Dear Primo by Duncan Tonatiuh

Dear Primo

A Letter to My Cousin

Duncan Tonatiuh

Abrams Books for Young Readers · Print & ebook · March 1, 2010

Two cousins—one in the United States and one in Mexico—learn their lives aren’t so different in Dear Primo, a charming picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.

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Who it’s for
Letters between cousins make everyday differences—and familiar points of connection—easy to notice.
Themes
Cultural similarities, Cousin relationship, Daily life across countries
Genres
Diversity & Multicultural, Friendship, US: Hispanic & Latino Stories

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About this book

Two cousins—one in the United States and one in Mexico—learn their lives aren’t so different in Dear Primo, a charming picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh. A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book! “Reinforces the sense that kids around the world are more alike than different.” —Booklist “An excellent tool for explaining how cultures connect.” —School Library Journal Meet Charlie and Carlitos. Charlie lives in America.

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Carlitos, his primo, lives in Mexico. Charlie takes the subway to school, plays basketball with his friends, and loves pizza. Carlitos rides his bicicleta to school and enjoys playing fútbol at recess, and his favorite meal is quesadillas. Their lives appear different, but do Charlie and Carlitos have more in common than it seems? - Learn about Carlitos and his life in rural Mexico. - Learn what’s different about his daily life and what’s the same, compared to life in the United States. - Learn that kids everywhere can be very alike, even if their clothes, food, and homes are very different. - And more! “Score! I just got a letter from my primo, my cousin. I live in America, but he lives in Mexico, where my family is from. Maybe someday we’ll meet.” Through excerpts of letters written back and forth, the two cousins learn that they have more in common than the boundaries of their lives, their communities, and their countries would suggest. Through his artwork and story, Duncan Tonatiuh introduces young readers to a very timely idea—that community is larger than just neighborhoods and schools.

Across the Border

Letters between cousins make everyday differences—and familiar points of connection—easy to notice.

Come here for

  • A cousin-to-cousin view of life in the United States and Mexico
  • Small details of school, food, play, and family

Expect

  • A gentle look at what can feel different and what feels familiar
  • A picture-book story told through letters back and forth

Where it sits

US: Hispanic & Latino Stories61%
Diversity & Multicultural48%
Friendship38%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • US: Hispanic & Latino Stories
  • Stories Set in Mexico
  • Friendship
Authors
Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Published
March 1, 2010
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Cultural similarities · Cousin relationship · Daily life across countries
Reading lane
US: Hispanic & Latino Stories