Published: 2021
Author & Illustrator: Nomar Perez
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Spanish Literature, Immigration
Audience (Grade Levels): Elementary Grades K-2
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
Goodreads Link: Coqui in the City
Triggers: None
Review By: Kassidy Seary
Publisher’s Summary:
A picture book based on the author-illustrator’s own experiences, about a boy who moves to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico and realizes that New York City might have more in common with San Juan than he initially thought.
When the main character Miguel leaves the island of Puerto Rico for the mainland U.S, he worries about all the things he’ll miss—most of all, his pet frog, Coquí. In San Juan, Miguel takes Coquí everywhere: to play baseball with his friends, to visit the pond in the park, to buy his favorite snack at the bakery, or to visit his abuelos. But when his parents tell him they are moving to the mainland, he worries. Won’t he miss Coquí, flying kites, his grandparents, and taking part in Christmas festivities?
In New York, Miguel and his mother explore a neighborhood “full of interesting sights, sounds, and people.” And though Spanish words are around them, so too are other unfamiliar languages. Soon they discover a pond with frogs, a food cart selling empanadillas, a baseball field, and a bakery that sells his favorite snack. As Miguel drifts off to sleep he realizes Puerto Rico will always be with him, in his heart—and though some things in New York are different, some are the same. Perez’s illustrations depict a multiethnic, multicultural New York that is just as colorful, vibrant, and upbeat as the city back home.
Review:
Coqui in the City is a children’s book that uncovers the fear a young Puerto Rican child and his family have when embarking on a new journey to live in the United States. Based on the author’s personal experiences, this book shares a positive message in that while new beginnings can be scary and different, we will never forget where we came from and the true meaning of home. Life in New York City for Miguel is overwhelming, with unfamiliar buildings, foods, and people.
But when he and his Mamá go exploring, they find a few familiar sights that remind them of home, and Miguel realizes there might be a way to keep a little bit of Puerto Rico with him–including the love he has for Coquí–wherever he goes. The themes of Puerto Rican culture, new beginnings, and family serve as the foundation of this book and provide young students a gateway into discussing and identifying fears they may have when trying or experiencing new things. This is a book that can be continuously used throughout a school year to aid students in working through emotions/feelings that arise when experiencing new situations both in and outside of the school environment.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Highly effective tool for guiding young children through change, moving, and processing the fear or anxiety associated with entering unfamiliar environments.
- Social Studies & Cultural Geography: Connects beautifully to elementary units on neighborhoods, communities, immigration, and exploring the traditions of Puerto Rico alongside multicultural city life in New York.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Sights of Home” Comparison Drawing: Have students create a two-sided illustration. On one side, they can draw something comforting that represents their home or heritage, and on the other side, they can draw a parallel version they might look for or find in a new environment (e.g., a local park, a favorite snack, or a family pet).
- Interactive Feelings Chart: Use this book at the beginning of the school year or prior to major school transitions. Have students identify Miguel’s fears at the start of the book versus his comfort at the end, mapping their own emotions about new situations to a shared classroom feelings chart.
Diversity & Representation:
Based on the author’s personal experiences, this book offers wonderful ownvoices representation for the Puerto Rican community and the broader immigrant narrative. The illustrations depict a vibrant, multicultural, and multiethnic urban landscape that honors Puerto Rican culture while celebrating inclusion and the comforting blending of different traditions.
Readalikes:
- Islandborn by Junot Díaz
- Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina
- Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña
- Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
