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Stella Díaz #1
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say
In her first middle-grade novel, award-winning picture book author and illustrator Angela Dominguez tells a heartwarming story based on her own experiences growing up Mexican-American.
Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.
When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say introduces an infectiously charming new character with relatable writing and adorable black-and-white art throughout. Simple Spanish vocabulary is also integrated within the text, providing a bilingual element.
Stella Díaz loves marine animals, especially her betta fish, Pancho. But Stella Díaz is not a betta fish. Betta fish like to be alone, while Stella loves spending time with her mom and brother and her best friend Jenny. Trouble is, Jenny is in another class this year, and Stella feels very lonely.
When a new boy arrives in Stella's class, she really wants to be his friend, but sometimes Stella accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja. Plus, she has to speak in front of her whole class for a big presentation at school! But she better get over her fears soon, because Stella Díaz has something to say!
Stella Díaz Has Something to Say introduces an infectiously charming new character with relatable writing and adorable black-and-white art throughout. Simple Spanish vocabulary is also integrated within the text, providing a bilingual element.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 16, 2018
113 people are currently reading
1,281 people want to read
About the author
Angela Dominguez
29books102followersAngela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the great state of Texas. She now resides on the east coast with her boyfriend, Kyle, and their petite dog, Petunia.
She is also the author and illustrator of several books for children and a two-time recipient of Pura Belpré Illustration Honor. Her debut middle grade novel, Stella Díaz Has Something To Say, was a New York Public Library and a Chicago Public Library pick for Best Books for Kids, Sid Fleischman Award winner, and an ALA Notable. She recently illustrated Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s newest picture book, Just Help! How to Build a Better World. When Angela is not in her studio or visiting schools, she teaches at the Academy of Art University, which honored her with their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.
Angela is a proud member of SCBWI, PEN America, and represented by Wernick and Pratt Literary Agency. As a child, she loved reading books and making a mess creating pictures. She’s delighted to still be doing both.
She is also the author and illustrator of several books for children and a two-time recipient of Pura Belpré Illustration Honor. Her debut middle grade novel, Stella Díaz Has Something To Say, was a New York Public Library and a Chicago Public Library pick for Best Books for Kids, Sid Fleischman Award winner, and an ALA Notable. She recently illustrated Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s newest picture book, Just Help! How to Build a Better World. When Angela is not in her studio or visiting schools, she teaches at the Academy of Art University, which honored her with their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013.
Angela is a proud member of SCBWI, PEN America, and represented by Wernick and Pratt Literary Agency. As a child, she loved reading books and making a mess creating pictures. She’s delighted to still be doing both.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
November 21, 2021
Adorable children's book that incorporates some Spanish language into the storyline. An entertaining read with some life lessons.
August 18, 2017
Stella Diaz feels like an outsider: her best friend is no longer in the same class; she's terrified of public speaking; a school bully is fixated on her; she's a legal alien, but she is not a full citizen; she wants to befriend new-to-school Stanley; and her father is kind (when he's thinking of her family), but is mostly absent from her life. There's a part of Stella's life that will resonate with any reader, marking Dominguez's first foray outside of picture books as a smart and captivating read. Spanish words from Stella's bilingual family-life flow seamlessly through the text; readers unfamiliar with the language will not be lost, though, as the context is always supported. Dominguez also subtly emphasizes the difference between various Spanish-speaking countries, which provides the reader with a glimpse of the language and cultural differences that are often overshadowed by the larger "Latinx Culture" umbrella. It's a refreshing perspective on diversity that is not often examined in children’s literature. The non-resolution of Stella's father is both organic and realistic. Readers will be able to identify with Stella's emotional mixture of love for a parent while simultaneously being disappointed. A smart choice for early middle-grade readers. Fiction, 2nd-4th grade.
May 20, 2023
A Latino third-grader confronts her shyness in order to fit in at school. The protagonist is only in third grade, and the conflicts are very gentle, appropriate for a chapter book audience. The voice is too young for middle grade readers. Although the story is focused on a central conflict (Stella's overwhelming introversion), there is no progression of rising dramatic tension; the book reads more like a collection of vignettes than a novel. Spanish words and phrases, and a lot of Mexican food, are incorporated into the story.
