Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin Book

1. Text-to-world connection: This story tells about two cousins who live in different countries and have different daily lives. One of them lives on a farm in Mexico and the other lives in a big city in the U.S. As I was reading this book I kept thinking that many students who live around here may not be familiar with either of these places. Even though one of the boys lives in the same country as our students their lives may be very different. This book would give them a look at 2 places they may not know very much about.

2. Does the book expose children to multiple perspectives and values?
This book gives many cultural references to Mexican families and Mexican American families. It shows daily life on a farm in Mexico (going to the mercado, an open air market, to buy food) and it shows life in American (going to the supermarket to buy food.) It also tells about holidays and celebrations that are common in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos and going to December posadas (parties) with pinatas. It gives a good overview about what it may be like living in rural Mexico. It also tells about what daily life could be like for a Mexican American family. Even though the 2 boys share the same family heritage their everyday lives are very different.

3. Write six discussion questions using all six stages of Bloom's Taxonomy
-Remembering: Name 2 holidays that each boy talks about celebrating.
-Understanding: Describe a typical day for one of the main characters.
-Applying: Compare Carlito's after-school activities with your after-school activities.
-Analyzing: How are Carlitos' and Charlie's lives similar? How are they different?
-Evaluating; If you could choose to visit one of these places which would you choose? Why?
-Creating: What do you think would happen if these boys visited each others homes?