Neither too elementary nor too complex, Gathering the Sun is a true reading pleasure and treasure that can be (and should be) appreciated by both children and adults, and would indeed be a wonderful and versatile teaching and learning tool in beginning level (and even basic intermediate) Spanish language classes. The poetical text selections of Gathering the Sun are straightforward, effortless and delightfully uncluttered, but also always rich, full of flavour and a myriad of nuances, textually capturing the sights, sounds, the tastes of water, tomatoes, beets, showing what farming, what the life of a farm worker is, or can be. in Spanish Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima, Perú and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute and a Fulbright Research Scholar.Ī wonderful collection of simple, yet always tenderly evocative poems, one for every letter of the Spanish alphabet, Alma Flor Ada's amazing dual-language, lushly and brilliantly illustrated alphabet book not only captures the sun, the meadows, the fields of Mexico and the Southern United States, it is also an important and heartfelt homage to migrant farm workers, to people like César Chavez (to whom Gathering the Sun is dedicated), to those individuals who work hard (who must work hard) in the fields so that we can buy and enjoy fresh produce at reasonable and affordable prices. Latino poetry, Art, and Biographies for children, published by Santillanaĭr. Puertas al Sol - Pathways to the Sun, published by Santillana Música amiga, a program for learning through songs, published by Del Sol Books She has authored several reading programs, among them two Spanish reading programs :Īnd is a series consultant for Relatos de la historia (1-5), a Spanish social studies program developed by Harcourt School Publishers.Īmong her most substantive contributions to the transmission of Hispanic culture to children are : The award-winning author of numerous children’s books and a prolific translator, Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents. Reading Up!, Natural Head Start AssociationĪ frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young PeopleĪdvisory Board of Loose Leaf Public Radio Programs

She has been active for many years in various professional associations including : IRA, International Reading AssociationĬABE, California Association for Bilingual Education

NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education Ada was the founder and First Editor in Chief of :

Gathering the sun by alma flor ada