My Name is Maria Isabel By Alma Flor Ada

I recently read the book My Name is Maria Isabel.  It is about a young girl starting school for the first time. Her full name is Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez. When she gets to school the teacher tells her that there are already too many Maria's in their class. So the teacher changes her name to Mary Lopez. She doesn't say anything at the time, but she is really upset because she is very proud of her family and who she is named after. She starts getting in trouble for not answering the teacher when she is called on, she isn't doing this on purpose she just recognize the new name. While reading the book Charlotte's Web, Maria gets inspired to write out how she feels about not being aloud to be in the winter pageant, the one thing she wants more than anything. She explains how important her name is Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez is so important to her and how proud she is to be named after her wonderful family. Her teacher realizes what a mistake she makes and gives Maria a part in the pageant singing and begins calling her by her correct name again. I think this was a great multicultural book about names. Everyone's name is very special to them and helps young children find their own identity and be proud of were they come from. It is very important for children to learn about their names and where they came from so they can take pride in themselves and their families.