicole Agadoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio’s Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio is a fictional narrative written in both English and Spanish. It’s Mother’s Day, and young Antonio makes a card to express his love for his Mami and her partner, Leslie. He struggles with what his classmates think about his two moms, but ultimately realizes that his love for them conquers all of his fears. As a teacher, I will use this book to promote acceptance as well as consideration for others’ feelings. Both English and Spanish are incorporated interchangeably, so it is a great resource for teaching both languages. This story is relatable to young readers because it accurately exemplifies common emotions such as fear, embarrassment, and love. Although Rigoberto Gonzalez and Celia Concepcion Alvarez are not a part of the LGBTQ community, they accurately embodied real feelings and situations regarding the culture. Alvarez’s illustrations are eye-catching as they encapsulate the characters’ emotions. Antonio’s Card/La Tarjeta de Antonio can teach children the importance of respecting others’, as well as the unconditional love that children feel for their guardians.

[Jeff Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Antonio's Card / La tarjeta de Antonio, a young boy comes to understand that love defines a family, no matter what it looks like. Antonio has two moms and worries what his classmates will think about his unconventional Mother’s Day card. This book depicts some of the stress that a child can go through when classrooms do not address the normalcy of the LGBTQQ family unit. I feel that the story would be interesting to children and would offer a different perspective from what they are used to. The language is rich, but is appropriate for the target ages of the readers. The writer, Rigoberto Gonzalez is a part of the LGBTQQ community, thus writes from a position of knowledge and experience, giving his characters a sense of genuineness and realism. The illustrations, by Cecilia Concepcion Alvarez, are particularly well done. She definitely drew in concert with the story-line and she really brought the characters o life, giving them real ethnic and cultural diversity. She even includes diversity within the cultural groups. Overall, the story is a wonderful little tale of realization and coming into one's own.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the idea of this book was terrific, and like that it's totally bilingual, with the entire story in English and in Spanish. But I was disappointed not to like the story itself more.

Antonio lives with his mother and her partner Leslie, and his home is a happy one, but he's embarrassed by Leslie when she comes to meet him after school and the other children make fun of her. What I do like about the story is that it's a family with two moms where that is not the issue -- the children make fun of Leslie because of her clothes, spattered with paint because she's a working artist. What I don't like so much is the resolution: somehow, Antonio's conclusion that he would be lonely if Leslie weren't in his family bothered me. It implied that anyone could fill Leslie's role, not that Leslie herself was important to him. I think that's a subtlety a child Antonio's age hearing the book could pick up on.

[Michelle Marcano · Rating 4 out of 5]

González, Rigoberto, and Cecilia Concepción. Alvarez. Antonio's Card. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book, 2005.

subgroup: same sex families

Genre: non fiction

Topics: Families, Same sex families


Synopsis: This book tells the story of a boy named Antonio. Antonio loves words because it is the only way you can express love, fear and happiness. Mothers day is around the corner and Antonio needs to find a way to express the love he feels for his mom and her partner, Leslie. The card that he makes will be displayed in the school's cafeteria. When Leslie visits Antonio in school Antonio is discouraged because his classmates made fun of the way Leslie dresses and the way she looks. Antonio than learns that words are beautiful but can also be hurtful. Towards the end of the story Antonio imagines what life would be like without Leslie and is happy that she is part of his family despite the fact that she is different.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio's Card is about a boy who gets made fun of because he has two moms. Antonio is also Hispanic.

Difference is constructed by Antonio's peers because they don't understand why Antonio has two moms. This causes Antonio to be scared and fearful of his classmates seeing Leslie. This book is great to read to the classroom because it will allow students to see a different perspective. Many children might never have seen a family with two moms or two dads. A lot of students make fun of things that they think are not normal. It is important for us as teachers to let our students know that everyone no matter their sexual preferences or color of their skin should be treated with respect.

The characters' lives and perspectives are interrelated. Antonio's peers affect the way that Antonio feels and he even questions his thoughts about his family. This can be very damaging for a child because it can cause them to feel insecure and perform bad in school.

[Corby Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre- Picture book

Reading Level- K-3

Topic and Themes-Displaying mothers day cards and Diversity

Curricula Use- Read Aloud

Social- Diversity

Literary Elements- Written in English and Spanish

Text and pictures- The text and pictures go together to tell the story.