January 31, 2019
Charming! This would make a fun classroom readaloud. Stella Diaz's developing view of herself, her family, and her place in the world is sure to resonant with young readers.
July 22, 2019
What a wonderful book, and a great job of joining Spanish with English for young readers, along with fears a shy young girl has of being a legal alien. I’m going to recommend this to some girls at school. (Own)
January 1, 2023
Stella is in third grade and loves learning and school. This year has been a little harder because her best friend Jenny is in the other class. Stella is excited when she learns that a new student is coming to their classroom. Maybe this new student can be her friend!
When Stanley moves in Stella is disappointed. Stanley seems so fun and cool, but he probably thinks she's silly. Especially when she crashes on her chair during introductions.
Stella lives with her smart mom and goofy brother Nick. She loves her family and how they help her. She doesn't want them to know about how shy and nervous she feels at school. She's especially worried right now because she has a presentation coming up.
Stella is smart and curious but worries about how she sounds when she speaks. She and her family moved from Mexico and she had to learn English but sometimes still says words differently than the other students. Then when her Mexican family shows up she worries about how she doesn't understand all the Spanish. Sometimes Stella wishes they had just stayed in Mexico, but then she thinks about all the things she'd miss out on, like her best friend, Jenny.
What I Liked About This Book
*Stella is a wonderful character! She's very real and likable. I thought it was fun to learn that the author based this story on her own life and feelings about growing up.
*I loved all the Spanish words throughout the book. It added authenticity and it was cool to learn some new words. I appreciated the author talking about how she felt trying to speak English "correctly" but also feeling bad about not knowing enough Spanish words. It's something I'd never really considered before regarding all my ELL students.
*Stella and her best friend Jenny. I loved that Jenny was based on the author's best friend, whose mom also came from Vietnam.
*The author did a lovely job at describing what it's like to feel shy and how other people might see that as being unfriendly. It was sweet watching Stella learn to navigate her own feelings of shyness and learn to communicate more easily with others. It was realistic to my own experiences.
*The audiobook narrated by Kyla Garcia was excellent.
*The relationship Stella had with her family was touching. I loved when she talked to Nick about her project and presentation and how he helped her.
I read the book Maya and the Robot right before this one and I couldn't help but compare the two. They were both set in Chicago, both shy children whose friends were in the other class, both children with divorced parents, etc. Lots of similarities. I liked this book so much more. It was more cohesive and well written. I would use this book as a book group book or a read aloud, but not Maya and the Robot.
When Stanley moves in Stella is disappointed. Stanley seems so fun and cool, but he probably thinks she's silly. Especially when she crashes on her chair during introductions.
Stella lives with her smart mom and goofy brother Nick. She loves her family and how they help her. She doesn't want them to know about how shy and nervous she feels at school. She's especially worried right now because she has a presentation coming up.
Stella is smart and curious but worries about how she sounds when she speaks. She and her family moved from Mexico and she had to learn English but sometimes still says words differently than the other students. Then when her Mexican family shows up she worries about how she doesn't understand all the Spanish. Sometimes Stella wishes they had just stayed in Mexico, but then she thinks about all the things she'd miss out on, like her best friend, Jenny.
What I Liked About This Book
*Stella is a wonderful character! She's very real and likable. I thought it was fun to learn that the author based this story on her own life and feelings about growing up.
*I loved all the Spanish words throughout the book. It added authenticity and it was cool to learn some new words. I appreciated the author talking about how she felt trying to speak English "correctly" but also feeling bad about not knowing enough Spanish words. It's something I'd never really considered before regarding all my ELL students.
*Stella and her best friend Jenny. I loved that Jenny was based on the author's best friend, whose mom also came from Vietnam.
*The author did a lovely job at describing what it's like to feel shy and how other people might see that as being unfriendly. It was sweet watching Stella learn to navigate her own feelings of shyness and learn to communicate more easily with others. It was realistic to my own experiences.
*The audiobook narrated by Kyla Garcia was excellent.
*The relationship Stella had with her family was touching. I loved when she talked to Nick about her project and presentation and how he helped her.
I read the book Maya and the Robot right before this one and I couldn't help but compare the two. They were both set in Chicago, both shy children whose friends were in the other class, both children with divorced parents, etc. Lots of similarities. I liked this book so much more. It was more cohesive and well written. I would use this book as a book group book or a read aloud, but not Maya and the Robot.
June 28, 2020
I read this book with my third graders who really enjoyed it. This was a great book for my largely ELL students who connected with Stella’s challenges speaking English fluently or getting embarrassed in class. It was also great to teach how to use context clues for the rudimentary Spanish included in the story as well. Since most of my students speak Spanish, they knew the meanings of the words and could better understand exactly what I was doing to determine the meaning of the words.
This was a delightful book that contained real problems facings many third graders (Stella’s dad doesn’t follow through on his commitments, she’s worried her best friend has found a new best friend, she’s nervous about the new kid in school, etc.). It incorporates a good deal of Spanish and Mexican culture, and it really holds the interest of the reader. I would recommend for 3rd/4th graders.
This was a delightful book that contained real problems facings many third graders (Stella’s dad doesn’t follow through on his commitments, she’s worried her best friend has found a new best friend, she’s nervous about the new kid in school, etc.). It incorporates a good deal of Spanish and Mexican culture, and it really holds the interest of the reader. I would recommend for 3rd/4th graders.
June 1, 2019
Really sweet!
Tackles a few tougher issues like immigration/citizenship but in a totally kid-appropriate way.
Stella learns and grows in a believable way, and her supportive mom and older brother are wonderful.
Other things I liked:
Stella is Mexican, and her abuela is Salvadoran
Lots of Spanish words included, often with context clues so non Spanish speakers can figure out what they mean
Her best friend is second generation Vietnamese-American
Stella has speech troubles and anxiety
Her parents are divorced and her dads a deadbeat (but she has some empathy for him)
Stella is a great artist but is good at math too
Tackles a few tougher issues like immigration/citizenship but in a totally kid-appropriate way.
Stella learns and grows in a believable way, and her supportive mom and older brother are wonderful.
Other things I liked:
Stella is Mexican, and her abuela is Salvadoran
Lots of Spanish words included, often with context clues so non Spanish speakers can figure out what they mean
Her best friend is second generation Vietnamese-American
Stella has speech troubles and anxiety
Her parents are divorced and her dads a deadbeat (but she has some empathy for him)
Stella is a great artist but is good at math too
February 11, 2021
This was a read aloud with my 7 year old. Stella has trouble with speech and therefore feels self conscious and nervous when she has to speak in front of others. It was awesome to see my daughter, who is also in speech and sometimes self concious, completely identify with Stella. This was a hidden treasure that I'm so glad we found.
February 6, 2019
Such a delightful book! Immigration, reading, public speaking, making friends - from a creative, articulate child who gets tongue-tied! Estrella (Stella) loves fish, especially the starfish as well as that cool librarian with purple hair.
May 9, 2024
3.5 stars
Read
March 3, 2019My rationale for using the time capsule alternative format is that it allows students who may struggle with writing a different method to express what they know. In addition, a tactile or kinesthetic learner may prefer this type of assignment. Especially if they will be sharing their work with others. This would be one of several options I would provide, then students would choose what they would like to complete. According to Bridget Dalton and Dana L. Grisham (2013), � What makes the difference for students, whether avid reader or reluctant reader, is the teacher who knows how to scaffold and personalize learning for individual differences� (p.221).
Make a time capsule for a character. Include 10 items that the character would want to include in the time capsule. These items should explain important details about the character.
The time capsule I would create for Stella Diaz has Something to Say would be a clorox wipe container designed to look like a submarine. In the time capsule I would include the following items:
1. Red crayon with the Spanish word “roja� printed on it. Stella is often embarrassed by her struggles with speaking English and she turns red from embarrassment. Throughout the book the author, Angela Dominiguez uses the word “roja� rather than red in the text. In addition to little incidents throughout the book causing this embarrassment, Stella finds out she will have to give a presentation to her class.
2. Octopus. Stella loves learning about the ocean and all the creatures that live in it. She learns that an octopus releases a cloud of ink to help them disappear when they feel threatened. She wishes she could turn into an octopus when she falls off her chair and accidentally speaks in Spanish when the new student, Stanley, arrives.
