Alma and How She Got Her Name
Written and Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Publisher’s Summary:
When Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names, she hears the story of her name and learns about her grandparents.

Primary Source Pairing:
Author and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal concludes her Authors Note by asking two questions: “What is the story of your name?” and “What story would  you like to tell?” For this primary source pairing, invite students to tell the story of their own names and draw a picture to accompany their story, just like we learn of Alma’s story through pictures. Create a bulletin board in the library or school to highlight this work. Take a mini, in-school field trip to study the name display and begin discussions with each other. After the bulletin board has been studied and appreciated by the school community, send the work home with a note from the library thanking the student and family for contributing to the positive learning culture at the school. Invite teachers, staff, and administrators to participate, too. Use and modify this Google Doc template to get started.

Questions for Discussion when studying the bulletin board display:

• Find something that connects to your name’s story.
• Think of a question you could ask a classmate about his or her name.
• Look for a detail that is new and interesting.
• Compliment a classmate on something you found creative in his or her artwork.

Credits: Alma and How She Got Her Name Activity Google Template
Book Cover and Summary: Follett