hanlapham's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Category: Immigration Picture Book
Title: Carmela Full of Wishes
Author: Matt de la Peña
Illustrator: Christian Robinson
Date Published: October 9, 2018
Age Appropriateness:
- I think this book is best for students ages 5-8. It’s a very cute and hopeful story about a young girl learning about the hope that comes from dandelions.
Summary:
The story begins with Carmela finally being old enough to head to the laundromat with her brother. She picks a dandelion and is about to blow it when her brother asks her if she even made a wish. Although she didn’t know that’s what she was supposed to do, she lied to her brother and told her of course she did. She holds onto the dandelion for a while, thinking about the perfect wish she could make until she trips, and the dandelion is destroyed before she could even make a wish on it. Although he was annoyed with Carmela, her brother brings her to a cliff overlooking the sea where dandelion spores are floating everywhere. As they leave, she asks her brother if he wants to know her wish, and he reminds her that if she told him, it wouldn’t come true.
Review:
- I think the idea of this book is very powerful and inspiring. As a Christian, I don't necessarily believe in wishing on dandelions. I think it’s fun to blow on them, but ultimately it’s just false hope. And, although I can’t teach my future public school students about the hope of Jesus, I am not sure I want to teach students about believing in blowing on weeds for a wish they want to come true. On the other hand, it tells the story of Carmela, a seemingly regular girl, except her dad doesn’t have the correct paperwork, so he is not around. It reminds students that even if it looks like someone is happy, there is often more that maybe they don’t realize.
idgey's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
emersonernest's review
5.0
Beautiful. Great book for any child, an amazing book for an American child.
jennybeastie's review
4.0
A great big-kid little-kid tag-along story, gorgeous pictures, thoughtful moments.
dandelionfluff's review
3.0
I thought it was very thoughtful and full of heart, but I have to wonder if kids would understand what the book is about. There's a definitive moment where Carmela thinks about her father getting his papers "fixed" so he can come home, which made me realize we're talking about a lot here: family separation, living in a neighborhood with obvious signs of poverty, going back home to a more rural environment (also, more than likely, affected by poverty). At the end, I found myself a bit like those puffs: up in the air and wandering a bit for what the story had been. Is it more of an experience?
Like [b:Last Stop on Market Street|22521973|Last Stop on Market Street|Matt de la Pena|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453342770s/22521973.jpg|41969141], this gives kids the chance to recognize their homes in a book, or to talk about the differences they see. Both families are full of love, and I still recommend this book, even if it didn't quite register at first what thread I was meant to follow.
Like [b:Last Stop on Market Street|22521973|Last Stop on Market Street|Matt de la Pena|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453342770s/22521973.jpg|41969141], this gives kids the chance to recognize their homes in a book, or to talk about the differences they see. Both families are full of love, and I still recommend this book, even if it didn't quite register at first what thread I was meant to follow.
kaylac15's review
5.0
This book was a heartwarming story. I loved Carmela and her wide eyed innocence. She just wanted for her family to be happy. Although her brother seemed mean at first; in the end he did care about his little sister. She just got on his nerves as siblings tend to do. The part that really made me sad was when Carmela imagined her father getting his papers fixed so he could come home. It made me think of all of the families being separated every day due to the very strict immigration laws. Overall this was a great story and I loved the illustrations as well. They're so pretty.
teganbeese's review
4.0
Another great book by this duo. A beautiful story about a girl wanting the best for her family.