Me Llamo Maria Isabel (My Name Is Maria Isabel)

When Maria Isabel Salazar Lopez enters a new school, her teacher insists on calling her Mary. But Maria Isabel has been named after her Papa's mother and her beloved Puerto Rican grandmother. She just can't see herself as Mary. How can she find the courage to make her teacher understand? A Christopher Award-winning author tells the compelling story of a little girl's decision to stand up for her own identity.

Alma Flor Ada, an authority on multicultural and bilingual education, is the recipient of the 2012 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and in 2014 she was honored by the Mexican government with the prestigious OHTLI Award. She is the author of numerous award-winning books for young readers, including Dancing Home with Gabriel Zubizarreta, My Name Is María Isabel, Under the Royal Palms (Pura Belpré Medal), Where the Flame Trees Bloom, and The Gold Coin (Christopher Award Medal). She lives in California, and you can visit her at AlmaFlorAda.com.