Making Connections to Language and Culture in a MultiCultural Classroom Through the Use of Semi-bilingual
Picture Books
Focus: Mexican American Culture
Introduction
Creating a multi-cultural classroom is of growing importance to many public school librarians
and teachers in the United States who value the cultural heritage of all students in their
classrooms. Stories that represent Mexican American culture have, historically, had very little
representation in children’s literature until recent times, yet they are a critical component of a
well-developed multi-cultural school curriculum. Including Mexican American stories written
and illustrated by Mexican American authors affirms and celebrates the lived culture of Mexican
American students, strengthens the identity of Mexican American students as they learn about
and connect with the shared experience of other Mexican Americans, and introduces students of
other cultural backgrounds to the richness of Mexican American culture and the Spanish
language. Through the use of semi-bilingual books, such as the story of Doña Flor: A Tall Tale
About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart (2005), students of all cultural backgrounds will
come to appreciate the strong cultural connections that can be made through text and illustration
as well as the universal values and ideologies that can be shared in a multi-cultural classroom
through literature. Teachers will enjoy reading Doña Flor to or with students and discussing the
many cultural and geographical markers that are present in the story. Art, language, social
studies, and folklore are dominant themes; however, concepts in math and science can be linked
to the story as well.
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great
Big Heart (2005)
By Pat Mora, illustrated by Raul Colón
New York: Knopf
ISBN: 0-375-92337-2 (lib. bdg.)
ISBN: 0-679-98002-4 (Span. lib. bdg.)
Summary
When Flor was a baby, her mother sang to her and this helped her grow to be a giant woman. At
first, children in Flor’s pueblo laughed at how she looked and at the way she spoke–Flor spoke
may languages. Once the other children got to know her, however, they all came to love her
because she was kind and always willing to help others. One day, Flor noticed that all the people
in her village were hiding in sus casas. When she asked them why, they told her they heard the
giant roar of el puma and they were afraid. Determined to protect her pueblo, Flor left the
village to search for the huge gato. What Flor found was no giant gato, but a cute little puma
roaring into a big, hollow log that was amplifying his voice. The little puma thought scaring
Flor’s friends was so funny that he rolled over laughing. Then he saw Flor. The angry puma
showed his sharp teeth, but Flor told him that he was just a kitten to her. She then began to
whisper to him in cat talk until began to purr.
Awards
 Golden Kite Award, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), 2005
 ALA Notable Books, American Library Association (ALA), 2005
 Pura Belpré Honor Award (narrative), 2005
 New York Public Library Books for Reading and Sharing, 2005
 Pura Belpré Award (illustration), 2006
Curriculum Connections
There are many connections to Mexican American culture and the Southwest woven throughout
this story, as well as universal concepts such as acceptance and the importance of community life
that can be taught in a multi-cultural classroom. The Spanish language is effortlessly woven
throughout the story which engages Spanish speaking students who will relate to the story as
they recognize their own language, and non-Spanish speaking students who will enjoy the poetic
flow of the story from English to Spanish as they contemplate the many cultural cues that help
them understand the Spanish words being used. This webpage is designed as a GERM file. It is
not inclusive, but serves as resource for further exploration and inquiry of ways to integrate
culture and language in the multi-cultural classroom.
Author Pat Mora has put together an exemplary website of projects and lesson plans that will
help teachers further integrate the book into their curriculum.
Pat Mora’s Ideas! and Curriculum Extensions.
GERM
Art in the Context of Culture
Doña Flor provides an excellent lead in to discussions about Mexican American art and artists
and the exploration traditional arts and crafts of Mexicano. Students can create their own works
of art copying Raul Colón’s style and his use of rich color and bold texture or explore some of
the projects ideas available on the sites listed below.
Discussions questions about illustrator Raul Colón
1. Why did Raul Colón choose to use warm colors and bold texture in Doña Flor?
2. What aspects of Mexican American culture are represented in the illustrations?
Resources
Art of Mexico/Latin America Lesson ideas
Gillett, L. (n.d.).Indo/Hispano Art: Making Connections Through Hands-On Activities.
Mexican American Traditional Arts and Culture
Language Arts in the Context of Culture
Students can explore the use of language in creating mood, setting, and in developing characters.
Students will also have ample opportunity to discuss the Spanish language. Other semi-bilingual
books can be used for additional exploration of Mexican American authors. Spanish speaking
students might want to read Doña Flor to the class in Spanish. This story also provides and
excellent opportunity students to learn about other Mexican American and Mexicano fairytales.
Discussion questions
1. What does this story tell us about Flor as a character?
2. Why wasn’t she accepted at the beginning of the story?
3. What does this story tell us about the values of Mexican American culture and
community?
Spanish Language
1. How does the use of Spanish language enhance the story?
2. What are some of the visual clues given in the story to help us understand the
meaning of words we are not familiar with?
Resources
Culture and Language, Words and Art: Bilingual Picture Books.
Mexican Folktales: A Curriculum Guide for Incorporation Multicultural Competencies
Read-A-Like Links
A Sprinkle of Spanish: Un Toque de Español
International Children’s Digital Library
Social Studies
The southwest region of the United States is heavily influenced by Mexican American culture.
Students can explore the history of the Southwest from the Mexican American perspective, and
learn about the unique geographical features of the southwest that are present in so many
Mexican American stories.
Discussion questions about the story
1. What references in the story tell us about cultures in the southwest?
2. What references in the story tell us about the landscape of the southwest?
3. What references in the story tell us about the plants and animals of the southwest?
Resources
Fairy Tales: Reflections of Society
Plants of the Southwest
The Southwest. Fact Monster
Community
Themes of community are found throughout Mexican American contemporary literature. Doña
Flor provides an excellent opportunity for Mexican American and other students to share stories
about their communities.
Discussion questions about the story
1. How did Flor help her community?
2. What are the benefits of speaking multiple languages?
3. How do people in your community help each other?
Activities
1. Invite local Mexican American authors and/or illustrators to visit the classroom to
discuss their experiences with students.
2. Invite Mexican American parents or grandparents to the classroom to share their
oral histories with the class.
Resources
Chaves, K.R. (n.d.) De Nina a Mujer: Rites of passage, A Young Girl’s Ceremony
Math and Science
In addition to discussions about the physical sciences that were presented in the book, such as the
snow topped mountains and the blowing winds, students can learn about Native American
contributions to math and science, which were heavily influenced by ancient Myan civilizations
in Mexicano.
Resources
Baca, Liz. (n.d.). Learning about Native Americans Through Math, Science, and Art.
References:
Dietrich, D. and Ralph, K.S. (1995). Crossing Borders: Multicultural Literature in the
Classroom. The Journal of Educational Issue of Language Minority Students, v.
15, Winter. Boise State University. Retrieved on September 12, 2007 at
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/pubs/jeilms/vol15/crossing.htm
Fish, Larri (n.d.). Building Blocks: The First Steps of Creating a Multicultural
Classroom. Retrieved on September 12, 2007 at
http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/buildingblocks.htm
Promoting Reading among Mexican American Children. (1999). Eric Digest. Retrieved
September 12, 2007 at http://www.ericdigests.org/2000-4/reading.htm
Other Resources
The Pura Belpré Award
Established in 1996 to recognize Latino/Latina writers and illustrators for their
outstanding contribution to Latino literature for children and youth.
2006 Pura Belpré Award Winners