Domitila

Domitila
Written by: Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Illustrated by:  Connie McLennan
Published by: Shen Books 2000
Grades: 2-4
Genre: Fairy Tale, Fiction, Multicultural

Synopsis: Coburn adapted the story of Cinderella and put a Mexican tradition twist on it.  Domitila works as a cook in the governor’s house to raise money for her father and sick mother.  She cooks her famous nopales for Timoteo, but unexpectedly needs to leave because her mother dies.  Timoteo searches for her because he knows she is the one and they end up living happily ever after.

Theme/Skill: Themes such as work, poverty, death, and love.  It talks also about the Mexican tradition.  It deals with skills such as sequence, cause and effect, analyzing story elements.

About the Author: Jewell Reinhart Coburn

Coburn has many experiences with diverse cultures since she has studied and lived abroad.  Coburn has a doctorate in Higher Education administration and two honorary degrees.  Not only has she written Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition but also two other books similar to this including Angkat, The Cambodian Cinderella and Jouanah: La Cenicienta Hmong.  She currently lives in Santa Barbara, California with her husband Bill.

Source used: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/88708.Jewell_Reinhart_Coburn

 

About the Illustrator: Connie McLennan

Connie grew up in Yreka, California.  She started painting and drawing at an early age by working on projects with her mother constantly.  She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a degree in journalism.  Then she attended the Academy of Art in San Francisco.  She worked as a freelance illustrator in 1982 and then illustrated for advertising, institutional and editorial projects, and illustrated for 13 children’s books.  She attended painting workshops to better enhance her illustrations. 

Source used: http://ckmclen.fineartstudioonline.com/about

                                            
Pre-Reading Activities:  In order to start off on a more simple idea, students will compare and contrast an apple and orange.  As a whole-group students will create a Venn Diagram taking turns coming up to the board and writing down something similar or different in the correct place.  Explain that just like comparing an apple and an orange you can also compare different versions of books and movies to one another.  Explain you will compare the American Version of Cinderella to a Mexican version entitled Domitila.  We will then watch the movie Cinderella and map out the main ideas of it. 

Post-Reading Activities:  After we read Domitila, we will map out the main ideas of it just like we did for Cinderella.  Both charts will be hung up in front of the class side by side for each child to see. Then in small groups, children will look at both charts, and compare and contrast the two versions using a Venn Diagram.  Students will come together when they are finished and share with the entire class. This can also be expanded by drawing further upon cultures by seeing how they are similar and different. 

Reflection: I love this story and how students and the audience can make connections from this book to other books, especially to the traditional version, Cinderella. I think it is a good story to work on story elements with children especially characters, setting, plot, climax, and resolution. Although it is a lengthier story, a teacher could break it down into different parts for students to read. On each section, the teacher could come up with an activity to focus on. This would allow students to work on a variety of skills using the same book. I think the illustrations also help to depict the Mexican culture and the similarities and differences it has to Cinderella. I love this rendition and the connections it makes to my all time favorite fairy tale, Cinderella.

Link to further activities: http://www.hbavenues.com/highpoint/library/pdf/HP_LL_TG_B4_2.pdf