Summary-"Antonio's Card" is book that is written in both English and Spanish. It would be an excellent book to use if you have students in your classroom where English is a second language. Antonio has two mothers which at times makes him feel uncomfortable. It is mothers day and Antonio has to decide if he should be beaten down by the smears of others or if he should overcome and not care what others think.
A good read aloud book for grades K-3.
Eurocentrism is dominant in the classroom (Willis, 1995). Adding "Antonio's Card" to your classroom library will help to reach the diverse culture.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre- Picture Book

Reading Level- K-3

Topic and Theme- Same sex parenting, cultural diversity, social awareness

Curricula Use- Read aloud

Literary elements: Conflict developed through personal relationships, character development through text and illustrations

Social- Acceptance of diversity in family and culture

Text and Pictures- Vivid illustrations work to extend and enhance the text, which is bilingual

Summary- "Antonio's Card" is about a young boy who is being raised by same sex parents. He is conflicted about the relationship between his biological mother and her partner, as well as his relationship with each of them. A Mother's Day activity brings his conflict to climax, and he is able to make peace with himself regarding his feelings for his mother's partner.

[Marissa Twitchell]

Antonio's Card/La tarjeta de Antonio by Rigoberto González is a fictional story about a boy names Antonio who is writing a Mother's Day card to his mom and her partner, Leslie, when his classmates start to tease him about Leslie. Throughout the story the book involves LGBTQ families and works to show acceptance of diverse families which connects to my topic of families. I think by including a child who is apart of a LGBT family as the main character, the book is showing the readers a new perspective of this kind of story, offers children opportunities to ask questions about LGBTQ family and also offers children who are apart of LGBTQ families a character to relate to. The characters are diverse and the illustrations provide a good representation of the problem Antonio has throughout the book and how he goes about solving the problem.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre- Picture Book

Reading Level - K-3rd

Topic and themes - mother's day cards

Curricula Use - Read Aloud

Social- kids and teasing, non-traditional families

Literary Elements- This book contains the use of dual language, which is English and Spanish. Antonio has an internal conflict that he has to deal with.

Text and pictures - The illustrations that are used in this book show very little negative space and the acrylic paintings add to the beauty and detail of each picture. The soft colors used in these pictures give us a sense of stability and calmness like we know that it will turn out okay.

Summary - Antonio is embarrassed by Leslie as she comes to pick him up at school in her clothes that have paint all over them. Leslie is his mothers live in partner.

[Julia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Antonio is a lover of words. He is bilingual, and happily switches between languages to spell for his mother and her partner, Leslie. However, some words can hurt, as he learns when Leslie comes to pick him up from school and the other children pick on her for her appearance. He creates a very special Mother's Day card for his mother and Leslie, but then is unsure how he feels about it, or about Leslie picking him up because he's afraid of the other children's mockery.

This story is presented in English and Spanish, and touches on the unique situation of a child raised by LGBT partners. It is sweet, warm, and suitable for using for dual language readings. It is highly relatable, because many chilren have a family member that might get picked on, but love shines through.

[Linzi Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Picture book

Reading Level: Grade 1-3

Topics & Themes: Antonio comes from a non-traditional family. When mother's day comes he becomes embarrassed by his mother and her lesbian partner.

Curricular Use: Read-aloud to discuss the issues and introduce Spanish because the book is written in both Spanish and English.

Social: Peer pressure, non-traditional family.

Literary Elements: Bilingual text. Great moral.

Text & Pictures: Interaction of text and pictures, I feel that the pictures went along great with the text and truly explained how the author is trying to portray the story of the book.

[Shannon Amici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading level- k-3

Genre-Fiction picture book

Topic-Same sex parents, bullying, Bilingualism

Social-irony, bullying, non traditional families

Curricula Use-Read aloud

Literary Elements-

Text and pictures- I think the text and pictures went together really well. The illustrations were very colorful and gave you the perspective from Antonio.

Summary-Antonio is embarrassed by his mothers partner Leslie. She picks him up from school in her paint clothes and does things other families don't. In the end, Antonio is faced with a decision when it is time to make Mothers Day Cards.