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Professional Honors

2014

OHTLI Award. For services to Mexican Community Abroad.
Mexican Government.

2012

Outstanding Cultural Award.
American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education [AAHHE]

The school library of Cardenas Elementary School in Los Angeles Unified School District now is named Alma Flor Ada Library.

2011

Annual Award.
California Council for Higher Education Award

2008

Hispanic Research Issues Award for Research in Elementary, Secondary or Postsecondary Education.
American Educational Research Association [AERA]

Lifetime Achievement Award.
California Association for Bilingual Education [CABE]

2005

Reading the World Conference Award.
School of Education, University of San Francisco

1991

Los Angeles Bilingual Directors' Association Award

1990

California PTA State Association Award

1989

Alumnae Society Award.
School of Education, University of San Francisco

1985

Distinguished Teaching Award.
University of San Francisco

1984

Wayne Doyle Faculty Award for Excellence In Research
School of Education, University of San Francisco

1974

Michigan Endowment for the Arts Grant, Detroit, Michigan

1971

Faculty Research Grant.
Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

1966-68

Radcliffe Institute Scholar - Two consecutive appointments.
Harvard University

1965-67

Fulbright Scholar Research Grant.
Institute of International Education

1959

Beca de Honor, Estudios Hispánicos.
Universidad Complutense, Madrid

1957-58

Teaching Assistantship.
Barry University, Miami, Florida

1955-56

Teaching Assistantship.
Loretto Heights College, Denver, Colorado

Literary Awards

2014

2013

2012

Virginia Hamilton Literary Award

Second Prize International Latino Book Awards.
[ForLove Amalia, co-authored with Gabriel Zubizarreta]

2000

Pura Belpré Award Medal, American Library Association
[ForUnder the Royal Palms]

Laurate, San Francisco Public Library

1998

1997

Premio Mundial José Martí, Honors, San José, Costa Rica

Gold Medal (Folklore category), National Association of Parenting Publications
[ForThe Lizard and the Sun/La lagartija y el sol]

1996

Latina Writers Award

AEsop Accolade from the American Folklore Association
[ForMediopollito/Half-chicken]

1994

1991

1987

1981

OTHER LITERARY RECOGNITIONS

2015

Island Treasures
Junior Literary Guild Selection

2014

Yes! We are Latinos
Junior Literary Guild Selection
2011

Ten Little Puppies/Diez Perritos
Junior Literary Guild Selection

Nacer bailando
Junior Literary Guild Selection

2009

MuuMoo Animal Nursery Rhymes
CCBC Choice from Cooperative Children Books Center

2006

Tales Our Abuelitas Told:

Best Folklore in Best Books of the Year, Nick Jr. Family Magazine

Kirkus Best Books, Kirkus Review

A Parent's Choice Recommended Book

Best Books of the Year. Books for a Global Society SIG - American Library Association

Notable Book in the area of Language Arts

Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelas
Junior Literary Guild Selection

2004

¡Pío Peep!

Best Ten Books for Babies, Beginning with Books, Center for Early Literacy

Best Book of the Year, Nick Jr. Magazine

Media Award, Parent's Guide to Children's Media

100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library

Books of the Year Award, Parenting Magazines

2 x 2 Reading List, Texas Library Association

Starred Review, School Library Journal

Starred Review, Críticas

2000

Under the Royal Palms
Best Books of the Year 2000, American Library Association

1997, 1993

The Gold Coin, My Name is María Isabel
Notable Book in the area of Social Studies by the National Council of Social Studies and the Children's Book Council

2006, 1998, 1997

Tales our Abuelitas Told, Under the Royal Palms, Gathering the Sun

Notable Book in the area of Language Arts

Best Books of the Year, Kirkus Review

1997, 1993

Gathering the Sun, Dear Peter Rabbit, The Gold Coin, My Name is Maria Isabel
"Pick of the List," American Booksellers Association

1993

The rooster who went to his uncle's wedding
One of the Best Books of the Year - Bank Street College

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2014 OHTLI Award. For services to Mexican Community Abroad. Mexican Government. 2012 Outstanding Cultural Award. American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education [AAHHE] The school library of Cardenas Elementary School in Los Angeles Unified School District now is named Alma Flor Ada Library. 2011 Annual Award.

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Poetry Reading: Alma Flor Ada reads poem about being bilingual - "Bilingual" (English and Spanish)

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Del Sol Books provides you with the very best Spanish, English, and Bilingual Children's Books and Music, featuring Alma Flor Ada, F. Isabel Campoy, and Suni Paz at 20%-Off, with Free Immediate Mailing and No Sales Tax

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Tweets by almaflorada

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Alma Flor Ada | Latino, Hispanic, Bilingual & Multicultural Children\'s Literature & Poetry

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Alma Flor Ada is the Author of Many Wonderful Children\'s Books in Español and English. Latino, Hispanic & Multicultural Children\'s Literature

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Alma Flor Ada is the award-winning author of more than 200 books for children. She is also a poet, storyteller, educator, mother, and grandmother. With a Ph.D. in literature and a lifelong love for stories, Ada has mastered the art of retelling traditional folktales and nursery rhymes from across Latin America. A native of Cuba who has also lived in Spain, Peru, and the United States, Alma Flor Ada writes poetry, picture books, and novels that offer rich, multicultural perspectives for all children.

