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Summary:
Miguel, Juanita, and Mama moved from New York to Vermont after Mama and Papa got divorced. Papa stayed in New York. Miguel was the one who got most affected by this situation because he left his home, friends, and papa behind. Days pass, but it was difficult for Miguel and his hermana Juanita to make friends in Vermont and try to fit into a predominantly white community. Tia Lola comes to “visit,” but she ends up staying. At first, Miguel was not comfortable with Tia Lola because she did not know any English. She was always full of energy, danced, and cooked exotic foods from her home country, Dominican Republic. In the end, Miguel has pride in his family and where he is from. This book seamlessly weaves two culturas (cultures) while each culture remains intact, just as Miguel wants to do with his own life.

Rational for book Choice:
This particular novel was my selected choice because it is a delightfully entertaining story of family and culture. Miguel, who is the main character, does not know any English or anything about his culture from the Dominican Republic. When Tia Lola decided to visit, she taught Miguel about the Dominican Republic culture. She cooked exotic foods, danced, and even taught him Spanish words from his home culture. This book is excellent for bilingual students because it incorporates Spanish phrases and translates them into English. Therefore, students will be learning Spanish and English at the same time. In addition, this novel portrays the theme of culture. Tia Lola teaches Miguel and his sister about their home culture. In bilingual classrooms, teachers try to connect the content they are teaching to Latin American culture because most of the students are from Latin America. This novel is excellent for students to learn about the Dominican Republic.

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Tia Lola mentions how Dominican Republic music is part of their culture. This article explains the different types of traditional music from the Dominican Republic. Students will view videos of Dominican Republic dances such as merengue and Bachata. The students will discuss their culture and how it is different or similar to the Dominican Republic culture.

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Hotel Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino (Punta Cana)

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El mayor atractivo turístico de la República Dominicana son sus extensas playas de arena fina y aguas turquesas, pero el país guarda más atractivos por los que merece la pena disfrutar unas vacaciones en familia o en pareja. Dos de ellos son su música y sus festivales, en donde destaca Punta Cana, una de las regiones con más movimiento y planes de República Dominicana.

Debido a la proximidad histórica del país dominicano con España, tras el paso de los colonos, las festividades y músicas más importantes son muy similares. En concreto, los habitantes dominicanos destacan por su facilidad y talento para el baile y la música, hasta el punto de bailar en cualquier lugar donde suene una buena canción.

Música tradicional de la República Dominicana

Por encima del resto, hay dos géneros musicales dominantes que son sinónimo de República Dominicana: el merengue y la bachata, aunque en el país dominicano podrá encontrarse un sinfín de bailes, música y folclore.

Merengue

El merengue es el baile y música nacional de la República Dominicana. En el año 2016, fue declarado obra maestra del patrimonio cultural, oral e inmaterial de la humanidad por la UNESCO. Si habla con cualquier dominicano, le transmitirá que es parte de la esencia de cualquier habitante del país; pues su lírica es compartida y transmitida cada día en historias reales de la vida, y los instrumentos que se utilizan reflejan la identidad de la República Dominicana:

La güira, procedente de la tradición taina de la isla; un cilindro compuesto de metal con un cepillo para tocarla de arriba a abajo.

La tambora, un tambor de origen africano

El acordeón, procedente de la cultura española.

Bachata

La bachata, pese a no ser la música tradicional de la República Dominicana, ha ganado mucha popularidad en los últimos años, tanto en la República Dominicana, como en todo el mundo. Nacida como un bolero de cuerda, esta música sensual y lenta era considerada como la música de las clases bajas. Sin embargo, pronto se convirtió en popular, hasta el punto de alcanzar los niveles más sofisticados de la cultura musical dominicana, siendo interpretada por celebridades del nivel de Víctor Víctor o Juan Luis Guerra.

Uno de los primeros creadores y difusores de la bachata es José Manuel Calderón, durante la década de 1960, para ser extendida más tarde por Rafael Encarnación o Luis Segura, acompañados por cantantes como Luis Vargas o Anthony Santos, quienes le dieron nuevos tonos y ritmos. Finalmente, en la década de 1990, el grupo musical Aventura, liderado por Romeo Santos, creó un nuevo estilo, fusionando la bachata con otros ritmos y músicas, modernizando el género y aupándolo a la esfera internacional.

