Armando and the Blue Tarp School

By Edith Hope Fine, Judith Josephson, Hernán Sosa
Paperback: $11.95

The story of a young Mexican boy living in a colonia (trash dump community) who takes the first steps toward realizing his dream of getting an education.

Front cover for Armando y la escuela de lona azul by Edith Hope Fine; Judith Josephson and Hernán Sosa
This book is also available in Spanish
Armando y la escuela de lona azul
By Edith Hope Fine, Judith Josephson, Hernán Sosa

Description

Armando’s family is pepenadores, trash pickers, living off things they can use, recycle, and sell from the city trash dump. Armando works with his father to help support the family, but he also finds things for himself–pencil stubs, a notebook, and an old paint set–with which to write and paint.

One summer Señor David arrives and begins teaching school on a blue tarp spread on the ground. Armando’s parents finally decide that learning may help him find different work when he grows up, so he begins attending the blue tarp school. The children learn to read and write in Spanish and English. They learn math. And they draw, much to Armando’s delight.

When a fire in the colonia burns down several homes, it is Armando’s picture of the fiery night that helps bring outside support and money to construct a school building. The story is inspired by the work of David Lynch, a teacher from New York who first began working in a colonia in Mexico in the early 1980s.

About the Creators

Edith Hope Fine

Edith Hope Fine is a full-time writer of children's books and stories. Fine's Under the Lemon Moon, published by Lee & Low Books, was a Parents' Choice Award Honor book. Fine lives in Encinitas, California. To find out more, visit Edith Hope Fine's Web site at edithfine.com. Edith, along with co-author Judith Pinkerton Josephson, have created a special site for the Lee & Low Books title Armando and the Blue Tarp School at bluetarpschool.com.

Judith Josephson

Judith Pinkerton Josephson is a full-time writer of children's books and stories. Josephson's Growing Up in World War II won first place in the San Diego Book Awards. She lives in Encinitas, California. To find out more, visit Judith Pinkerton Josephson's Web site at judithjosephson.com. Judith, along with co-author Edith Hope Fine, have set up a special site for the Lee & Low Books title Armando and the Blue Tarp School at bluetarpschool.com.

Hernán Sosa

Hernán Sosa was born in Argentina and raised in Paraguay. He received a degree in visual communications from the Colorado Institute of Art. He currently works as an illustrator of children's books and as a graphic designer focusing mostly on magazines. Sosa and his wife live in Denver, Colorado. His website is coroflot.com/hernansosaillustration.

Awards

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

  • California Young Reader Medal Nominee

    California Young Reader Medal

Reviews

  • "This affecting tale-of a plein-air schoolroom in a deeply impoverished neighborhood populated by pepenadores (trash pickers)-springs from the real deal. . . . The simplicity of the story is what lets it run deep, its bite of realism; no sermons are being delivered here, just a door thrown open to life under reduced circumstances (though Sosa's artwork, with its look of leaded glass, conveys a benevolent quality to the proceedings). Without patronizing, Señor David defines the essence of humanitarianism, while the pepenadores, ever searching for beauty in the beast, find gold-and prize it."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "This poignant picture book narrated by a young boy is based on a true story of a New York City teacher who set up a school on a blue tarp spread on the ground near a garbage dump in Tijuana, Mexico.... Without melodrama, Armando's story shows what poverty means and the hope that things can change."

    - Booklist
  • "The well-written text will be an eye-opener for children who take school for granted."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781620141656
  • Publication Date Mar 15, 2014
  • Trim Size 10.25 × 8.25 in
  • Weight 0.375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Word Count 1419
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781584302780
  • Publication Date Mar 15, 2014
  • Trim Size 10.5 × 8.5 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 32
  • Word Count 1419
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / School & Education
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / People & Places / Mexico
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / People & Places / United States / Hispanic & Latino
  • Themes Education, Fiction, Friendship, Kindness / Caring, Latinx / Latino / Hispanic, Leadership, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Poverty, Realistic Fiction, Responsibility
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 5 - 8
  • Grade Range Grades K - 3
  • Guided Reading Q
  • ATOS Book Level 2.8
  • DRA 40
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 560
  • Reading Level 3
  • SRC 2.7
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 195
      Fluent Dual Language
      Collection of 195 books: $2,435.25