I quite enjoyed the story The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe by Pat Mora and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher because I have never heard the story of the Lady of Guadalupe and found it interesting and insightful. I particularly enjoyed that the author included an author’s note at the end of the story to give a little bit more information into the story for readers who might want to gain a more detailed understanding of the tale. In the author’s note, the reader learns that the origin of the story dates back to 1531 and that the Lady of Guadalupe is the “best-known manifestation of Mary in the Americas.” The story was engaging and introduced the reader to the story through the yearly tradition of Grandma Lupita telling the story of the Lady of Guadalupe to her grandchildren, Rose and Terry. Readers are given a window into a pleasant family tradition that is rooted in Latino culture. Mora uses Spanish words throughout the story as Grandma Lupita and her grandchildren are speaking which lends to the authenticity of the story as well. Readers can make connections between the family traditions shared in the story and their own family traditions. Johnson and Fancher’s illustrations are beautiful and follow the course of the story with pictures of Grandma Lupita and her grandchildren in the kitchen and viewing the statue of the Lady of Guadalupe as well as the journey that Diego makes as he attempts to get a church erected for the Lady. Although the tale itself is engaging, the addition of the colorful and intricate illustrations draws the reader further into the storyline. Overall, Our Beautiful Lady captures the tradition surrounding the Latino tale of the Lady of Guadalupe and presents it in a contemporary fashion that students can engage with and understand. Approximate Reading Level: 1st-3rd grades
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