Transcript

Biography

Alma Flor Ada grew up with her extended family in a big house on the outskirts of Camagüey, Cuba. As a young girl, she loved to read, play outside on the farm, and listen to her mother sing old ballads at bedtime. Alma Flor's grandmother used to recite poetry and tell her traditional folktales. After studying English and attending bilingual schools, Alma Flor Ada earned a scholarship to a college in the United States at the age of 17.

For many years, Ada followed her academic interests around the globe. In Spain she earned a degree in Hispanic Studies. In Peru she received a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature. After conducting post-doctoral research at Harvard University, Ada became a professor at the University of San Francisco, where she directed the Center for Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. Over the years, Ada has been an influential leader in the field of bilingual education in the United States.

Alma Flor Ada's career as an author first began when she started developing text books for her high school students in Peru. Her first children's book, which she originally wrote for her daughter, became required reading for tens of thousands of Peruvian school children. Since moving to the United States, Ada has developed educational materials, retold folktales, and written original picture books and middle grade novels. Among her many awards are the Christopher Award for The Golden Coin and the Pura Belpré Award for Under the Royal Palms.

Alma Flor Ada lives Mill Valley, California and is a Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco.

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Alma Flor Ada is the award-winning author of more than 200 books for children. She is also a poet, storyteller, educator, mother, and grandmother. With a Ph.D. in literature and a lifelong love for stories, Ada has mastered the art of retelling traditional folktales and nursery rhymes from across Latin America.

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Alma Flor Ada

About Alma Flor Ada

Born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1953

Came to the United States in 1968 at 15 years old after spending time in Spain

Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco,

Has written many books for educators, adults, and children

Has devoted her life to advocacy for peace by promoting personal realization and social justice

Many children's books available in both Spanish and English or are bilingual

Many awards (see website for complete list)

Quotes from Alma Flor Ada

"Every evening my grandmother and I sat on the porch to wait for the sunset. I listened to her stories of the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice that had been carried on by people who lived in that same house. Her ability to tell stories made history alive to me and planted the seed that children can listen to very important topics if they are presented as a good story." (http://almaflorada.com/about/biographical-information/)

"The topics that keep repeating, whether the characters be animals, people or even geometric shapes are the joy of family, the surprises of discovering friendship among those who apparently are different from us, our capacity to change our environment and thus our life for the better, and the power in not-giving up. (http://almaflorada.com/about/biographical-information/)

How does Alma Flor Ada get ideas for writing? She says, "Ideas are all around us. I can get inspired for a story by seeing something, or by hearing some words... but at the end it always seems that the stories reflect something that is deep in me." (http://almaflorada.com/about/biographical-information/)

Annotated Bibliography

Click here to view a pdf version of an annotated bibliography about 45 of Ada's 200 children books. As well, please take the time look through Ada's children's book on her website: http://almaflorada.com/childrens-books/. There is a page for each book which gives a description of the book (and video if available), recognition the book has received, an author's note stating why Ada wrote the text, reviews, and lesson plans.

Reflections on Major Works

I Love Saturdays y domingos
This book chronicles the weekends of a little girl who spends her Saturdays with her European-American Grandma and Grandpa, and domingos (Sundays) with her Mexican-American Abuelito y Abuelita. She eats greets them, eats breakfast with them, flies balloons and kites with them, plays with their pets, and listens to their stories. Then both families come together to celebrate her birthday with traditions from both cultures.
The story uses a lot of Spanish vocabulary when describing her time with her Mexican grandparents. This fusion of the Mexican culture and Spanish language with American culture and English is a very common theme in Ada's books. This interest in Spanish stems from growing up in Cuba. Another very significant feature of Ada's books is the depth to which she explores the various cultures, she writes beyond surface level stereotypes. I really enjoyed this book! I liked how seamlessly the English and Spanish flowed together (although I can't read the Spanish I was able to discern the meaning). I also was very drawn by the nice comparisons Ada draws between the cultures. She shows that both grandparents do similar things, and love their granddaughter, but do it in different ways, which is a very important message for children.

reads as a folktale it is an original story about a thief Juan, who wants Dona Josefa's gold coin. Dona Josefa is the local healer and travels around the countryside to care for the sick and wounded. Juan chases after her but is always a little late and finds himself helping the local people in the their fields in order to get them to take him to her. While in the fields he remembers how nice it is to be in the sun, to smile, to eat and talk with people, and to love. In essence he is realizes that people and hard work are what truly bring joy, not an accumulation of wealth. At the end, he is clearly an changed man. He is offered the gold coin but gives it back to Dona Josefa saying, "He will need it more than I."
The story follows the theme Ada mentioned is common in many of her books, "t he joy of family, the surprises of discovering friendship among those who apparently are different from us, and our capacity to change our environment and thus our life for the better" (Alma Flor Ada). Initially, I wasn't sure I liked this story. It started off a little slow and the design is a little dated (illustration and text figuration). However, as I kept reading, I really liked the message of the story. I also noticed there is actually a lot of depth to the illustrations if you pay attention. This plot line was more deep than I Love Saturdays y domingos, but had similar Spanish influences.

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Born in Cam­agüey, Cuba in 1953 Came to the United States in 1968 at 15 years old after spending time in Spain Pro­fes­sor Emerita at the Uni­ver­sity of San Fran­cisco, Has written many books for educators, adults, and children Has devoted her life to advocacy for peace by promoting personal real­iza­tion and social justice Many children's books available in both Spanish and English or are bilingual Many awards (see website for complete list) Quotes from Alma Flor Ada "Every evening my grandmother and I sat on the porch to wait for the sunset.