Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina - Curriculum Guide
Vocabulary:
Satin - a smooth, glossy fabric, usually made of silk
Snapshot - a photograph that is taken quickly
Empanada - a Spanish or Latin American pastry turnover filled with a variety of savory ingredients and baked or fried
Parrot - a brightly colored bird
Conversation Starters: Use the following questions to start a conversation with your child about the book and some of the new things they learn while reading. These questions are designed to start and guide conversation between parents and children, as well as help young readers think critically, better understand the book’s content, and make meaningful connections to their own lives.
Before reading:
What language does your family speak? Do you have any family members who speak another language?
What are your favorite things to do with your grandparents or another close family member?
Have you ever visited someone who lives somewhere different than you? How did being in a new place make you feel?
After reading:
Why does Abuela leave her home to come live with Mia and her family?
Why do you think Mia feels shy toward her grandmother?
How do you think Abuela feels when she can’t read Mia’s new book? How can you tell?
What does Mia want to talk about with Abuela, but can’t?
What do you think Abuela may want to talk with Mia about?
What was your favorite scene of the book and why?
What did you notice in the book that showed aspects of the family’s Latino/Hispanic culture? Have you ever had an experience where it was difficult to communicate with someone because you didn’t know their language and/or they didn’t know your language?
What are some of the new Spanish words you learned by reading the book?
What happens with Abuela when she learns more English?
What kinds of things do Mia and Abuela talk about when each learns more of each other’s language?
Additional Resources
Video of a few kids sharing and teaching their home languages with other kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r172Mb8h5Zw
Want to hear Mango, Abuela, and Me read aloud? Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8DUllYD_8o
Activities
Exploring Our Identity and Culture: Begin this activity by discussing and defining the word “culture” for your child. Define the word culture as the parts of daily life that are seen in food, customs, holidays, music and more that a group of people share. Explain that these parts of culture are often handed down from family members or from one generation to the next. They can also come from the country where the person’s family/ancestors came from.
Discuss with your child what country or countries their family members originally came from aspects of culture from that country. Ask your child: What did you notice about Mia and her family’s culture throughout the book? Were there aspects of their daily life that are part of their culture (e.g. language, food, country of origin, etc.)?
After this discussion, have your child create his/her own culture flag. You can use construction or computer paper to create a flag shape and have them draw (or use photos) pictures, symbols or words that reflect aspects of their culture. This will allow children to explore their own unique cultural identity and better understand important customs and traditions with your home.