First Day in Grapes

by L. King Perez, Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

Overview

Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

The powerful story of a migrant boy who grows in self-confidence when he uses his math prowess to stand up to the school bullies.

All year long Chico and his family move up and down the state of California picking fruits and vegetables. Every September they pick grapes and Chico starts at a new school again. Often other children pick on him - maybe because he is always new or maybe because he speaks Spanish sometimes.

Chico's first day in third grade turns out to be different. His teacher likes him right away, and she and his classmates are quick to recognize his excellent math skills. He may even get to go to the math fair! When the fourth-grade bullies confront Chico in the lunchroom, he responds wisely with strengths of his own.

Readers of all backgrounds will relate to Chico's bravery and the creative way he finds to resolve conflict. This story of personal triumph is a testament to the inner strength in all of us.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620141908
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	345,558
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Lexile:	AD570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

L. King Perez has won many awards for her fiction and poetry. In addition to writing, she accompanies visiting authors to their appearances around Dayton, Ohio, where she and her husband live. Pérez based the story of Chico in First Day in Grapes on her husband's experiences growing up as a migrant child in California.

Robert Casilla is the illustrator of several books in Holiday House's A Picture Book... biography series, as well as many award-winning books, including Jalapeño Bagels (ALA Notable; Atheneum), Daddy Poems (Children's Choices; Boyds Mills), and The Little Painter of Sabana Grande (Reading Rainbow Book; Bradbury). A full-time illustrator, Casilla earned his BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He lives in Yonkers, New York, with his wife and their two children. To find out more about Robert Casilla, visit his Web site: www.robertcasilla.com.

Editorial Reviews

"[Chico's] story will resonate with migrant students and those who have moved frequently. For others, it's an insightful glimpse of another way of life and reminder that different kids have different talents." — Booklist

"Realistic watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations portray Chico's emotions as he moves from school to school, attempts to make new friends, and struggles with bullies. . . This title could serve as a launching point for discussions about the migrant experience, bullying, and even where food comes from." — Book Links

"Chico's success story is cheering, and will be useful in introducing some of the issues facing migrant kids." — Kirkus Reviews

"[First Day in Grapes] sheds light on the life of migrant children in a poignant, balanced manner." — School Library Journal

"[First Day in Grapes] was exceptional because the child being bullied was not a victim and did not behave as a victim. His response was clear, honest and effective." — Sherryll Kraizer, Ph.D.
Author, Take A Stand Program, The Safe Child Book
safechild.org

Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

From the Publisher

Gr 1-3-Chico's family leads a nomadic existence, following California's crops. Places don't have names but rather are associated with whatever fruit or vegetable is being harvested. The story begins as they arrive at a place simply identified as "a camp in grapes." Chico is understandably apprehensive about starting third grade at yet another new school because his previous experiences involved bullying and name calling. He meets an intimidating bus driver and a kind teacher, gets a chance to display his excellent math skills, makes new friends, and has a playground face-off with some notorious bullies. With enough positives to compensate for the challenges, the child finishes his first day of the school year with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Reminiscent of Francisco Jimenez's La Mariposa (Houghton, 1998; o.p.), this story also sheds light on the life of migrant children in a poignant, balanced manner. While some of the hardships are left unexplored, this title will serve as a launching point for discussions about the migrant experience. Although a bit static, the watercolor, colored-pencil, and pastel illustrations bring warmth and color to this portrait of life in rural California.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Chico, the son of migrant workers, faces many first days in new schools, and today is his first day in third grade as well as his family's first day "in grapes." He's not looking forward to it, partly because he is sometimes picked on by the other students, partly because they don't teach race car driving in school. Mamá points out that everyone has a job and his is school; then makes sure to straighten his back before he leaves the house, a bit of encouragement that comes in handy later, when the dreaded bullying begins. Chico has an additional ace up his sleeve; while he struggles with writing English, he's learned how to add quickly from his experience picking and packing produce. Remembering his mother's straightening and his newly recognized math talent, he stands up to the bullies and wins the respect of his new third-grade peers. He even gets up the courage to befriend the intimidating bus driver, grouchy Old Hooch. Realistic watercolor, colored-pencil, and pastel illustrations excel in conveying Chico's emotions through facial expressions; his slightly sullen countenance as his teacher introduces him gives way to a shy smile as he realizes his seatmate just might be friendly this time. Although a bit didactic and perhaps a bit overly optimistic, Chico's success story is cheering, and will be useful in introducing some of the issues facing migrant kids. (Picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews