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Do I Belong Here? / ¿Es este mi lugar?
An immigrant boy stands “in the middle of a whirlwind of children,” and wonders where he is supposed to go. Finally, a woman speaks to him in a language he doesn’t understand and takes him to his classroom. A boy named Carlos helps orient him, but later when he reads aloud, everyone laughs at him. And when he gets an “F” on an assignment, he is sure “I do not belong here.”
But gradually the boy begins to learn English. He works hard. He always pays attention, finishes his homework and—most importantly—never gives up. He begins to recognize words. “I understand now. Open is abrir, books are libros and page is página.” And when the kids invite him to play soccer, he thinks, “Maybe I belong here.” As the boy’s grades improve and he make friends, he realizes, “I belong here.” And when he sees a girl looking lost, sure she doesn’t belong, he can say with “Not yet. But you will.”
Award-winning children’s book author René Colato Laínez teams up again with illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck to explore the experiences of newcomers in schools and affirm that yes! They do belong. With beautiful acrylic-on-wood illustrations depicting children at school, this bilingual kids’ book by a Salvadoran immigrant tells an important story that will resonate with all kids who want nothing more than to belong.
But gradually the boy begins to learn English. He works hard. He always pays attention, finishes his homework and—most importantly—never gives up. He begins to recognize words. “I understand now. Open is abrir, books are libros and page is página.” And when the kids invite him to play soccer, he thinks, “Maybe I belong here.” As the boy’s grades improve and he make friends, he realizes, “I belong here.” And when he sees a girl looking lost, sure she doesn’t belong, he can say with “Not yet. But you will.”
Award-winning children’s book author René Colato Laínez teams up again with illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck to explore the experiences of newcomers in schools and affirm that yes! They do belong. With beautiful acrylic-on-wood illustrations depicting children at school, this bilingual kids’ book by a Salvadoran immigrant tells an important story that will resonate with all kids who want nothing more than to belong.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
Published May 31, 2023
10 people want to read
About the author
Rene Colato Lainez
30 books31 followersRené Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran award winning author of I Am René, the Boy/ Soy René, el niño, Waiting for Papá/ Esperando a Papá, and Playing Lotería/ El juego de la lotería. His picture books have been honored by the Latino Book Award, the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the California Collection for Elementary Readers, the Tejas Star Book Award Selection and the New Mexico Book Award. He was named “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com. René is a graduate of the Vermont College MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults.
His goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future. He wants to write authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States.
His goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future. He wants to write authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 4, 2024
Carlos, a school-aged boy who speaks only Spanish, is immersed in an English-speaking school. He questions whether or not he belongs. As time goes on, he realizes he understands more English each day. Then he helps another new Spanish-speaking student.
This bilingual story feels authentic, as Colato Laínez often channels his own immigrant experience into his writing and is a bilingual elementary teacher. Nothing dramatic here, but a very genuine slice of life story.
Full-color artwork by the award-winning Mexican illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck is bright, colorful, and full of action. There is great joy in each image. It matches Colato Laínez’s artwork well.
Add this to a unit on self-esteem, immigration, or school stories. It would be useful for school counselors to keep handy to use with new Spanish-speaking students. Recommended for grades PreS – 3.
This bilingual story feels authentic, as Colato Laínez often channels his own immigrant experience into his writing and is a bilingual elementary teacher. Nothing dramatic here, but a very genuine slice of life story.
Full-color artwork by the award-winning Mexican illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck is bright, colorful, and full of action. There is great joy in each image. It matches Colato Laínez’s artwork well.
Add this to a unit on self-esteem, immigration, or school stories. It would be useful for school counselors to keep handy to use with new Spanish-speaking students. Recommended for grades PreS – 3.
January 16, 2024
More of a 3.5, but I rounded up for being bilingual and the portrayal of the struggle for immigrants to fit in, and the ways children can befriend and accept them.
A boy is lost in school, wondering if he even belongs there, until another boy translates for him and helps him to adjust. The boy then helps a girl telling her she might not belong yet, but she will.
No longer on the Capitol Choices 6-9 list.
A boy is lost in school, wondering if he even belongs there, until another boy translates for him and helps him to adjust. The boy then helps a girl telling her she might not belong yet, but she will.
No longer on the Capitol Choices 6-9 list.
May 2, 2024
Can relate to this one as a new boy named Robert arrives at school not knowing any English
Reminds me of my time in the first days of Colombia at school and gradually learning Spanish and understanding things more each day
Especially the math which I caught in to very quickly
Like the pages that show how much he feels he belongs
Good end to pass it on to the new girl, that she will fit in
Spanish flows nicely
Better than usual offering from Arte Publico Press.
Reminds me of my time in the first days of Colombia at school and gradually learning Spanish and understanding things more each day
Especially the math which I caught in to very quickly
Like the pages that show how much he feels he belongs
Good end to pass it on to the new girl, that she will fit in
Spanish flows nicely
Better than usual offering from Arte Publico Press.
September 2, 2023
Yes, you belong here.
June 14, 2025
Good book for teaching children belonging and immigrant experience
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews