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My Very Own Room
The young Mexican American girl at the center of this charming book loves her family — five younger brothers, her two parents, and several visiting relatives — but in such a crowded house, she can never seem to find a moment alone. Told in both English and Spanish, this boldly illustrated title delivers the inspiring story of a California family that pulled together to give a young girl her own corner of the world. Imparting lessons about collective problem solving, the unshakable bonds of familial love, and the possibilities that arise when you dream big, this book is one for every child's shelf.
32 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
October 31, 2016
1) Book summary: It's about a 9 year old sleeping with her 8 brothers wanting to have her own room. She loved her brother but being the only girl and not having a personal space was bothering her. She find a small place inside of their small home and decided to make it her own. At the end her whole family helped to decorate her first real room.
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile : The grade level is kindergarten to 5th grade, the interest level is 6 to 10 years old, and the lexile is 700.
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area): Reading block
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading: Little girls would benefit best from this book.
5) Small group use (literary circles) : I could use this to enhance my students Spanish words since it provides the English and Spanish text.
6) Whole class use (read aloud) : I wouldn't use this as a whole class use
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area : What you know first book
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available : Library binding, Paperback, Audible
2) Grade level, interest level, lexile : The grade level is kindergarten to 5th grade, the interest level is 6 to 10 years old, and the lexile is 700.
3) Appropriate classroom use (subject area): Reading block
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading: Little girls would benefit best from this book.
5) Small group use (literary circles) : I could use this to enhance my students Spanish words since it provides the English and Spanish text.
6) Whole class use (read aloud) : I wouldn't use this as a whole class use
7) Related books in genre/subject or content area : What you know first book
8) Multimedia connections (audio book, movie) available : Library binding, Paperback, Audible
September 6, 2016
Summary: A young girl lives in a home with five brothers. Because of the lack of space, she has to share a bedroom with all five of her brothers. All she dreams about is having her own bedroom. One day her family helps her find a spot and they all work together to make her new room.
Grade level: 3-5
Classroom use: Spanish/ English
Students who may benefit: ESL students or students who would like to read a book in both english and spanish.
Small group use: no
Whole class use: Yes. It has a good moral and also has the availability to read in Spanish.
Related books: Nana's Big Surprise, My Diary From Here To There.
Multimedia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1m4h...
Grade level: 3-5
Classroom use: Spanish/ English
Students who may benefit: ESL students or students who would like to read a book in both english and spanish.
Small group use: no
Whole class use: Yes. It has a good moral and also has the availability to read in Spanish.
Related books: Nana's Big Surprise, My Diary From Here To There.
Multimedia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1m4h...
October 1, 2014
I liked this story. It was about a girl who wanted her own room. Her family helped her. Her mom was very nice and helpful. (Maybe even nicer than many moms would be!)
October 12, 2024
My Very Own Room is a realistic fiction picture book published in 2000. It is written in the first-person point of view of a Mexican American girl who is nine years old and still sharing a room with her five younger brothers. All she wishes for is her very own room. In the story she finds a space in her house that was storage and she and her family work to convert it into a small bedroom. This story is a bilingual book written in both Spanish and English. Even in the English words, some of the Spanish words are kept with the dialogue. For example, her mother calls her “mijita”. Amada Irma Perez shows the Mexican family values in this book with the entire family pitching in to help move. She also writes about other family members that come to stay with them until they can get on their feet. This book was based on her own family story. Maya Christina Gonzalez is a wonderful illustrator using vivid colors. In the middle of the book, one double page spread shows the entire family moving boxes and the couch out to the porch. The colors are vibrant and depict the happiness of the family. Again, showing family support, another double page spread shows Tio Pancho bringing over a bed and how happy all the children are to see him. In 2000, My Very Own Room won the 2000 Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award.
October 11, 2012
My Very Own Room was a 2001 Tomás River Mexican American Children's Book Award recipient. The book is targeted to third and fourth graders. Based on the author's Amada Irma Peréz own childhood she writes a great bilingual picture book that captures life in a family that houses relatives for long periods of time. Despite the predicament Peréz shows how greatful she is to have her family, "there was always along line to use the bathroom, but the toilet seat was always warm." The illustrations done by Maya Christina Gonzalez are impeccable, they flow do not distract from the words on paper and they also provide meaning to the text. Five little brothers, two parents and visiting relatives makes this eight year old Mexican-American girl feel crowded. All she wants is her own room, she finally comes up with a solution when she convinces her mom to let her have the extra room that is filled with items her relatives left. She loves her little brothers but she needs a little space. "I was getting to big for this..and I was tired of sharing a room with my five little brothers." She needed a place that she could call her own since her room was overly crowded with her little brothers and the bathroom was in constant use because of the many guest they had. She needed a place to "read the books I loved, write in my dairy, and dream." This wonderful story can relate to any child, man or woman who reads it and has always longed for a space of their own.
November 20, 2012
My Very Own Room
Grade/interest level: Primary (3rd to 4th)
Reading level: Fountas & Pinnel: P
Grade: 3.9
Genre: multicultural
Main Characters: Narrator
Setting: United States, present time
POV: from narrator
I liked this book a lot. It was very good in describing the Mexican American culture. It showed how in their culture family is a very important thing. The narrator is the only girl out of her parents six other children. All of them are brothers and they are younger than her. The book shows how the family comes together to provide the narrator with a room of her own. This shows how caring the family is. The parents and brothers understand that her being the eldest and the only girl in the house she needs privacy from everything and everyone even though their house is already small and crammed. The pictures are nice and show how the characters are connected. It’s a pretty good book, it shows how close the Mexican culture is and how much of an emphasis they put on family values, which is awesome in my opinion.
I would use this in my classroom. Specifically, I think I’d use this as a read aloud to my kids in the morning. It shows the Mexican culture, which I think, is important since we are going to be teaching in multicultural classrooms. It also nice to see a strong family and maybe we can unpack this theme in class. I would relate it to our classroom and how we are a community and how we should care for one another like we are family as well.
Grade/interest level: Primary (3rd to 4th)
Reading level: Fountas & Pinnel: P
Grade: 3.9
Genre: multicultural
Main Characters: Narrator
Setting: United States, present time
POV: from narrator
I liked this book a lot. It was very good in describing the Mexican American culture. It showed how in their culture family is a very important thing. The narrator is the only girl out of her parents six other children. All of them are brothers and they are younger than her. The book shows how the family comes together to provide the narrator with a room of her own. This shows how caring the family is. The parents and brothers understand that her being the eldest and the only girl in the house she needs privacy from everything and everyone even though their house is already small and crammed. The pictures are nice and show how the characters are connected. It’s a pretty good book, it shows how close the Mexican culture is and how much of an emphasis they put on family values, which is awesome in my opinion.
I would use this in my classroom. Specifically, I think I’d use this as a read aloud to my kids in the morning. It shows the Mexican culture, which I think, is important since we are going to be teaching in multicultural classrooms. It also nice to see a strong family and maybe we can unpack this theme in class. I would relate it to our classroom and how we are a community and how we should care for one another like we are family as well.
October 11, 2015
This is a great story about a nine year-old Mexican-American girl who lives with her parents, her five brothers, and other extended family members and guests. This large family shares a small space and the girls wants a room she can call her own. This conflict is quickly resolved and the entire family pitches in to transform a storage room into a personalized space for the girl. This story of an extended family making it work during difficult living conditions is a great addition for young readers. The plot moves quickly but still manages to captivate the reader. The language is descriptive and appropriate for the cultural setting of the book. This is a bilingual book so it is written in both English and Spanish. I found this interesting and enriching. The use of Spanish enhances and expands the reader's knowledge of the text, especially because both languages are placed on the same page for easier comparison. I enjoyed the bold colors used in the illustrations. These images help to bring out the story and the characters. Important topics apart from extended families are also touched upon, such as poverty, immigration, second-generation immigrants, and working conditions of parents.
"A little space was all I wanted, but there wasn't much of it. Our tiny house was shared by eight of us, and sometimes more when our friends and relatives came from Mexico and stayed with us until they found jobs and places to live."
"A little space was all I wanted, but there wasn't much of it. Our tiny house was shared by eight of us, and sometimes more when our friends and relatives came from Mexico and stayed with us until they found jobs and places to live."
March 22, 2017
This books tells the story about a fictional girl who lives with a large family and has to share a room and bed with many boy siblings. She does not feel as though she has her own space and feels overcrowded. One day she seeks out the storage closet and has the idea to make that space her room. With approval of her mother, and the help the family members she transforms it into her bedroom. She fills it with things she likes, like books and she is happy. This book is told from the Hispanic culture because there is a dual translation in Spanish and the book mentions how the girl's family visits from Mexico. The illustrations are not too detailed, but are colorful and the details of hair and skin color are consistent throughout the book. Young readers can relate to the story because most people have that experience of having to share a room with others and sometimes feeling like they didn't have their own space. Additionally, I can relate to the book and I know others can because I had to share a bedroom with two brothers until I got older. Furthermore, readers see that the girl came up with a solution to the problem she was facing and how asking others for help and compassion, helped her. Although this book was focused on one Mexican family, but I think this situation could be applied to other cultures as well. This is a common situation which is demonstrated because the author wrote this about her own experiences and I know many others who have gone through this as well.
March 22, 2017
My Very Own Room is an English/Spanish bilingual memoir about a young Mexican American girl who lives with her family and extended family, and desires a room of her own. Her family helps her clear out the storage closet so that she can achieve her dream. This book is in my families text set because it represents families who live with extended family and do not have rooms for each child. The author is most definitely an insider to living with extended family, as she experienced it herself, which is the basis of the book. I think that children would enjoy this story as it is easy to follow and entertaining. Most children can also relate to desiring something in their life. Children may question why it is that there are so many people living in the house when they are not all immediate family, and sometimes not even related at all. It could be a great way to launch discussion about differences in culture and family structures. The plot is entertaining and the solutions to the problems that the girl and her family run into emphasize working together. The illustrations are extremely colorful and stunning, and really help the reader visualize the story. The characters are Mexican or Mexican American, and there are not any negative stereotypes of these groups in the book. The book can be read in Spanish as well as English, which could help build vocabulary for emerging bilinguals. I really enjoyed this story, and think that children of all ages would enjoy it and learn from it.
October 19, 2016
Amanda Irma Perez, author of My Very Own Room, was born in Mexico and writes this realistic fiction story based form her own experiences growing up. The story is written in both Spanish and English, offering an authentic story true to the contextual language. The story explains the reality of this little girl living in a house with 8 people, sometimes more with family visiting from Mexico. The little girl imagines her very own space in a storage closet separated from the living room by flour sacks. After removing items stored in the area, a fresh coat of paint, and books to read from the library, the little girl finally had a space to call her own. This is a lovely story about a girl with five brothers wanting her own space and achieving that through determination, and help from her family. The story accurately portrays the love within this family while taking a look into the life of a family of eight in a two-bedroom house. I love the simplicity of this story. I think many can relate to this little girl, because at one point or another we have all wanted something of our own that seemed unfeasible. The little girl was a problem-solver and made a way out of no way to get what she desired.
November 23, 2010
This story explains a lot about the different cultures and what is valued in one is not always the case in another’s. This would be a great book to show students that we are all different and being different is not a bad thing but makes us unique.
The main character is a Mexican American girl that is tired of her crowded house with her brothers, parents and family members that stay for extended periods of time. They all live in a two bedroom house. She just wants a space of her own, her own room. Everyday before the rest awake she sits and thinks about her dream outside. Determined she walks into the storage that is a part of the kitchen but divided with a curtain. She tells her mother that this is exactly what she wants. Her mother tells her that all the things stored there cannot be removed because they will be needed. The sadness that fills her face shows her mom the need she has for her own space. With the help of her mom and other family members, she is able to have her own individual space.
The main character is a Mexican American girl that is tired of her crowded house with her brothers, parents and family members that stay for extended periods of time. They all live in a two bedroom house. She just wants a space of her own, her own room. Everyday before the rest awake she sits and thinks about her dream outside. Determined she walks into the storage that is a part of the kitchen but divided with a curtain. She tells her mother that this is exactly what she wants. Her mother tells her that all the things stored there cannot be removed because they will be needed. The sadness that fills her face shows her mom the need she has for her own space. With the help of her mom and other family members, she is able to have her own individual space.
October 10, 2012
Overall, this book was very touching and particulary showed how strong a family love can be. The biggest thing about the book is the focus on the Mexican-American culture and the way that the family pulls together to give the only girl sibling her own space in which she can get away from the crowded space of the room she shared with her 5 little brothers. The pictures in the book are very colorful and depict the emotional bond between the characters as the story progresses. I also like the fact that the book tells of how that family, alhtough in America, has strong family ties in Mexico, in which family is always coming to stay with them, and using their home as a halfway point to a "new and better life" here in America. I am sure there are plenty of families and young children that can relate to this story, and the fact that this story is told both in english and spanish is a big plus for children who are maybe English Language Learners in school. I really recommend this book for children.
November 20, 2012
Main Characters: little girl, mom, cousins, uncles, father
Setting: Girls apartment
POV: young girl
Grade Level: 2-5
Reading Level: 3-4
Genre: multicultural/ realistic fiction
This is the story of a girl that lives with her uncles, younger brothers, and her parents. Since their house does not have much space the girl is forced to to share rooms with her younger fathers.Eight people live in her house and sometimes relatives came from mexico so more people would stay in their house. The girl dreams of having her own room where she dint have to share much and have her space. Her uncle and parents decide to accommodate her by creating her her own room in a corner of the house. Although its not much to her is the best room in the world.
The book is both in Spanish and English which would help those bilingual students have a better comprehension of the story. This girl is very similar to many of those with large families. Students would be able to really connect to the text.
Setting: Girls apartment
POV: young girl
Grade Level: 2-5
Reading Level: 3-4
Genre: multicultural/ realistic fiction
This is the story of a girl that lives with her uncles, younger brothers, and her parents. Since their house does not have much space the girl is forced to to share rooms with her younger fathers.Eight people live in her house and sometimes relatives came from mexico so more people would stay in their house. The girl dreams of having her own room where she dint have to share much and have her space. Her uncle and parents decide to accommodate her by creating her her own room in a corner of the house. Although its not much to her is the best room in the world.
The book is both in Spanish and English which would help those bilingual students have a better comprehension of the story. This girl is very similar to many of those with large families. Students would be able to really connect to the text.
June 25, 2011
I learned of this book from bilingual teacher friends. My friends who grew up as Mexican Americans in Texas or California recognized a lot of words and phrases that evoked their childhood but that they don't hear much anymore. I love the personal, intimate touches to this story, and I think it works for people from all different backgrounds. The one tricky thing about it is what age child it's most appropriate for. It works well as a read aloud or reading circle book for 1st or 2nd graders; it's a good independent read for 3rd or 4th graders... And it's delightful for anyone older that who isn't self conscious about having pictures in their book.
By the way, they really need to continue printing this book and getting it into all schools everywhere. That's true for all high-quality bilingual children's and YA books, though.
By the way, they really need to continue printing this book and getting it into all schools everywhere. That's true for all high-quality bilingual children's and YA books, though.
April 29, 2009
Sidenote: I was looking for a good multicultural book. I first started searching for books about Muslims because of the times we live in, however 3 of the books I found that were great were not yet listed in goodreads.
I loved this book though because where I grew up I saw many families that were very similar to this one. They were very close nit families more (than just physically). I know the old saying that loves grows best in little houses and I believe this to be true.
Very often in our classrooms children can be ugly to people that are less fortunate than they are financially. I feel this would be a good book to share to a class where this prejudice is going on,however I think all children could relate to this book on many levels (either personally or through someone they know.)
I loved this book though because where I grew up I saw many families that were very similar to this one. They were very close nit families more (than just physically). I know the old saying that loves grows best in little houses and I believe this to be true.
Very often in our classrooms children can be ugly to people that are less fortunate than they are financially. I feel this would be a good book to share to a class where this prejudice is going on,however I think all children could relate to this book on many levels (either personally or through someone they know.)
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June 23, 2013As a Mexican immigrant to California, Amada Irma Perez grew up with few material possessions, but was surrounded by a large, loving and supportive family. However, her home was always crowded with siblings, relatives and friends. All she ever wanted was a room of her own. Perez's calm and touching narrative is highlighted by Maya Cristina Gonzalez's colourful and lively illustrations. Age 4-8. E-book from the Children's International Digital Library: http://www.childrenslibrary.org/icdl/BookPage?bookid=pervery_00030024&pnum1=...
November 29, 2012
One of the first things I noticed about this book was how brightly colored the illustrations were. I noticed how the illustrator used colors that reflect on the Mexican culture, which was the theme of the story. The story centers a young girl who is sharing a room with her five younger brothers in a small quaint house with her family. The young girl insists on finding her own space or her own room to be by herself. The author relates this story to her own upbringing with her family about sharing and being in a close knit home. Also, the text is written in both English and Spanish and well said. Children who are sharing a bedroom with their siblings or living with a large family in a small house can definitely relate to this book. It was a very enjoyable read!
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May 1, 2013
This is a story about a young Mexican American girl who lives with five younger brother, her two parents, and several visiting relatives and the struggles she faces by wanted and needing her own space. Many families and young children can relate to this story because when children are young, many often have to share rooms and always get booted to the couch when family come in town. I know I did. It shows the struggles she faces because she so desperately wants space of her own but cant have it due to her large family and small house. It was a good book, I kind of wish it would have focused a little bit more on her family rather than the lamp she got but besides that, I really liked it and the fact that it is very relatable. I also liked that it was in both English and Spanish!
March 13, 2010
Reading/Interest level: 1st-4th
A girl tells this story about wanting a special place, a bedroom of her own. She is tired of sharing with her five brothers. She asks her mom if she can have a large storage closet and her family works together to clear it out and clean it up. They get furniture from other family and together lick enough stamps to get her a special lamp. The story is a beautiful expression of a loving and hard working family. The illustrations are bright and colorful and are a good depiction of working together to make the best of what you have and appreciating one another.
A girl tells this story about wanting a special place, a bedroom of her own. She is tired of sharing with her five brothers. She asks her mom if she can have a large storage closet and her family works together to clear it out and clean it up. They get furniture from other family and together lick enough stamps to get her a special lamp. The story is a beautiful expression of a loving and hard working family. The illustrations are bright and colorful and are a good depiction of working together to make the best of what you have and appreciating one another.
April 22, 2011
This book is about a Mexican girl who lives in the United States with her father, mother and five brothers. She shairs a room in their small house with her five brothers. She longs to have her own room so she looks around the house to see where she could possably find a place she can call her own. See how her family all works together to help her get her wish. This book is written in both Engish and Spanish. It shows that families love each other and work together in more than one culture. I liked the way it shows a normal family with children who need things and where everyone will pitch in to help each other.
May 1, 2013
"My Very Own Room" is a story about a girl living in a house with her uncles, younger brothers, and parents. This story does a great job describing the Mexican-American culture and how family is very important. Overall, this book was very touching and it really hit home with me. I grew up in a smaller house with a lot of my family everywhere. It was always very rambunctious and chaotic at our house like it was for Mijita. She tried to find a quiet spot in the house but it was very hard for her.I give this book 4 stars because Amada Perez did a great job portraying the Mexican-American culture and all the things that come along with it.
May 25, 2014
This story is based on Amanda Perez's real life. It is about a young girl who lives in a two bedroom house and she shares a room with her brothers and family members who come to visit. She really wants a room of her own. So, her family creates her a bedroom from a storage closet in the home. She finally has a charming place of her own where she can read her books. This is a cute story that reflects family life. Some themes in this book are family and independence. This book will be appropriate for primary and intermediate age students. I believe most children can related to wanted their own space. Fun read!
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March 7, 2017My Very Own Room/Mi propio cuartito by Amanda Irma Perez
1.Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
2.Age 6-10
3.This book is about a girl who is living with her three little brother and parents. She loves her house but she really wanted to have her own room. One day she decided to make her own room in the corner of the house with curtains, and furniture that she got it from other places. Finally, she got her own room!
4.I loved this book because this book is biangular book (English and Spanish).
I think this book is perfect for ESL students whose first language is Spanish.
5.Cultural diversity, ESL class
1.Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award
2.Age 6-10
3.This book is about a girl who is living with her three little brother and parents. She loves her house but she really wanted to have her own room. One day she decided to make her own room in the corner of the house with curtains, and furniture that she got it from other places. Finally, she got her own room!
4.I loved this book because this book is biangular book (English and Spanish).
I think this book is perfect for ESL students whose first language is Spanish.
5.Cultural diversity, ESL class
October 14, 2017
"My Very Own Room" by Amada Perez is about a young Mexican girl who is the oldest out of five brothers. She shares a room with all five of them including a bed. She tries to make sense of being alone by going outside and imagining a space of her own. Throughout the story you can see the relationship they mom and daughter have as they all try to help the family members around them. The family is trying hard to adjust other relatives become familiar with the new country they live in. This is a great story to show how the family comes together and tries to girl the little girl her own space and her own bed.
March 23, 2013
Writers' Workshop is off to a great start if you use this book as a mentor text. Everyone can find a seed in this story to start their own, whether it is, as the girl in the story, a longing for having a small space in your home to call your own, a family visit that takes over every available sleeping space, or family coming together to make one of its members happy. This is a book to revisit throughout the year during Writers' Workshop and one that has a permanent spot on the mentor text showcase in my classroom.
February 21, 2016
The author tells a story similar to her own childhood in which her family often had to share cramped housing with family and friends. The young girl longs for her own room and convinces her mother to carve out a space in a storage closet. The family comes together to move things, paint, and cash in “Blue Chip” stamps to buy a lamp for the girl’s new room. The importance of education and togetherness are themes highlighted in the end as she decorates her room with library books and reads to her brothers.
May 4, 2009
I really enjoyed this book! I plan to be a Bilingual Education teacher, and I know many of my kids will be able to relate to this story. As a kid I never had my own room till I got older. I come from a big Hispanic family and I know how it is to live in crowded house. It was my 6 brothers, my only sister, my parents and me living in one house!It was hard not being able to have the privacy that you wanted.
April 23, 2012
My Very Own Room is based on the author's own family story. Mijita tried to find a little private space which she could call it her own amidst a crowded two bedroom house. Life of poverty was not easy but it bring creativity out of Mijita. Mijita and her family transformed a little space between the living room and storage closet into Mijita's room. It is delightful to read how they prepared it.
October 13, 2016
I thought this was a great story. I love how they had both English and Spanish in the book. A little girl lived with her five brothers and just wanted her own room. The family all worked together to be able to give her her space. This book reflects on family life and how it's nice when everyone works together to help each other out. I thought the illustrations were wonderful- they were colorful and showed the expressions clearly in the faces of the family.
June 9, 2010
This is a nice tale about a little girl in a family of mostly boys who is desperately trying to carve out a little space of her own. It's written in both spanish and english and offers a nice look at how extended immigrant families help one another as they try to make a living and provide for their family in America.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews