Growing Up Pedro by Matt Tavares

This post may use affiliate links. 

I have a teetering stack of books sitting next to my desk. As the 2015 L4LL Latino Children's Summer Reading Program comes closer and closer, the pile continues to grow as authors, illustrators and publishers send me new titles to consider for the program's recommended summer reading list. And in that pile are many, many wonderful stories just waiting to be discovered by a reader. So I'm going to try and focus on more book reviews so that you'll discover them, too, and be able to share them with your familia. 

Since this month we are celebrating Black History Month, I want to start off with a book that features an amazing Afro-Latino athlete. Growing Up Pedro (aff link) is a new title by Candlewick Press. Written and illustrated by Matt Tavares, it is the story of baseball legend Pedro Jaime Martínez, the Dominican-American pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for five teams. According to Wikipedia, Martinez is "an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion. His WHIP is the lowest of any live-ball era starting pitcher, and his Adjusted ERA+ is the best of any starting pitcher in MLB history. Martínez also has the second highest winning percentage in modern baseball history, and the third highest strikeout rate and strikeout-to-walk ratio."

If you have a young baseball player in your home - and even if you don't - this beautifully illustrated picture biography of Pedro is a must read. Your child will learn what life was like for Pedro as a child in the Dominican Republic before he made it into the big leagues and moved to the United States. You'll read about the special bond he shared with his older brother Ramón, who preceded Pedro to the States as a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And you'll cheer for him when despite his small size, Pedro becomes one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball.

The story is nicely told and the illustrations are phenomenal. It would be a great book to read together when you are covering the following themes: baseball, sports, the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, Afro-Latinos, family, brothers, siblings, determination, persistence, and more. In fact, you can find a lesson plan for this and three other books by Matt Tavares on baseball legends here.

The book is written in English only.

Check out the book trailer below...

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

JCPenny Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Mónica González & Gonzo Soccer {GIVEAWAY}

This is part of a sponsored collaboration with JCPenney and Latina Mom Bloggers. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Photo by Bob Levey/
Getty Images for JCPenney

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for great stories about influential Latinos - especially if they are making a difference in the lives of our children! So when I heard about how soccer great Mónica González and her company Gonzo Soccer Leadership Academy partnered with JCPenny to host a free soccer clinic for Houston-area girls ages 8-16 years old, I wanted to share it with you.

When I was growing up, I played soccer in grade school. We started out worst in the league, but we didn't care. We had a great time and my best friend's dad was our coach. Mr. Moncibais was awesome; he pushed us to do better and was proud of our accomplishments. We all loved soccer practice and enjoyed the games - even in bad weather! By the time I left the team five years later, we had improved so much to become number one in the league.

Those days were a blessing. They forged friendships and boosted my self-confidence. I can only imagine how it affects other children, but I feel fairly strongly that all children should have the chance to play on a team that they love.

My own daughter is athletic and very active. But as a homeschool mom, it can be a little harder to find sports opportunities for her. We've done a lot through our local YMCA, but now we're looking for a sports team closer to where we live. Because of her, I'm so appreciative of companies like JCPenny who recognize the importance of physical condition and host events where our girls can hear decision-making tips to help them become future leaders of their Hispanic communities.

Photo by Bob Levey/
Getty Images for JCPenney

In case you don't know her, Mónica González was one of the founding members of the Mexican Women's National Soccer Team and was the team's captain from 2003-2007. She's been a soccer commentator for ESPN and a studio analyst during the FIFA Women's World Cup. Mónica is currently a sideline reporter for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams on ESPN, a studio and match analyst for the 2013 FIFA Under-20 Men’s World Cup, and a contributor to ESPN W, ESPN’s digital platform for female athletes and fans.

Her organization, Gonzo Soccer Leadership Academy, provides young girls across the U.S. with premier soccer training along with valuable leadership and life skills.

The soccer camp gave Houston-area girls an opportunity to hear Mónica's inspirational story and learn valuable life lessons from her experiences. They also had the chance to learn her pro-soccer tips and tricks to use on the field in their own soccer games.

I'm sure these girls had a blast! JCP Salon was there also, to style the girls with the latest sporty hair trends. And the girls even got to go home with their own gift bags and personalized Xersion sports jersey!

Photo by Bob Levey/
Getty Images for JCPenney

Mónica González's Soccer Tips for New & Beginner Players

• Set goals. Why are you playing - for fun? To become a pro? Keep your goal in mind and create actionable steps to reach it. 
• Get as many touches to the ball as possible - the more you practice, the better you'll become. 
• Play at your level, and find a team or league that's just above your level. That way you'll be challenged to improve your game and reach the next level.

THE GIVEAWAY

JCPenny is generously offering a $50 JCPenny gift card to one MommyMaestra reader. (Just think - maybe you can use it to buy sports clothing for your kids!)

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below. 

¡Buena suerte!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The MKB One World Futbol Giveaway

© Monkey Business - Fotolia.com

Yesterday on my Facebook page, I told you that I'd be participating in a wonderful project this week and I asked you for suggestions for a school or youth program that helps low-income or at-risk children through sports. You gave me lots of wonderful suggestions and I also told you that I would be announcing the project today on MommyMaestra.

With the big soccer championships that have been going on the last few weeks, I'm excited to announce that I'm supporting One World Futbol in their mission to bring the healing power of play to youth worldwide through their nearly indestructible soccer/football. The One World Futbol never needs a pump and never goes flat—even when punctured multiple times—due to its ingenious technology. But what I truly love about their model is for every ball purchased, they donate one to organizations working with youth in disadvantaged communities worldwide.

Our Giveaway

Follow along by using the hashtag #MKBWorldCup!

I have a special giveaway planned during these soccer championships with Multicultural Kid Blogs and One World Futbol. It's unlike a usual giveaway as this time you, our readers, are using your collective power to vote to give the ball away to a community in need! I need your help so I can donate one of the One World Futbols (generously supplied by One World Futbol).

Some of you shared on my FB page or via private message some wonderful programs across the country that help at-risk children. The decision was difficult, but I've chosen Kids in the Game (thanks for the recommendation, Tara Crean!). Also known as KinG, it is a provider of youth sports programs in the New York City area, covering afterschool, recess, and physical education programs, as well as specialized camps and clinics.

But here's the thing -- there are nine blogs participating in this contest, and One World Futbol will donate balls to the three blogs that get the most shares on their posts.

So I need your help--please use the social share buttons located below and SHARE this post on Twitter, Facebook, G+, and Pinterest and contribute your power, your vote to help me donate this One World Futbol. Each share made directly from this post is tallied as a vote. And whoever get the most votes, donates the ball! Let's show how strong our voices are with our votes. You can share using the buttons with counters at the bottom of this post. The counters even tell you how many shares this post has had so far, so you can keep track if you want to.

I have until midnight ET on Sunday, July 13, to get as many shares as I can on this post. (The tally will be made based on the number on the social share buttons at the end of this post). So let's start now!

According to their website, Kids in the Game uses professionally trained coaches that have broad and diverse backgrounds in the field of physical education and athletics. Their staff includes current and former college coaches and athletes, as well as graduates with strong backgrounds in health and fitness education. Their goal is to teach all kids the importance of health and fitness as a way of life, and have designed programs for general studies, special needs, and sport-specific groups. I chose this organization because it was recommended by a reader and was told that it can impact Spanish-dominant neighborhoods.

Feel free to use #MKBWorldCup when you share!

And don't forget to visit Multicultural Kid Blogs to help them "unlock" an additional two One World Futbols to donate!

One World Futbol

One World Futbol Project is a B-corporation based in Berkeley, CA and was founded by Tim Jahnigen, the inventor of the One World Futbol. One World Futbol was inspired by refugee youth in Darfur, who had such indestructible spirits - and love for football! - despite their hardships. Tim Jahnigen wanted to give them something more, so he invented a soccer ball that would never need a pump and would never go flat, even when punctured multiple times. One World Futbol Project and its virtually indestructible ball have now reached 160 countries and continue to bring the healing power of play to youth worldwide. The Buy One Donate One model makes it easy for consumers to donate these amazing One World Futbols to needy communities.

Here is more on their work in one community in Brazil:

Participating Blogs

The following member blogs are participating in this contest. Visit them to see which organizations they have chosen. Remember, sharing is caring! The three blogs with the most social shares (as shown on the share counters on their blog posts) will get to donate a football to the qualified organization they have chosen!

Our Whole Village
Expat Life with a Double Buggy
Entre Compras y El Hogar
Head of the Heard
InCultureParent
MommyMaestra
La Cité des Vents
Trilingual Mama
All Done Monkey

Help "unlock" an additional two One World Futbols at Multicultural Kid Blogs!

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post. I'm a MKB member and have chosen to participate in this campaign because I love the message and the opportunity it provides for our children. 

App Review: Fun Soccer Math

The World Cup is only days away! All of my boys are super excited. I am keeping them busy with everything related to soccer. From the Panini sticker album to web resources on Brazil, these boys have it good. But recently, we discovered that there isn't much out there for a fun and educational World Cup app. I searched and searched and ended up just entering the key words "soccer" and "educational" and came up with this very thematic and educational game.

Name: Fun Soccer Math
Subjects: Math, Sports
Available for: iPhone or iPad, Google Play
Brief Description: This fun and educational app will have kids aiming to answer quick thinking math problems correctly to score goals and win.
Price: Free and $0.99
Language: English
Ages: 5 and up

What my kids like: Fun Soccer Math is the only soccer app that my seven year-old owns, making it an instant hit. Diego loves the ability to play alone or with a partner. The friendly competition between two players makes it a lot more fun. He also likes the freedom of choosing between addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, allowing him to play an "easy" game or challenging himself.

What I like: I like that this game is simple and educational. Teachers talk to me about having Diego practice addition and subtraction in his head quickly, making this app ideal for him.  Mental math is important for all elementary age students. It will help their memory and enhance high problem solving capabilities.The soccer theme is important for my son because he lives and breathes futbol! This app is hands down mami and teacher approved. I'm having Diego do a little math practice before every big match this summer!

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Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com 

World Soccer Championship Activity Pack for Kids

It has been a busy week of traveling for me, but I wanted to slip in one more great resource for Soccer Mania Week here on MommyMaestra. I had the wonderful pleasure to contributing to the creation of this activity pack for kids centered around - yes - soccer!

Created for kids in Pre-K through 4th grade, this amazing printable pack comes with 54 activity pages ready to download and print off for your child or student. From building vocabulary skills to learning the flags of the various countries participating in this year's soccer championship in Brazil to keeping track of the goals made by each team, this kit has a little something for everyone in early elementary.  There's even a huge set of cut out and fold hexagon book team pages for all of the teams participating in the June championship.

I'm so honored to work with this set of multicultural bloggers on this project. Their work is phenomenal, and you will love it!

So keep your kids busy learning this summer with this fun activity pack. They can participate in the Soccer Mania, too! You can see more sample pages and purchase your own copy over on the Multicultural Kid Blogs' website.

A big, giant GRACIAS to MKB for letting me contribute to this fun project!

Abrazo...

7 Brazil and World Cup Internet Resources for Kids

Here at Mommy Maestra, we continue with all things World Cup! In our home, we definitely have the fever. My oldest can not wait for June 12th to arrive and his little brothers will surely catch on when they realize there will be futbol on our screen every day, all day, for a whole month!

Diego is seven, a huge soccer fan, and the World Cup will help him learn much more about the sport. This includes learning as much as he can about the host country, Brazil. I have done a little research to find websites that will expand his knowledge about the South American country, as well as sites that will keep him posted on scores and standings.

Here are 7 internet resources to introduce to your own child so they can enjoy the World Cup to the fullest.

Science Kids offers interesting, fun, and quick facts on Brazil for kids. They also offer links to expand children's knowledge on topics such as the Amazon Rainforest and the Amazon River. Easy to read!

National Geographic Kids is a gorgeous site with beautiful photography. I spent quite some time on it! Here you get more facts on Brazil with a little more substance in a magazine-style format.

Time for Kids features an Around the World section for many countries. It includes eight pages of sightseeing guides, a history timeline, native lingo and even what a typical school day entails in a country like Brazil.

Enchanted Learning is another site full of straight facts on countries but also includes printouts of worksheets and maps for kids to work on. Look closely because some printouts are only for site members, but not all!

Britannica Kids is still your trusty encyclopedia except it's online! I love that kids can discover information based on the subtopics that appear after the initial search. Just type in "Brazil" for you to see!

Activity Village will be one of our top sites to go to for World Cup activities. They offer free printables, worksheets, bookmarks, coloring pages...tons of great work to keep your child occupied throughout el mundial.

Sports Illustrated Kids is going to keep your children busy every single day with updated team scores, players' personal stories and fun games.

Let us know what you think of these sites and if you have some to recommend, please share! 

Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com 

5 Books about Soccer for Kids

This post uses affiliate links. When you make a purchase via one of these links, it helps support my family and the running of MommyMaestra. 

Continuing with Soccer Mania Week, I'm sharing with you today some great children's literature centered around the sport of soccer/fútbol. Get those kids reading this summer with some wonderful stories about this popular sport.

The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Kids' Handbook

by Carlton Books

spiral-bound, Amazon $9

(this is NOT an affiliate link)

This is the World Cup companion every kid needs while watching the world's most exciting sports competition! Official mascot Fuleco, a friendly armadillo, tells children all about his home and the host country, Brazil, and there's everything a fan needs to know about the stadiums, top players, and statistics. Adding to the fun are quizzes, games, stickers, a tricky double-page search-and-find puzzle, and a foldout back jacket with a fill-in progress chart—so soccer-crazy kids can record match results as the games progress.

Pelé, King of Soccer/Pelé, El rey del fútbol 

by Monica Brown

hardback, Amazon $14

(affiliate)

Do you know how a poor boy from Brazil who loved fútbol more than anything else became the biggest soccer star the world has ever known? Turn the pages of this book to read the true life story of Pelé, King of Soccer, the first man in the history of the sport to score a thousand goals and become a living legend. Rudy Gutiérrez's dynamic illustrations make award-winning author Monica Brown's story of this remarkable sports hero truly come alive!

¿Sabes cómo un niño brasileño pobre que amaba el fútbol más que nada en el mundo se convirtió en la estrella más importante del deporte? Lee este relato y entérate de la historia de Pelé, El rey del fútbol; el primer hombre en la historia del deporte capaz de marcar mil goles y convertirse en una leyenda viva. Las dinámicas ilustraciones de Rudy Gutiérrez destacan vívidamente los momentos recreados por la escritora premiada Mónica Brown en este extraordinario libro.

Stars of the World Cup (World Soccer Legends)

by Illugi Jökulsson

hardback, Amazon $9

(affiliate)

Learn all about twenty-eight of the best players competing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, from unstoppable scorers like Messi and Ronaldo to crafty playmakers like Iniesta and Modric, and ironclad defenders like Philipp Lahm and Thiago Silva.

Get the inside scoop on their strengths and weaknesses heading into the showdown in Brazil.

Juguemos al fútbol y al football! / Let's Play Fútbol and Football!

 by Rene Colato Lainez

paperback, Amazon $13

(NOT an affiliate link)

Carlos is not sure that his favorite sport can be played with an oval-shaped ball. Chris is not sure that it can be played with a round ball. It may not be a good idea to play with a kid who is so different He doesn't even know how to play this game! Wait. It looks kind of fun. Let's give it a try!

Carlos no cree que pueda jugar al fútbol con una pelota ovalada. Chris no cree que pueda jugar con una pelota redonda. Quizás no es nuena idea jugar con un niño tan diferente... ¡Ni siquiera sabe cómo se juega! Un momento. Se ve como divertido... ¡Vamos a probar!

Soccermania / Futbolmanía

by Juan Pablo Lombana

paperback, Amazon $5

(affiliate)

64 pages full of fascinating facts about soccer and its history. From the earliest game played in China 2000 years ago to the richest soccer player of today, from the origin of the word "soccer" to the strangest injuries ever seen in a game, this book rocks with loads of anecdotes and trivia that will make you the best-informed soccer fan ever!

Just in time for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when the whole world will be suffering from soccermania!

64 páginas llenas de datos fascinantes sobre el fútbol y su historia. Desde el juego parecido al fútbol que se jugaba en China hace dos mil años hasta el futbolista mejor pagado de la actualidad, pasando por la edad de oro del fútbol femenino, las lesiones más extrañas jamás sufridas, el origen de la palabra "soccer" y mucho más.

Justo a tiempo para la Copa Mundial de Brasil, 2014, ¡cuando el mundo entero se contagia de futbolmanía!

Soccer Mania Week!

In just a few short weeks, the World Cup begins in Brazil. I know how passionate many people are about futbol, so I'm dedicating this week to soccer-related posts, particularly those centered around this biggest soccer championship.

I'm kicking off the week with a special guest post by Laura Pheneger who blogs at Mommy Maleta, a super fun and educational site. I hope you enjoy it!

Interior View of Brazil’s National Stadium where the World Cup Final will be played

courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Photo taken by Danilo Borges and produced by the official website of Copa 2014

Gearing Up For The World Cup

How many moms, dads and kids out there are ready for the month of June to arrive? I know I am. After all, it's the time of year for ice cream, swimming, picnics, catching lightning bugs and watching the 32 best soccer (more widely known as football) teams around the world battle it out to win the coveted title 2014 FIFA World Cup Champions!

Wait a second, what was that last one again?

That "last one" that I just mentioned is, none other, than the biggest sporting event in the world called the World Cup. It is estimated that over 715 million people watched the 2006 World Cup Final in Germany. In 2010 the World Cup took place in South Africa and it was broadcast to 204 countries on 245 different channels.

Now, if you like math (or read the first paragraph) you’ll notice a pattern here that will tell us when the next World Cup will take place. The World Cup competitions I mentioned took place four years apart, in 2006 and 2010. So when is the next one? You got it - 2014! This event has actually taken place every 4 years since 1930, except in 1942 and 1946, because of World War II.

This year the World Cup will take place in Brazil starting Thursday, June 12th when Brazil plays Croatia in the opening match, and will end on Sunday, July 13th. This is the second time that Brazil will be a World Cup host country. Brazil also hosted in 1950. Brazilians are very proud to host the event and they have reason to be. Brazil holds a record of winning the World Cup five times, and they are the only team that has played in every tournament. There are 12 host cities in Brazil where the matches will take place.

FIFA President, Joseph Blatter, announcing 2014 World Cup host nation Brazil

courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Photo taken by Ricardo Stuckert, Agencia Brasil

Beyond the sporting element, the World Cup is a world geography lesson waiting to happen. Here is a great graphic that shows where the 32 qualifying national teams competing this year are located on a world map. You can also go to this 2014 World Cup Wikipedia site, where I found the graphic, to see the teams’ national flags and tournament seedings.

Graphic Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Author:  2010_world_cup_qualification.png:Jlsa

derivative work: IgorMagic (talk)

Status of countries with respect to 2014 FIFA World Cup:

  Team qualified

  Team eliminated

  Team did not enter World Cup

  Country was not a FIFA member at the start of qualification

To find out more about Brazil check out my blog over at Mommy Maleta. You can read this interview and find out what 10-year-old Naomi of Brazil has to say about the World Cup. You can also learn how make your own World Cup soccer stadium tabletop game in my craft section. I look forward to your visit!

Oh, and one last thing. When June rolls around and the World Cup matches are underway, go FIFA World Cup to learn even more about this event and follow all the action.