Author : L. King Perez, Illustrator : Robert Casilla
Preschool - 2nd Grade

Primer dia en las uvas
First Day in Grapes

Primer dia en las uvas, Softcover, Spanish, Book, L. King Perez, Robert Casilla, Preschool - 2nd Grade, 9781584302407, $8.95
First Day in Grapes, Hardcover, English, Book, L. King Perez, Robert Casilla, Preschool - 2nd Grade, 9781584300458, $17.95

$333.83 for the Story Collection Pura Belpre Spanish Set, Including 20%-Off, Free Shipping, and No Sales Tax : 2 Hardcover Spanish Book, 8 Hardcover Bilingual Book, 19 Softcover Spanish Books, and 12 Softcover Bilingual Books

$121.80 for Story Collection Orange Books Spanish Set, Including 20%-Off, Free Shipping, and No Sales Tax : 2 Hardcover Bilingual Books, 12 Softcover Spanish Books, and 1 Softcover Bilingual Book

Pura Belpre Award Honor Book in 2004 for Illustration
"Choices", Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Best of Beyond Difference, Vermont Center of the Book
Notable Children's Books, Smithsonian

A boy from a migrant worker family grows in self-confidence when he uses his prowess in math to stand up to bullies at his new school.

All year long, Chico’s family moves up and down the state of California, from one migrant camp to another, picking fruits and vegetables. From oranges to apples they go, from onions to tomatoes, to peppers. Every September they pick grapes, and every September Chico starts at a new school where he doesn’t know anyone.

School is a scary place for Chico. Kids sometimes pick on him and call him names. Maybe it’s because he moves so often the other kids don’t get to know him, or maybe it’s because he speaks Spanish sometimes. But the year Chico begins third grade turns out to be different.

Chico’s teacher is friendly—"the best" the other students say—and she seems to like him. While Chico finds writing stories hard, he shines in math, impressing both his teacher and his classmates. If his family stays awhile picking grapes, he may even get to go to the math fair. But then in the lunchroom, two bullies from fourth grade approach Chico and begin picking on him. Buoyed by his classroom experiences that morning, Chico gathers his courage to stand up to the bullies in the only way he knows how...

In this uplifting story of personal triumph, Chico learns the importance of relying on himself and using his talents in new situations. Children will relate to this vibrant boy’s experiences as they see there is more than one way to resolve conflicts with those who bully, tease, and discriminate.

Listen to Vienna Rose read First Day in Grapes to you.  A marvelous example of the magical encounter between a child and books that we wish for all children.

"Chico’s family leads a nomadic existence, following California’s crops. Places don’t have names but rather are associated with whatever fruit or vegetable is being harvested. The story begins as they arrive at a place simply identified as "a camp in grapes." Chico is understandably apprehensive about starting third grade at yet another new school because his previous experiences involved bullying and name calling. He meets an intimidating bus driver and a kind teacher, gets a chance to display his excellent math skills, makes new friends, and has a playground face-off with some notorious bullies. With enough positives to compensate for the challenges the child finishes his first day of the school year with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Reminiscent of Francisco Jiménez’s La Mariposa, this story also sheds light on the life of migrant children in a poignant, balanced manner. While some of the hardships are left unexplored this title will serve as a launching point for discussions about the migrant experience . . . [T]he watercolor, colored-pencil, and pastel illustrations bring warmth and color to this portrait of life in rural California." —SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Chico, the son of migrant workers, faces many first days in new schools, and today is his first day in third grade as well as his family's first day "in grapes." He's not looking forward to it, partly because he is sometimes picked on by the other students, partly because they don’t teach race car driving in school. Mama points out that everyone has a job and his is school then makes sure to straighten his back before he leaves the house, a bit of encouragement that comes in handy later, when the dreaded bullying begins. Chico has an additional ace up his sleeve; while he struggles with writing English, he's learned how to add quickly from his experience picking and packing produce. Remembering his mother's straightening and his newly recognized math talent, he stands up to the bullies and wins the respect of his new third-grade peers. He even gets up the courage to befriend the intimidating bus driver, grouchy Old Hooch. Realistic watercolor, colored-pencil and pastel illustrations excel in conveying Chico's emotions through facial expressions; his slightly sullen countenance as his teacher introduces him gives way to a shy smile as he realizes his seatmate just might be friendly this time . . . Chico's success story is cheering, and will be useful in introducing some of the issues facing migrant kids." —KIRKUS REVIEWS

"A touching story of a boy's brave and original solution to the problem of being bullied by his classmates. And the reader will get a math lesson to boot!" —Betsy Lewin, Children's illustrator and winner of Caldecott Honor for CLICK, CLACK, MOO

"[FIRST DAY IN GRAPES] was exceptional because the child being bullied was not a victim and did not behave as a victim. His response was clear, honest and effective." —Sherryll Kraizer, Ph.D., author, Take A Stand Program, The Safe Child Book, safechild.org

"Following the seasons of the harvest in California with his migrant-worker family, third grader Chico moves from school to school. When he enters a new classroom, a perceptive teacher recognizes his gift for mathematics and shows him the way to his future."—SMITHSONIAN Magazine

"Growing up in a migrant family, Chico has experienced first school days in artichokes and first days in onions, and 'now his first day in third grade would be in grapes.' Realistic watercolor, pastel and colored-pencil illustrations are especially adept at portraying Chico's emotions. His story will resonate with migrant students and those who have moved frequently. For others, its an insightful glimpse of another way of life and reminder that different kids have different talents."—BOOKLIST

"Every September Chico moves to a new school. Now that he is in third grade, he faces his First Day in Grapes. L. King Perez tells the story of a boy from a migrant family who moves throughout the state of California picking apples, oranges, onions, tomatoes, and now grapes. Robert Casilla's full-color illustrations add vibrancy and life to Chico's situation."—THE READING TEACHER

"Illustrations by Robert Casilla captures the intensity of the scenes at the country school and the authenticity of the farm workers' meager living conditions."—THE SACRAMENTO BEE

"First Day in Grapes is a wonderful story because of its universal values. Chico's solution to his problem with the boys teachers readers to be proud of their own accomplishments and that standing up for oneself can be done nonviolently. Chico's bravery is an example to children facing new and differeent situations. This book presents a well-rounded use of cultural elements including Spanish words and activities such as playing salsa on guitars. The author uses her husband's experiences as a migrant child to authenticate her work and has created a quality work of multicultural literature with a powerful message for readers."—THE ONEONTA READING JOURNAL

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