Home at Last

Description: Ana Patino, a Mexican girl, adjusts to her new life in the United States, but her mother is having problems because she doesn't know English. When one of the babies falls ill, Mama tries to get help, but no one can understand her. She agrees to take English lessons and develops a sense of belonging in the process. Full-color illustrations.

Brief description:

Susan Middleton Elya is the author of more than twenty-nine popular picture books for children, including Lee & Low's "Say Hola to Spanish" series and Home at Last. She has degrees in Spanish and elementary education, and she taught Spanish for many years. Elya is known for blending English and Spanish to create clever, lively, rhyming stories. A native of Iowa, she now lives in Danville, California. You can visit her online at susanelya.com.

Review Quotes:

"[T]his highlights a problem many immigrant children must deal with -- the inability or unwillingness of a parent to learn English. The sturdy illustrations, handsomely executed in oils, are most successful when depicting the expressions of the characters: fear, pleasure, and eventually, hope." -- Booklist

"A well-told story of triumph and family solidarity." -- Kirkus Reviews

"It's a touching story that speaks to both immigrant and non-immigrant families without guise or pretension." -- Midwest Book Review

CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People - National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)