Son

Pese a no estar tan extendido como el merengue y la bachata, el son forma parte de la cultura musical dominicana. Nació a finales del siglo XIX, en las ciudades norteñas de Puerto Plata y Montecristi, como resultado de la fusión de ritmos latinos y africanos, aunque existen teorías que aseguran que es un género derivado del bolero. Su creación es atribuida al cantante cubano Miguel Matamoros.

Cantantes famosos dominicanos

Hoy en día son muchos los cantantes dominicanos reconocidos mundialmente, entre los que podemos destacar a Juan Luis Guerra, Joseíto Mateo, Milly Quezada, Johnny Guerra, Fernando Villalona, los Hermanos Rosario, y muchos más.

Dentro del género son se encuadran muchos artistas, de la talla de Sonia Cabral (conocida como la reina del son), el Grupo Mantiel, los Hermanos Heredia, y el grupo Bonyé, que actúa todos los domingos por la tarde en la Ciudad Colonial de Santo Domingo.

Música Folclórica dominicana

Influenciado directamente por la herencia africana de la que procede, el folclore dominicano goza del mismo estado de salud que sus ritmos modernos. Sus sonidos tradicionales pueden ser disfrutados en varias regiones de República Dominicana, especialmente, durante el mes del carnaval, en Febrero.

Dentro de Santo Domingo, destacan los Congos de Villa Mella, proclamados obra maestra del patrimonio inmaterial y oral de la humanidad por la UNESCO en el año 2001, caracterizados por sus ritmos espirituales, procedentes del oeste de África; donde destacan los tambores de dos cabezas y las maracas. Otro estilo musical protegido por la UNESCO es la música de las Guloyas y su baile Cocolo, de origen africano y británico.

Música popular

Además del son, la bachata o el merengue, existen otros sonidos contemporáneos que pueden escucharse en la República Dominicana, como el jazz.

Festivales en Punta Cana

Los festivales de República Dominicana más relevantes son las patronales, donde cada provincia celebra sus propias fiestas con una duración de, aproximadamente, 9 días. Aunque el origen es religioso, van acompañadas de todo tipo de actividades deportivas, artísticas y conciertos.

Estos son sólo algunos ejemplos de la riqueza cultural dominicana, un país que le atraerá por sus playas y costas, y que le embelesará por la cultura y tradición que guarda dentro de sus fronteras.

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¿Cómo es la música de República Dominicana? - Lopesan Costa Bávaro

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El mayor atractivo turístico de la República Dominicana son sus extensas playas de arena fina y aguas turquesas, pero el país guarda más atractivos por los que merece la pena disfrutar unas vacaciones en familia o en pareja.

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Tia Lola's specialty is cooking. When Tia Lola came to Vermont with Miguel and Juanita, she introduced them to Dominican Republic dishes such as Dominican pizza and Arroz con habichuelas. Students will discuss each other's culture. Latin America has various cultures, and students should be familiar with their culture and others.

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Students will learn about the history of the Dominican Republic and some interesting facts about it. Students must be familiar with important key concepts of the Dominican Republic since the book "How Tia Lola came to Stay" mostly talks about the culture of the Dominican Republic. By the end of the unit, the students will have to write an essay comparing their culture to the Dominican Republic.

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Interesting Facts about the Dominican Republic for Kids

Here are some interesting Dominican Republic Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Dominican Republic for Kids

Population: 10.6 million people live in the Dominican Republic (2021)

Name: República Dominicana (Dominican Republic)

Capital: Santo Domingo with 3.4 million inhabitants

Government: Presidential republic

"Motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad" (God, Homeland, Freedom)

Language: Spanish

Literacy: More than 93% of the people can read and write.

Religion: mainly Christians (about 70% of these mainly Catholics 48%)

Currency: 1 Peso Dominicano = 100 centavos

National Symbols: Palmchat (national bird), red, white and blue (national colours)

National Day: 27 February (Independence Day)

History: The Taíno lived on Hispaniola island long before the Spanish colonisers settled on the island. Christopher Columbus explored the island on his first voyage in 1492. Due to smallpox and other imported diseases many of the Taíno people died during the colonisation. The Spanish established sugar cane plantations and in the 17th century the French mainly settled in the western parts of the island, where they started tobacco plantations. The Dominican Republic was first known as Santo Domingo and only in 1844 declared independence from Haiti. Then the first constitution was established after the Dominican Republic's Independence War and the republic only gained independence again in 1865.

