Calling The Doves/El Canto De Las Palomas

A young boy travels through California's Central Valley with his migrant farmworker parents in this bilingual memoir written in both English and Spanish. The story follows their life on the road as they move between crop harvests, living in tents and trailers. The boy learns lessons from both his parents - his father who calls doves and his mother who recites poems and stories. Their small family unit maintains traditions and creates moments of joy despite their challenging circumstances. The narrative captures a specific slice of Mexican-American agricultural life in the 1950s through a child's perspective. Through lyrical language and vivid details about daily routines, celebrations, and family bonds, the book provides a window into the migrant farmworker experience. This memoir explores themes of family resilience, cultural preservation, and finding beauty in simple moments. The dual-language format makes the story accessible to both English and Spanish readers while emphasizing the importance of language in maintaining cultural identity.

Readers connect with the bilingual storytelling approach and vivid illustrations depicting the author's childhood experiences as the son of migrant farmworkers. Parents and teachers report the book resonates with children from immigrant families and helps build cultural understanding. Liked: - Lyrical, poetic language in both English and Spanish - Simone Gómez's colorful folk art illustrations - Educational value for teaching diversity and migrant worker experiences - Authenticity of family relationships and traditions Disliked: - Some found the narrative pace slow - A few readers wanted more details about daily farm life - Limited story arc/plot development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (24 ratings) SchoolLibraryJournal: Recommended One teacher wrote: "My students were captivated by the sensory details and cultural elements. Perfect for teaching memoir writing." Multiple reviewers noted the book filled a gap in children's literature about Mexican-American experiences.

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🕊️ Juan Felipe Herrera served as the first Mexican-American U.S. Poet Laureate (2015-2017), bringing his migrant farm worker experiences to this prestigious role 📚 The book is written in both English and Spanish, reflecting the author's bilingual upbringing and dedication to preserving both languages in children's literature 🌱 The story draws from Herrera's real childhood experiences traveling with his parents through California's San Joaquin Valley as migrant agricultural workers 🎨 The vibrant illustrations by Elly Simmons capture the rich colors of Mexican folk art and the natural beauty of California's farming landscapes 🏆 The book received the American Book Award and has become a cornerstone text in multicultural children's literature, particularly for Mexican-American representation