Celebraciones / Celebrations: Dias feriados de los Estados Unidos y Mexico (Charlesbridge Bilingual Books)
on Goodreads (7)
What’s inside...
The United States and Mexico share many similar holidays that reflect common values, mutual respect for family and history, and rich cultural heritages. Through folk art, Nancy Tabor shows the similarities and differences of each holiday.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What similarities and differences do you notice between the celebrations in the United States and Mexico?
Why do you think people in both countries celebrate these holidays?
Which celebration would you love to attend and why?
How do you think celebrating these holidays helps people feel connected to their culture and community?
If you could create a new holiday, what would it celebrate and how would people observe it?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading the book, ask your child what they already know about holidays in the United States and Mexico to activate prior knowledge.
Encourage your child to think about how their own family's celebrations compare to those in the book, fostering personal connections.
As you explore each celebration, help your child locate the United States and Mexico on a map to contextualize the cultural information.
Use the illustrations in the book to discuss colors, designs, and symbols that represent different cultural elements of each celebration.
After reading, ask your child to draw or describe their favorite holiday from the book and explain what makes it special to them, deepening their understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Cultural Appreciation
Explanation: Through vivid illustrations and bilingual text, this book celebrates various holidays in the United States and Mexico, highlighting cultural traditions and practices.
Real-World Application: Children learn to appreciate and respect different cultures, fostering an inclusive mindset from a young age.
Example Lesson: Historical Awareness
Explanation: The book provides historical contexts for each celebration, explaining why and how these holidays came to be.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this knowledge to better understand the significance of celebrating historical events and figures, promoting a deeper respect for history.
Example Lesson: Language Skills
Explanation: Presented in both English and Spanish, the book offers an opportunity for children to improve language skills and encourages bilingual communication.
Real-World Application: By engaging with two languages, children can enhance their cognitive abilities and adaptability, useful in both academic and social settings.
Example Lesson: Social Integration
Explanation: Learning about holidays celebrated in different communities fosters a sense of connection and social integration.
Real-World Application: Children can engage more comfortably and confidently in diverse social environments, bridging cultural gaps through shared knowledge.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Open-mindedness
Explanation: The book encourages understanding and empathy by exposing children to the ways different cultures celebrate similar values through unique traditions.
Real-World Application: This promotes open-mindedness and prepares children to embrace diversity in people and their customs.