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Welcome to My Neighborhood!: A Barrio ABC
An ABC introduction to a little girl's neighborhood in all its rich detail.
M is for las muralistas, making murals of island vistas. Waterfalls that hide brick walls. Rainforest full of tropical trees.
N is for the noisy neighbors who sit on the stoop and catch the breeze.
When Ava's friend Chien visits her in the Barrio, she takes him on a tour of all of her favorite things about the neighborhood. From fire hydrants to ice cream trucks, bodegas to vacant lots, the sights and sounds of the Barrio -- even the less perfect things -- come to life in the poetic words of Quiara Hudes, author of the Tony Award-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS.
M is for las muralistas, making murals of island vistas. Waterfalls that hide brick walls. Rainforest full of tropical trees.
N is for the noisy neighbors who sit on the stoop and catch the breeze.
When Ava's friend Chien visits her in the Barrio, she takes him on a tour of all of her favorite things about the neighborhood. From fire hydrants to ice cream trucks, bodegas to vacant lots, the sights and sounds of the Barrio -- even the less perfect things -- come to life in the poetic words of Quiara Hudes, author of the Tony Award-winning musical IN THE HEIGHTS.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Quiara Alegría Hudes
20 books410 followersQuiara Alegría Hudes is a writer, barrio feminist, and native of West Philly, U.S.A. Hailed for her work’s exuberance, intellectual rigor, and rich imagination, her plays and musicals have been performed around the world. They include a Pulitzer-winning drama, Water By the Spoonful, and a Tony-winning Broadway musical, In the Heights (co-authored with Lin-Manuel Miranda). Her screenplay adaptation of In the Heights opens in movie theaters nationwide this June.
Along with her cousin and a dedicated circle of volunteers, Hudes founded and runs Emancipated Stories, a collection of pages written by people who have been or remain incarcerated.
Along with her cousin and a dedicated circle of volunteers, Hudes founded and runs Emancipated Stories, a collection of pages written by people who have been or remain incarcerated.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 8, 2010
This alphabet book, from the author of the musical In the Heights, takes a gritty and realistic look at urban life that will be familiar to many children while exposing other children to a new setting. Ava takes her friend on a tour of her neighborhood and many words in Spanish. She starts with a hug for her abuela and passes through G for graffiti, M for los muralistas painting murals on the walls, V for vegetables in what used to be a vacant lot, and ends at Z Street where the cars zoom past. Ava adds lots of small details to her alphabet tour that really show her enthusiasm for her neighborhood as well as giving the reader more details about her home. This is a tour worth taking!
This book does not sugarcoat what you will see in an urban neighborhood with abandoned cars, graffiti, and a burned building. But for children who see these things in their own neighborhoods, they will find a picture book that depicts their own world, something invaluable for a child. The Spanish words add a great rhythm to the book and another layer of information. Airhara’s illustrations use a lot of open space, emphasizing the stretches of blocks, the expanse of the city. They are simple and have a pleasant mix of bright color and earth tones.
A book that fills a need in children’s alphabet books for books set in urban locations, this will be welcomed on library shelves. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
This book does not sugarcoat what you will see in an urban neighborhood with abandoned cars, graffiti, and a burned building. But for children who see these things in their own neighborhoods, they will find a picture book that depicts their own world, something invaluable for a child. The Spanish words add a great rhythm to the book and another layer of information. Airhara’s illustrations use a lot of open space, emphasizing the stretches of blocks, the expanse of the city. They are simple and have a pleasant mix of bright color and earth tones.
A book that fills a need in children’s alphabet books for books set in urban locations, this will be welcomed on library shelves. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
October 30, 2015
I picked up this book as soon as I saw it because I knew it could be a great text to include in a beginning of the year unit. It is important to start the year with getting to know each other on a genuine level, and part of that is talking about where you come from. This is a book by a young Hispanic child describing their neighborhood, or barrio. The child goes through the ABCs, with each letter standing for a thing or things in the neighborhood (examples: A= abuela and abandoned car, N= noisy neighbors who sit on the stoop and catch the breeze, V=vegetable plot that used to be a vacant lot). I think this book would be a fun read-aloud for many ages because it has a nice mix of familiar and unfamiliar words, many with cultural ties that could led to very interesting discussions. There is also a lot of symbolic meaning that you could use as a starting point to guide students into deeper thinking, like how is the neighborhood changed now that the vacant lot is a vegetable plot? I would love to read this with my students and then challenge them to come up with their own ABC book about themselves and their neighborhood. For younger students, maybe you could create a class book about your school/neighborhood/classroom together.
