Antonio Hernandez MadrigalReseñas

In a poor Mexican village, Erandi surprises her mother by offering to sell her long,
beautiful hair in order to raise enough money to buy a new fishing net.
Antonio Hernandez Madrigal was born and raised int he state of Michoacan, Mexico. Inspired by his favorite author,
Henry David Thoreau, he came to the United States in search of better working opportunities. He began his writing career in 1994.

This book tells the story of Erandi giving up her beautiful, long braids, so her family can afford a new fishing net, despite her birthday. I think this book teaches an amazing lesson about sacrifice and responsibility. For example, her mother was trying to sell her hair, but lacked the length needed, when Erandi decided she would sell hers. This shows how brave, strong, and caring Erandi is; to make such a sacrifice for her family. This book also gives readers insight into the culture of Mexico during this time and the pride that women took in their hair. I also really enjoyed the illustrations and felt they represented the time period well. This would be a great book to read in a classroom. Opening up the minds of children, teaching them about different cultures, and teaching children to sacrifice for the ones they love are only a few amazing things that this book can do.

It is the day before Erandi's 7th birthday and Erandi and her family are going about their typical routines: making the food, going fishing and walking through town. Erandi's mother notes while fishing that they need a new net becasue their's is old. While Erandi and her mother are going through the town, they see that the barber is buying hair. Erandi finds this strange and asks her mother who explains that their village is known to have the softest most luxurious hair and people would come from the city to buy it for wigs and other such things. Erandi is excited because, every year, she gets to go to the town store and pick out one things. But this year, Erandi's parents need to get a new fishing net too. Erandi doesn't know what her family will do or if she would even get a gift for her birthday. The day of Erandi's birthday comes and Erandi's mother brings her to the store to pick out her gift. While they're at the store, Erandi sees a doll she really wants but she already had her heart set on a new dress. After they bought the dress, they go to the barber shop and Erandi is scared because she thinks her mom is gonna sell her long hair. instead, her mom tries to sell her own hair, but the barber says it is not long enough. Erandi then steps up and sits in the chair to sell her own hair so her family can buy the new fishing net. The barber measures and cuts off her long braids and they go on their way. Erandi notices her mother crying and she says, "Don't worry Mama, my braids will grow back as long and pretty as before. Erandi's mother then tells her that they paid more than she expected so they would be able to afford the new fishing net and they could also get her the new doll. It was a sweet ending to the story.

Erandi's Braids is an amazing book to read to children. It exposes children to the way life was in Mexico around 1940s and 1950s, but it also teaches children about caring and helping others. This book is about a young girl named Erandi who was turning seven years old. Erandi had beautiful long hair, and during this time period people would often sell their long hair in exchange for money. Erandi's mother was going to sell her hair to have money for a new fishing net, but unfortunately her hair was not long enough. Erandi saw that her family needed the money, and she knew that her mother already sacrificed some money to get her a birthday gift. Erandi wanted to help her mother out, so she decided to have her long hair cut and sold. Erandi's mother was disappointed that her daughter had to sacrifice her long hair for her, but Erandi knew she made the right decision.
This book teaches children to look out for others, and to help those that we love in any way that we can.

This book made me tear up a little bit--it's about a young girl who sells her long hair, which is a great source of pride for the Mexican women, so her mother can afford a fishing net. The art felt like it was almost carved from wood in the traditional Mexican style (featured in other texts), which gave it a very folk lore sort of feel. Students will enjoy that, as it will give them a greater sense of history. The story emphasizes sacrifice and empathy, which would be great for younger readers to experience, especially through a multicultural format. The message is very clear: you do what you have to do for those that you love. It would be easy to connect it with lessons on empathy and being a good neighbor for students.

I didn't really like this book. First the Erandi feels obligated to have her hair cut so her family has money. "Her hands turned cold when she felt the metal scissors rub against her face and neck and she heard the sharp snip snip." Plus the illustrations are downright depressing. "Mama walked beside her, not saying a word." Both the mom and the daughter look extremely upset. This book shows the sacrifice a little girl makes so her family has enough money.

Erandi's Braids is about a little girl who wanted a yellow dress for her birthday, but her mom needed a new fishing net and could not afford to get both. The mom sees that they are paying for women's braids. Erandi's gets her beautiful braids cut to help her family out with money. Children can learn that sometimes it might be hard but you can help your family through tough times.

A story inspired by the sale of Tarascan (Mexico) women’s hair for use in wigs, eyelashes, and embroidery back in the 1940s and 1950s. It is Errandi’s birthday and she has her eye on a doll and a dress. But knowing her mother also needs a new fish net she chooses the dress to wear to the village fiesta. The hair buyers are also in town and Errandi’s mother takes them both to the barber shop. But the mother’s hair isn’t long enough and Errandi insists that the barber cut her hair instead. By story’s end they are able to buy a new net and the doll.

I really enjoyed the book “Erandi’s Braids” by Antonio Hernandez Madrigal. The main aspect I liked about this book was that it was historically accurate and depicted Mexican culture in a very honest and non-stereotypical way. I liked that the book prefaced the story with a glossary containing the Mexican words written in the story with their English definitions. I thought the story was very well written and that the author’s choice to write the story in third person was beneficial to the reader, as it allowed the author to clearly portray both Erandi and her mother’s emotions and thoughts throughout the course of the story. I also liked that at the end of the story, an author’s note was included, which explained the historical relevance of the story to young readers who might not have known that financially disadvantaged Mexican women in the 1930s and 1940s were forced to sell their hair to take care of their families. The main message of this story is about making sacrifices to help take care of the ones you love.

Summary: This children's story is about a young girl named Erandi who lives in Mexico with her mother. They do not have a lot of money and many of their necessities are falling apart. One day, Erandi's mama hears that they are buying women's braids at the barbershop. On Erandi's birthday, the duo go into town to buy her a present. After they are done they head to the barbershop and Erandi secretly starts to panic about her braids being cut. It turns out Mama was going to get her braids cut for money but they end up not being long enough. Erandi steps up and allows the barber to cut her beautiful braids to help her family.

Argument: This was my first time reading this book and I really enjoyed. It is a great book because it allows children to see the world through someone else's eyes and culture. It allows them to hear a story that takes place in a different setting and in a different way of life. I also think children can relate to Erandi and her bravery with her braids. I bet there is a child out there who had to go through a similar experience where they did not want to do something but they did it anyway to help someone out. They showed their bravery and their strength and overcame their fears.
I think this book has a strong central message of the importance of family and love. Erandi gave away a lot fo help her family get some money. It also shares the message that with a little bravery and courage-a person can help those in need.

Review: I thought this book is a good way to introduce things from a different culture to children. However, the main message I received from it was to be selfless. Even though Erandi does not want to give up her braids, she still cares more about helping out her mother than about a material thing, like hair. She knew that her hair would eventually grow back and it was just a temporary thing. Although her mom felt bad, "Erandi peeked at her mama's face and saw she was crying," Erandi realized it was because her mom didn't want her to have to give up her hair when she was so young. Erandi embraced it though, which would send a good message to children that some things are more important than others, like helping out your family in a time of need. Erandi learned the importance of selflessness and this would be great to use to teach children.

Summary: In this book the author explores a little bit of a girl name Erandi's life. Erandi lives in Mexico and each year for her birthday her mom takes her into town to pick out a birthday present. Erandi wanted a doll and a yellow dress, but her mom told her she couldn't have both so Erandi ended up just buying the dress. After they left the stop, Erandi's mom decided to get her haircut because many people pay a lot of money for hair to make wigs, eyelashes and embroidery. However, when Erandi's mom tried to get her haircut, she was told by the barber that her hair was too short. Erandi decided that even though she did not want to sell her hair, she would, to help her mom out because they needed more money. Erandi's hair gave them enough money to buy her the doll she wanted and a new net for fishing.

In the mid 20th century, beautiful and long Tarascan women's hair was wanted by cosmetic and textile factories. Merchants would drive through the streets, urging women to sell their hair through a loudspeaker. Erandi is a young and poor Tarascan girl who lives with her mother. Since her birthday is fast approaching, her mother wants to buy her a gift, but they also need a new fishing net. After her mother buys her a birthday dress, she goes to sell her hair, but they don't want it because it is too short. Erandi steps up and offers to sell her hair. Even though she doesn't want to and her mother doesn't either, she sacrifices her hair. This is a great story for children to realize that people who are not financially well off often have to sacrifice things that mean a lot to them.

In a poor Mexican village, Erandi surprises her mother by offering to sell her long, beautiful hair in order to raise enough money to buy a new fishing net for the family and a birthday present for herself.***SRC Quiz***

A young girl sacrifice her beautiful hair for her family's well-being, and, in return, she receives more back than she expects.

The book would be useful in talking about family and sacrifice.

The story draws upon an old custom in which the Tarascan women would sell their hair to cosmetic and textile factories. Erandi has the most beautiful hair of all, according to the story, and her birthday is coming up. The family's financial hardship is clear- for her birthday she receives a dress that she needs and their fishing net is in extreme disrepair. When the men who buy hair come to town, her mother goes to sell her long braids. When the man tells her that her hair is not long enough, little Erandi proceeds to allow him to cut hers. The act of selflessness proves lucrative enough for a new net for the family.

A touching book of a young girl's selfless decision to sell her hair in order to replace her family's hole-filled fishing net. The illustrations are warm and rich. This book is an excellent vocabulary builder in both English and Spanish words like loudspeader, tortillas, eyelashes, embroidery, fortune, village, fiesta, unfolded, repair, separated, caught her breath, pounded, enormous, measure, gazing, embarrassment, huaraches, hollow clapping, hija, handkerchief and village square.

The text is mainly in English with some words in Spanish. This is a touching story of a place and time of a people and their daily work to survive. It is also a story of a loving family bond. dePaola’s paintings are clear and bright and expressions on the characters all work to add to the feelings expressed in the words. Recommended.

Erandi's Braids is the touching story of a mom and her daughter who live in Mexico. The daughter, Erandi, has a birthday soon, but due to her mother’s need for a necessary fishing net, she is unsure if she will receive the gift she's desired. In the end, one selfless little girl puts the needs of her mother before her own and receives a gift for herself in return for her sacrifice.

It was very touching to read of a young girl putting the needs of someone other than herself first in this story. Too many people in today's society think only of themselves and this story showed the love and devotion Erandi had for her mother. It was also interesting to see the point of view the Tarascan women in the story had in regards to past customs.

In the classroom, this story would be a great tool to discuss the customs of different cultures. I would enjoy using it to do a unit on Mexico and have students design their own serapes on coloring sheets. I would also have a day for children to bring a Mexican dish they made with a parent to share with the class. This would be a great book to use when discussing putting others first and wanting to help those you care about.