Carmela Full of Wishes

de la Peña, M., & Robinson, C. (2018). Carmela Full of Wishes. Penguin Young Readers Group.

ISBN: 978-0399549045

Plot Summary:

When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true--she's finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make . . .

-Amazon

Analysis:

Carmela Full of Wishes is a sweet story about family and dreams. The earth tone cut-paper illustrations are eye catching and sweet as Carmela follows her brother down Freedom Boulevard on her scooter. The big brother / little sister dynamic is so relatable. The brother is irritated as she fidgets with her bracelets and wishes he could run his errands alone. Carmela wants his attention so badly, but her sharp words and glares do not convey the message. The brown-skinned characters they pass along the way are seen working in fields and selling goods. As they go about their errands we learn more about their life. Their mom works in a hotel and their dad, who used to get work by standing in the parking lot of the home improvement store, is not living at home because he needs his papers fixed. Carmela is clutching a dandelion in her fist as she rides, trying to decide on a birthday wish before she blows the fuzzy petals into the wind. She falls and the flower is smashed on the ground, unwished. Her brother scoops her up with tenderness that leaves her wishing for nothing. 

The writing combined with the movement in the illustrations makes this book a beautiful representation of the importance of caring for the people we love. 

Book Reviews:

 "The award-winning team behind Last Stop on Market Street portrays Carmela’s Spanish-speaking community as a vibrant place of possibility, and Robinson’s acrylic-and-cutout spreads introduce readers to street vendors, workers in the fields, and sweeping views of the sea. Sensitively conceived and exuberantly executed, Carmela’s story shines."

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

 “Full of rich details, sharp and restrained writing, and acrylic paintings that look textured enough to rise off the page . . . Another near-perfect slice of life from a duo that has found a way to spotlight underrepresented children without forgetting that they are children first.”

—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Connections:

This is a fantastic book about relationships and family values from a child’s perspective. For an extension activity, you could read this book and have your students discuss what they wish for and why.

Awards:

Newbery Medal, 2016

Caldecott Honor Book, 2016

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book, 2016

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5361.