Dominican Republic Facts Geography

Where is the Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic is located on an island in the Caribbean Sea. The island is called Hispaniola.

Hispaniola is the second largest island in the Caribbean on the North American continent.

and houses two countries: the Dominican Republic in the east and Haiti in the west. The Dominican Republic is larger in land area than Haiti.

The Dominican Republic's capital city is called Santo Domingo. This city is located centrally on the southern coastline.

The Dominican Republic is a mountainous country with fertile valleys that are used for agriculture.

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean - after Cuba. The country is about the same size as Slovakia or twice the size of New Jersey/USA.

A flight from London/ UK to Punta Cana/ Dominican Republic takes roughly 8.5 hours while from Miami/USA a flight takes only 2 hours. Punta Cana is the busiest airport of the country and the main tourist centre.

Dominican Republic Facts | Climate

The Dominican Republic has a tropical rainforest climate. The weather along the coastline is hot and humid with few seasonal variation and the country's interior has more temperate temperatures.

Hispaniola island is inside the Atlantic Ocean's hurricane belt. The hurricane season usually lasts from June to October. The last major hurricane that hit the Dominican Republic was Hurricane Georges in 1998.

Dominican Republic Facts
Geo Superlatives

The name Dominican Republic comes from the name of the city Santo Domingo. The indigenous Taíno name of the country is Quisqueya.

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean - after Cuba.

Among the largest towns in the Dominican Republic are Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros and San Christobal. Puerto Plata with Playa Dorada in the north west of the country and Punta Cana in the south east of the island are among the most popular tourist resorts.

The capital city Santo Domingo is located at the Rio Ozama (in English: Ozama River). The Colonial City district is located on the western river bank.

The highest mountain peak in the Dominican Republic is Pico Duarte. The mountain is 3,098 m/ 10,164 ft high. It is also the highest mountain in the Caribbean.

Lake Enriquillo is the largest lake in the country and in the Caribbean. This lake is situated at 45 m/ 148 ft below sea level and therefore also is known as the lake with the lowest elevation in the region.

The longest river in the Dominican Republic is the Yaque del Norte with 296 km/ 184 miles.

The Salto El Limón (El Limon Waterfalls) are among the highest and most scenic waterfall sites.

Dominican Republic Facts
Dominican Republic Landmarks

Alcazár de Colón: This Dominican landmark is located in Santo Domingo's Ciudad Colonial (which means Colonial City). This palace was once home to Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus. Today it houses a museum. The Ciudad Colonial is the site of the first cathedral and fortress built in the Americas and has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

The monumental Faro a Colón, also referred to as 'Columbus Lighthouse' was built in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in the country. In this building which includes a mausoleum and a museum the bones of Columbus (which is disputed by Spain) and ancient objects are exhibited.

Los Haitises National Park: In this national park, numerous high towering rocks mount out of the water. The rock formations are up to 30 m/ 98 ft high. Los haitises means 'hilly land' in the local Taíno language. The bay with rocky islands, mangroves and caves is best explored by boat.

Jaragua National Park is the largest protected area in the Caribbean. Here you find the stunning Bahia de las Aguillas (which means "Eagles Bay"). This remote beach is 8 km/ 5 miles long.

Dominican Republic Facts Economy

In the Dominican Republic's fertile valleys, farmers grow a large variety of agricultural products. Among the main produce are sugarcane, tobacco and coffee. About 40% of the country is forested and 50% of the land is used for agriculture.

The Dominican Republic is one of the ten top producers and exporters of cocoa products.

Other important export products of the Dominican Republic are the natural resources nickel, bauxite, gold and silver, as well as agricultural products such as sugar and coffee.

The main trading partner of the Dominican Republic are the USA. China, Haiti and Canada are also important trading partners.

Dominican Republic Facts | People

The Taino-Arawak Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola. The island was colonised by the Spanish and French. The Dominicans speak Spanish which is also the official language while in neighbouring Haiti people speak mainly French.