October 9, 2014
"Welcome To My Neighborhood" by Quiara Alegria Hudes is a great book for children. A brother and sister walk around their neighborhood explaining what goes on until they got hungry and went back home.
I think children in the grades K-2 would really enjoy this book. I loved how the author wrote the book in alphabet form. The author would explain the things going on in the neighborhood from A-Z. I think this is a great book to read to children who learning the alphabet. I think it is a good way for them to enjoy learning them by listening to different words that start with the letters.
I loved how the illustrations were fully covered on both pages. I also loved how the illustration showed great detail as to what goes in the neighborhood because it reminded me of my old neighborhood that I grew up in.The illustrations were looked like paintings so I thought that was pretty cool.
I think children in the grades K-2 would really enjoy this book. I loved how the author wrote the book in alphabet form. The author would explain the things going on in the neighborhood from A-Z. I think this is a great book to read to children who learning the alphabet. I think it is a good way for them to enjoy learning them by listening to different words that start with the letters.
I loved how the illustrations were fully covered on both pages. I also loved how the illustration showed great detail as to what goes in the neighborhood because it reminded me of my old neighborhood that I grew up in.The illustrations were looked like paintings so I thought that was pretty cool.
October 26, 2017
Summary:
This is a story all about a child's neighborhood. It goes through the alphabet teaching about an average day in the neighborhood. Text is in both English and Spanish to further show the multicultural neighborhood they live in.
Evaluation:
This is an extremely good multicultural text for children. I liked the way it used both English and Spanish throughout the text. Students who speak both languages will especially appreciate this book and students who do not can learn new things.
Teaching Point:
This book could be used to teach students descriptive ways to describe their neighborhood and culture. Like the child in the text, they could go through the alphabet and write and poetic story about their family and/or neighborhood. It can teach our students about different cultures within in our community.
This is a story all about a child's neighborhood. It goes through the alphabet teaching about an average day in the neighborhood. Text is in both English and Spanish to further show the multicultural neighborhood they live in.
Evaluation:
This is an extremely good multicultural text for children. I liked the way it used both English and Spanish throughout the text. Students who speak both languages will especially appreciate this book and students who do not can learn new things.
Teaching Point:
This book could be used to teach students descriptive ways to describe their neighborhood and culture. Like the child in the text, they could go through the alphabet and write and poetic story about their family and/or neighborhood. It can teach our students about different cultures within in our community.
December 2, 2010
In My Neighborhood is a great book for younger readers, as Ava takes them on a tour through her neighborhood filled with diversity and rich in culture. Even if you don't live in a major metropolitan city like Ava does, you'll feel like you just visited one after reading this book. I think this a great edition for in the class room and at home. It uses both English and Spanish words, which I think is a great introduction for younger kids. Ava's neighborhood can be any little readers backyard who lives in the city.
December 2, 2010
In My Neighborhood is a great book for younger readers, as Ava takes them on a tour through her neighborhood filled with diversity and rich in culture. Even if you don't live in a major metropolitan city like Ava does, you'll feel like you just visited one after reading this book. I think this a great edition for in the class room and at home. It uses both English and Spanish words, which I think is a great introduction for younger kids. Ava's neighborhood can be any little readers backyard who lives in the city.
September 24, 2013
It just seems rather negative: for example, a is for abandoned car, b is for smashed bottles, g is for graffiti, q is for quemar (= burn, as in burning buildings to the ground), and z is for zooming cars that ignore crosswalks and the people in them. Sure, there's beauty, such as the vacant lot that is now a vegetable garden, but on the whole it all seems rather bleak. It might be an accurate representation, though, and one that might be needed in more picture books. I don't know.
November 28, 2010
This book is all in Spanish. The book uses the alphabet to introduce us to the little boy’s neighborhood in Puerto Rico. It tells us about the games the play, people they know, places they go and even snacks they eat. This is a book that can be used to have students talk and share to their peers about their culture and family.
