Alma and How She Got Her Name

Alma and How She Got Her Name written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal is winner of the 2019 Caldecott Honor. In a 32 page picturebook the author takes us through the story of why Alma Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Candela has such a long name. Alma complains to her father that her name is too long to write. Her father then invites Alma over while he gets a photo album and sits her on his lap to tell her about where she got all her names. Throughout the story the father talks about all of the important people Alma was named after such as her grandmothers, a great-grandmother, a great aunt and even her grandfather. At the end of the story her Father tells her that she is the first and only Alma and that she will create her own story. 

Martinez-Neal brings this adorable realistic fiction story to life with what seems to be graphite and colored pencil drawings. In those beautiful drawings she uses soft blues and pops of red throughout the book. Her drawings are cute and whimsical while adding much detail to the pictures of Alma's ancestors.

This book would be a great read aloud for ages 4-8 and could open a class discussion about students names. If student's don't know much about their name it'd be a good opportunity for them to talk to their family about it.