About 27% of the Dominican population is under 14 years old.

Most of the Dominican people live in urban areas (83%) along the southern coastal plains and in the fertile Cibao valley.

Dominican Republic Facts
Food

The Dominican cuisine is influenced by Spanish, French, Taíno and African cooking styles. Plantains, beans, coconuts, fruits and vegetables are widely grown and used in the Dominican dishes.

Typical Dominican food and drinks include:

Tostones: Fried green plantains, that are enjoyed usually salted not sweet.

La Bandera: national dish called "national flag", usually eaten at lunchtime, made with chicken, rice, beans and served with avocado.

Sancocho: also often called the national soup is a meat broth made with vegetables and pumpkin

Helado de Batata: ice cream made with coconut milk and sweet potatoes

Biscocho Dominicano: the "Dominican cake" is a frosted sponge cake filled with pineapple jam

Dominican Republic Facts Animals

The Dominican national bird is the palmchat, a long-tailed songbird that is only found on Hispaniola island. The palmchat birds build huge communal nests for up to 30 families.

The Dominican Republic is also home to many endangered species such as the West Indian manatee and the threatened rhinoceros iguanas.

Humpback whales come to the Bay of Samaná from January to March. The whales come to the bay to mate and give birth to their young.

Slideshow: 10 Facts - 10 Slides
Click here to view our slide show - Dominican Republic Fact slides: 10 Facts - 10 Slides
Popular Pages

Useful Resources for Dominican Republic Facts

Central Intelligence Agency. "Central America: Dominican Republic." WorldFactBook. 16 February 2021. Last accessed 19 February 2021

Marianne Florentino. "23 Iconic Dominican Foods to Try From Around the Island & Their Cultural Influences." Dominican Abroad. 5 January 2020. Last accessed 19 February 2021

Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism. "Dominican Republic has it all." GoDominicanRepublic. Last accessed 19 February 2021

Images on Dominican Republic Facts page: shutterstock.com and own images Return from Dominican Republic Facts to Kids World Travel Guide Homepage

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Dominican Republic Facts | Facts for Kids | Geography | Caribbean

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Here are some interesting Dominican Republic Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids. Population: 10.6 million people live in the Dominican Republic (2021) Name: República Dominicana (Dominican Republic) Capital: Santo Domingo with 3.4 million inhabitants Government: Presidential republic "Motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad" (God, Homeland, Freedom) Language: Spanish Literacy: More than 93% of the people can read and write.

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Hi Nataly!

I really like your book choice! If you end up using this book in a bilingual classroom I think a lot of students can relate to Miguel in different ways. For example, he was in a predominantly white community, and many students can relate to him. Sometimes it's hard for students to get used to a community that isn't similar to you. You have great Hinge activities too, you used two things that students love, food and music.

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I love your hinge activities! They are full of vibrant colors and energy. Making connections with food and music is an excellent approach!
I look forward to reading this book and possibly using it in my classroom.
Thank you for sharing!

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Nataly! Great Job with your padlet. I enjoyed reading about your hinge activities. How you found an article that talks about music that connects with Dominican Republic culture. I feel this a great way for students to see that art and music makes up our cultures.

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Hey Nataly,
I love this book choice because students will dive deeper and understand the Dominican Republic or relate it to themselves. I also enjoyed reading your hinge activities because you have students discuss their culture and share how it is different or similar to the Dominican Republic culture. I like how you used music, food, and the history of the Dominican Republic to show students their culture- they will love it! Beautiful padlet!

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Nataly! I applaud your creativity and the activities you developed for your unit plan. Also, I appreciate that it is a bilingual novel; it is definitely on my list for future reading and implementation in my classroom, and it is ideal for teaching vocabulary words in both languages. It is a fantastic book for making text connections throughout the unit and will spark a lot of discussion. Nataly, your work is beautifully done! - Carolina Hita :) 

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Nataly! I applaud your creativity and the activities you developed for your unit plan. Also, I appreciate that it is a bilingual novel; it is definitely on my list for future reading and implementation in my classroom, and it is ideal for teaching vocabulary words in both languages. It is a fantastic book for making text connections throughout the unit and will spark a lot of discussion. Nataly, your work is beautifully done! - Carolina Hita :) 