Meet award winning illustrator, picture book writer and May's Author of the Month Angela Dominguez as she debuts her first book for middle grade students, Stella Diaz Has Something to Say!
Shy, third-grader Stella Díaz wishes she could speak better English and better Spanish—really she just wishes she could find the courage to speak. Having her best friend in a different class doesn't help, especially when the popular girls start calling her "Stella Stares." When a new student joins her class, all Stella wants to do is make a new friend, but whenever she tries to open her mouth, she always says the wrong thing. Will Stella ever realize she's stronger than she thinks? Stella's story is based on Angela's own childhood experiences growing up in an immigrant family and struggling to find her own voice.
More to Explore
- Angela Dominguez won a Pura Belpré Honor for her illustrations of Maria Had a Little Llama and Mango, Abuela and Me.
- Stella and her family love to cook, try some of these recipes at home for some excellent Mexican Food.
- Though Stella now lives outside Chicago, she was actually born in Mexico City and loves to hear the story of the two volcanoes that surround it. Check out this folk tale in The Princess and the Warrior.
- When Stella has to do a class presentation on animals, she chooses her favorite—fish! Visiting the Shedd Aquarium would be a great way to do some research.
- Because of her love of fish, Stella is fascinated with The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau.
- Read one of Stella's favorite books James and the Giant Peach.
If you loved Stella Díaz Has Something to Say?
Lola Levine Is Not Mean!: Angela Dominguez illustrates this series by Monica Brown about a soccer-loving, half-Peruvian half-Jewish second grader.
Juana & Lucas: Juana loves living in Columbia, playing fútbol and her dog Lucas, but she does not love learning English. Will the possibility of traveling to Florida to meet her favorite character be enough motivation to learn a new language?
Becoming Naomi León: When her absentee mother returns to take her away from her beloved abuela, Naomi and her family travel to Mexico to find her father and discover her roots.
My Life in Pictures: Like Stella, Bea is separated from her best friend and is a budding artist.
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