Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal
If you ask her Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of all her namesakes. As she hears the story of her name Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all—and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell.
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
This book is all about names. The word name uses the long a sound, ā, and silent e.
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Poetry: Poems, or the type of writing that is in poems
Travel: Going from one place to another
Sailor: Someone that works on a ship or boat
Plaza: An open area in the middle of a town
Ancestor: A person of your family who lived before you were born
Charm: A thing that someone believes has magic powers to protect or bring luck
Questions to Discuss
Why is Alma frustrated by her name?
How did her father choose the many parts of Alma's name?
What are some of the ways that Alma is like her ancestors? What did she learn that she has in common with each person who's name she shares?
How did Alma feel after learning about her name?
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Help your child learn about or imagine where their name came from. Start by making sure your child knows their first name and last name, and if they have a middle name (or several!) Help your child ask questions to family members or friends who might know. If no one knows the exact story, ask your child what they think it means and where it came from. Look up each part of the name in a name book or online to find out what the name might mean and where in the world it came from.
Help your child to write their full name on a piece of paper and ask them to draw pictures or color their name in a way that shows how they understand and feel about their name.
