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First Day in Grapes

By L. King Perez
Illustrated by Robert Casilla

Hardcover: out of stock

Paperback: $11.95

Ebook

All year long Chico and his family move up and down the state of California picking fruits and vegetables. Every September they pick grapes and Chico starts at a new school again. Often other children pick on him — maybe because he is always new or maybe because he speaks Spanish sometimes.

Chico's first day in third grade turns out to be different. His teacher likes him right away, and she and his classmates are quick to recognize his excellent math skills. He may even get to go to the math fair! When the fourth-grade bullies confront Chico in the lunchroom, he responds wisely with strengths of his own.

Readers of all backgrounds will relate to Chico's bravery and the creative way he finds to resolve conflict. This story of personal triumph is a testament to the inner strength in all of us.

Check out First Day in Grapes in the Building Classroom Community in Second Grade unit and collection.

About the Creators

Thumb_thumb L. King Perez - Author

has won many awards for her fiction and poetry. In addition to writing, she accompanies visiting authors to their appearances around Dayton, Ohio, where she and her husband live. Pérez based the story of Chico in FIRST DAY IN GRAPES on her husband's experiences growing up as a migrant child in California.

Thumb_thumb Robert Casilla

is the illustrator of several books in Holiday House's "A Picture Book..." biography series, as well as many award-winning books, including Jalapeño Bagels (ALA Notable; Atheneum), Daddy Poems (Children's Choices; Boyds Mills), and The Little Painter of Sabana Grande (Reading Rainbow Book; Bradbury). A full-time illustrator, Casilla earned his BFA at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He lives in Yonkers, New York, with his wife and their two children. To find out more about Robert Casilla, visit his Web site: www.robertcasilla.com