In My Family/En Mi Familia

In My Family/En Mi Familia presents autobiographical vignettes from artist Carmen Lomas Garza's Mexican-American childhood in Texas. Each memory is depicted through folk art paintings accompanied by bilingual text in English and Spanish. The book follows various family activities and cultural traditions, from making tamales to celebrating holidays and gathering for storytelling. Lomas Garza's paintings capture snapshots of domestic scenes and community events that shaped her upbringing in the 1950s. Through precise detail and straightforward narration, these memories document aspects of Mexican-American culture specific to South Texas. The bilingual format makes these personal histories accessible to both English and Spanish readers. This collection speaks to themes of cultural preservation, family bonds, and the power of everyday moments in forming identity. The work stands as both a personal memoir and a cultural record of Mexican-American life in mid-twentieth century Texas.

Readers appreciate how this bilingual book portrays everyday Mexican-American family life through detailed folk art and personal stories. Parents and teachers note it helps children connect with their heritage and teaches cultural traditions to those unfamiliar with Mexican-American customs. Readers highlight: - Authentic depictions of family gatherings, cooking, and celebrations - Side-by-side English/Spanish text makes it accessible for language learners - Folk art illustrations contain rich details children enjoy exploring Main criticisms: - Some find the text portions too brief - A few mention the art style takes getting used to Ratings: Goodreads: 4.29/5 (456 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (89 ratings) One teacher reviewer noted: "My students love finding new details in the paintings each time we read it." A parent wrote: "This book helped my children understand their grandmother's stories about growing up in Texas."

Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia by Carmen Lomas Garza A collection of paintings and stories depicts Mexican-American family traditions and daily life in Texas through personal memories.

Abuela by Arthur Dorros Through magical realism and bilingual text, a grandmother and granddaughter share a flight over Manhattan while connecting to their heritage.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto A Mexican-American family's Christmas celebration centers around making tamales and searching for a lost ring in the masa.

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English by Alma Flor Ada Farm workers' experiences and Hispanic culture unfold through bilingual poems organized as an alphabet book.

My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aquí hasta allá by Amada Irma Pérez A young girl documents her family's journey from Juárez, Mexico to Los Angeles through diary entries that capture immigration experiences and family bonds.

🎨 Carmen Lomas Garza created this bilingual picture book based on her own childhood memories growing up in a Mexican-American community in Kingsville, Texas 🎯 The book features 13 detailed paintings, each accompanied by personal stories in both English and Spanish about Mexican-American family traditions and everyday life 🏆 The artwork in this book is done in Garza's signature folk art style, which has been exhibited in major museums including the Smithsonian American Art Museum 🌿 Many scenes in the book depict traditional healing practices, like using aloe vera for burns and other home remedies passed down through generations 🎨 Garza developed her artistic style by studying Mexican ex-voto paintings - small devotional works typically created on tin or wood to give thanks for miracles or answered prayers