Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes


I really enjoyed this middle grade mystery! Paloma Marquez' isn't excited about having to be in Mexico to be with her mom who's received a 4 week fellowship but the trip quickly turns into a search mission to recover the missing peacock ring belonging to Frida Kahlo and helping her friends free their dad who was framed.

I quickly became enamored with Paloma and her quest to learn about her dad who died when she was 3; all the nuggets of information she gleans from mom are quickly jotted down on note-cards as a way to remember the father she lost.

Angela Cervantes does a wonderful job with this mystery, weaving in the Mexican culture, historical information about Frida Kahlo and including Spanish words and cultural customs in this great story.

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Bonus info!
I follow Angela Cervantes on Twitter @AngelaCervantes and she shared this fun tweet:

Alexa, who wrote Me, Frida and the Secret of the Peacock Ring? pic.twitter.com/EMZc2PhfOz

— Angela Cervantes (@AngelaCervantes) April 27, 2018

AASL Social Media Superstar Honor

Hello everyone-

It's been a crazy, busy, fun-filled week!  I just got back from the amazing TLA Conference in Dallas, TX-it was a wonderful week of learning (more about that later!) but it was also the same week that AASL announced their AASL Social Media Superstars.  I was nominated as a Leadership Luminary along with my amazing colleagues and friends Carolyn Foote and Shannon Miller-what an honor!!!

These amazing ladies and I go way back; they along with other librarians in the other categories are wonderful examples of the greater librarian PLN (Personal Learning Network) that shares, supports and advocates on behalf of students, libraries and programs everywhere!

So what's next?  AASL is asking everyone to provide testimonials on behalf of honorees through Saturday, April 14.  I hope you'll share how these individuals have impacted your practice by their support, advocacy, or leadership.  I know I will! 

Picture Book review: Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE this book! Alma and How She Got Her Name written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal shares the story of sweet, little Alma. The story begins with her spelling out Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela and complaining to her father about the many parts of her name. Her dad sits her down and shares the story of each part of her name and offers her the opportunity to understand the history of her name.

Juana Martinez-Neal uses pinks, grays, blacks and blues to delicately illustrate this book about little Alma. Along with the vivid descriptions of each family member, each page is sprinkled with Spanish words and artifacts inspired by her Peruvian upbringing.

Long naming conventions in the Spanish culture still play a role in many students lives and this book will definitely fill a gap in libraries. This book will be published both in English and Spanish on April 10, 2018 by Candlewick Press.

Juana Martinez-Neal was the 2018 recipient of the Pura Belpré Award for her illustrations in the the book, La Princesa and the Pea.  You can learn more about her via her website, Juana: Children's Illustrator

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