April 7, 2011
Ava takes her best friend on a tour through her unique and diverse barrio, or neighborhood. Highlighting the things she loves, this book touches on what life looks like in some urban areas. It's a good multicultural book that uses both Spanish and English words and that will expand students' views.
February 12, 2014
This is a nice ABC book told from the point of view of two Spanish-speaking children in a large, hot city. It's a bit gritty, but these children can see beauty in the midst of what is completely ordinary to them (and extraordinary for us, like graffiti, broken glass bottles, elevated trains, burned out vacant lots, etc).
July 10, 2016
What intrigued me: 4/10
What I liked: An A to Z book that was a little harder as there was no Spanish to English translation.
What I didn't like: It was a little harder as there was no Spanish to English translation. A little stereotypical that made me laugh out loud.
Favorite quote: "G es de grafitos junto a la entrada del metro."
What I liked: An A to Z book that was a little harder as there was no Spanish to English translation.
What I didn't like: It was a little harder as there was no Spanish to English translation. A little stereotypical that made me laugh out loud.
Favorite quote: "G es de grafitos junto a la entrada del metro."
April 21, 2017
This is one of the best ABC books I have seen. Usually they are really basic, like A is for apple, but this book really relates to the real world. As well as this, it's bilingual! This book can teach students about Latino culture, as well as making Latino students feel more empowered about their own upbringing.
Want to Read
September 8, 2010As heard on the NPR Books podcast.
October 1, 2010
E Hudes
When someone needs a book about city neighborhoods, this one is fresh and new.
When someone needs a book about city neighborhoods, this one is fresh and new.
October 18, 2010
This is a good bilingual/multicultural book for children. I had to look up a couple of things on the internet, though for it to make better sense (abuelo and barrio). Enjoyed the pictures!
June 24, 2011
I think this book captures the sights and feel of the neighborhood with a lot of charm. It looks at the broken down bits and the fixed up bits and the quirks and the perks. Very attractive.
February 14, 2013
Wonderful images in both text and pictures.
October 25, 2013
Interesting Alphabet book uses some interesting items. Used with 2nd graders to model for their own Alphabet book. Very well received.
May 9, 2019
A wonderful Latinx and bilingual ABC. Very excellent and original ABC selections.
Read
June 25, 2016So cute! I love how the words alternate between English and Spanish and don't prioritize either one.
July 7, 2017
Multicultural ABC book great for young students
February 26, 2021
"Welcome to My Neighborhood" by Quiara Alegria Hudes is an amazing multicultural book. It is an ABC book that does much more than simply teach the alphabet. It dives into the daily lives and experiences that young latinx go through in their urban neighborhood "barrios". Seen through the eyes of a little boy and girl that walk around the barrio explaining what goes on from A-Z, this book is not only bilingual but also teaches students about latino culture.
A definite "window and mirrors" book that should be introduced to all children as children will be able to be more understanding of a culture that is different than theirs and learn new words in Spanish. At the same time, latinx students will be able to see characters like them all while learning el ABC.
A definite "window and mirrors" book that should be introduced to all children as children will be able to be more understanding of a culture that is different than theirs and learn new words in Spanish. At the same time, latinx students will be able to see characters like them all while learning el ABC.
November 20, 2019
My favorite part of this book is how they wouldn't use basic stuff for the letters, "A is for Abeula and abandoned cars". I would use this in my classroom to teach the alphabet in a multicultural way.
September 4, 2019
The book was a cute one. Using the alphabet it writes about a neighborhood. It’s not one of those white picket fence ones either.
October 19, 2016
Topics : a barrio (neighborhood), alphabet
Characters : a little girl and her friend (from another neighborhood)
Classroom relevance : addresses parts of a lower-income neighborhood that may be viewed negatively and portrays them in a realistic/positive light, bilingual book
Grade level(s) : kindergarten+
Follows a little girl as she shows her friend (from another neighborhood) around the barrio, shows a different part of the barrio alphabetically, incorporates Spanish words into the text
Characters : a little girl and her friend (from another neighborhood)
Classroom relevance : addresses parts of a lower-income neighborhood that may be viewed negatively and portrays them in a realistic/positive light, bilingual book
Grade level(s) : kindergarten+
Follows a little girl as she shows her friend (from another neighborhood) around the barrio, shows a different part of the barrio alphabetically, incorporates Spanish words into the text
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews