Migrant Stories

This moving story opens with the line, "Amelia Luisa Martinez hated roads." For Amelia, all roads represent the impermanence of moving from one farm labor camp to the next. Amelia longs for a place to call home in the midst of so much change. Her quest for home is a tribute to the resilience and resourcefulness shown by migrant children each day, whether they are arriving at a new school or are working in the fields. Acrylic paintings on canvas offer a lovely texture to the illustrations.

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The life and times of César Chávez are vividly re-created in this collection of poems. Where most biographies stick to the facts of what a person did, this one also touches on the man's character and values. Children will learn about Chávez, but, more importantly, they will learn about the important lessons he taught others even amid great challenges.

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"Calling the Doves is poet Juan Felipe Herrera’s story of his migrant farmworker childhood. In delightful and lyrical language, he recreates the joy of eating breakfast under the open sky, listening to Mexican songs in the little trailer house his father built, and celebrating with other families at a fiesta in the mountains. He remembers his mother singing songs and reciting poetry, and his father telling stories and calling the doves." (Excerpt from book cover)

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Instead of celebrating her 13th birthday in her prosperous Mexican home as she expected, Esperanza must adjust to the murder of her father, the loss of her house and wealth, and her new life as a farm worker in California. This readable coming-of-age novel is based on the life of the author's grandmother.

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Using the alphabet as a pattern, paintings and brief poems explore rural life in Mexico presented first in Spanish and followed by English. From A to Z, brilliant illustrations and fluid poems evoke the plants, and more and the emotional impact on the lives of farm workers.

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In spite of the obstacles he confronted, Cesar Chavez worked tirelessly to better the lives of migrant workers. Here, the life of this controversial man is presented in an open, illustrated format that is intriguing for both new and experienced readers.

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This beautiful story opens as young Francisco is preparing to go to school for the first time. His excitement gives way to shame and frustration, however, as he realizes that he doesn't fit in and he can't understand what is happening around him in English. The story explores Francisco's isolation in the classroom, as well as his daydreams about the only thing he feels connected to at his school — a caterpillar in a jar on the shelf. Yet as the caterpillar transforms little by little, so does Francisco.

This story, as well as the short stories from The Circuit, is based on the experiences of the author as the child of migrant farmworkers, and is highly recommended for ELL classrooms. Both English and Spanish versions available.

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Graciella's father leaves his family to pick fruit far away, but calls every Sunday. The surprise he sends for Graciella's seventh birthday is lost as is the child's hope of seeing Papi — at least temporarily. This realistic, universally appealing story told from the child's point of view is gently illustrated.

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When Tyler's father is injured in a tractor accident, his family is must hire help or sell their Vermont farm. A Mexican migrant family is hired; unexpected bonds develop. Tyler and the oldest girl, Mari, become friends and rethink many things. Told from both perspectives, this moving novel presents an often unseen side of migrant workers and the impact of immigration.

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This bilingual picture book tells a story from Jimenez's award-winning autobiographical collection, The Circuit: Sto ries from the Life of a Migrant Child (1997). Panchito dreams of getting a red ball for Christmas; but there's no work and no money for presents, and the family must move again. The child's focus is on his own disappointing gift, and, like him, the young picture-book audience may miss the subtlety of the Christmas metaphor about the couple finding no room at the inn. However, Cotts' stylized acrylic paintings, rich in color, express the tenderness of the narrative and the facts of the poverty. The story's power is in the simple words that directly tell of having to leave home. As the family drives away in search of work, Panchito waves to his friends on the school playground, "but they [do] not see him."
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Tomás, child of migrant workers, visits the town library to find stories like the ones told by his grandfather. There he meets a librarian who provides him with a cool place, stories and books, and friendship before Tomás and his family move on to the next place. Handsomely illustrated in earth tones, this touching story was inspired by the real life of writer and educator, Tomás Rivera.

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This moving collection of photos, poems, and essays offers an intimate look at the challenges and hopes of the children of migrant farmworkers. From the details of what it's like to picking strawberries to the difficulty of moving frequently, Voices does exactly what the author intended — it gives a voice to an often overlooked group of children and families, and puts their strength and dreams into words in a way that students will be able to relate to. Most content is appropriate for grades 4 and up, but some is more appropriate for high school students.

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