3. Calculator. Stella struggles to learn to speak English but loves math. On page 44 Stella says, “Numbers are also easy to say, not like letters� (Dominiguez, 2018).
4. Flashcards with “v� and “b� words. Stella attends speech therapy sessions at school to help her learn to speak correctly. The teacher is still worried about her “v� and “b� sounds.
5. Recipe. Recipe for picadillo. When Stella’s family visits for Thanksgiving they want to eat all the traditional American foods because it is interesting for them. Stella prefers the non American dishes her mom makes. One of those dishes is picadillo.
6. Toy alien. Stella’s teacher explains that a person who has a green card is called a legal alien Stella is upset about being an alien. She said on page 32, “This explains everything. I’m an alien?� (Dominiguez, 2018).
7. Matching hair bows. Stella and her best friend, Jenny, are in different homerooms this year. Jenny has started a friendship with, Anna, a girl in her class. Jenny and Anna have matching backpacks. This is upsetting to Stella. On page 13 she says, “I’m glad Jenny isn’t lonely in her class, but she and I are the only ones who are supposed to match. If there was a rule book to being best friends, I’m sure rules on matching would be in the top ten, easily. It’s just part of being best friends� (Dominguez, 2018).
8. Pink Ribbon. Stella participates in her first spelling bee and makes it to one of the final rounds. She receives a pink ribbon. This is a confidence boost for her in regards to her speaking.
9. Starfish. Stella tells her mom how starfish can grow back an arm if they have lost one. Stella’s mom tells her some people are as strong as starfishes. They are able to fight through tough things and bounce back. Just like a starfish does after losing an arm.
10. Ticket to the aquarium. Stella is excited to finally go to the aquarium. However, when she is there she sees Stanley and, out of embarrassment, tries to avoid him. Eventually, she can no longer avoid him and they talk about their shared love of marine life and become friends. This helps boost Stella’s confidence and she is able to give an impressive presentation to her class.
Dalton, B., & Grisham, D. L. (2013). Love That Book. Reading Teacher, 67(3), 220�225.
Dominiguez, A. (2018). Stella Diaz has something to say. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.
Make a time capsule for a character. Include 10 items that the character would want to include in the time capsule. These items should explain important details about the character.
The time capsule I would create for Stella Diaz has Something to Say would be a clorox wipe container designed to look like a submarine. In the time capsule I would include the following items:
1. Red crayon with the Spanish word “roja� printed on it. Stella is often embarrassed by her struggles with speaking English and she turns red from embarrassment. Throughout the book the author, Angela Dominiguez uses the word “roja� rather than red in the text. In addition to little incidents throughout the book causing this embarrassment, Stella finds out she will have to give a presentation to her class.
2. Octopus. Stella loves learning about the ocean and all the creatures that live in it. She learns that an octopus releases a cloud of ink to help them disappear when they feel threatened. She wishes she could turn into an octopus when she falls off her chair and accidentally speaks in Spanish when the new student, Stanley, arrives.
3. Calculator. Stella struggles to learn to speak English but loves math. On page 44 Stella says, “Numbers are also easy to say, not like letters� (Dominiguez, 2018).
4. Flashcards with “v� and “b� words. Stella attends speech therapy sessions at school to help her learn to speak correctly. The teacher is still worried about her “v� and “b� sounds.
5. Recipe. Recipe for picadillo. When Stella’s family visits for Thanksgiving they want to eat all the traditional American foods because it is interesting for them. Stella prefers the non American dishes her mom makes. One of those dishes is picadillo.
6. Toy alien. Stella’s teacher explains that a person who has a green card is called a legal alien Stella is upset about being an alien. She said on page 32, “This explains everything. I’m an alien?� (Dominiguez, 2018).
7. Matching hair bows. Stella and her best friend, Jenny, are in different homerooms this year. Jenny has started a friendship with, Anna, a girl in her class. Jenny and Anna have matching backpacks. This is upsetting to Stella. On page 13 she says, “I’m glad Jenny isn’t lonely in her class, but she and I are the only ones who are supposed to match. If there was a rule book to being best friends, I’m sure rules on matching would be in the top ten, easily. It’s just part of being best friends� (Dominguez, 2018).
8. Pink Ribbon. Stella participates in her first spelling bee and makes it to one of the final rounds. She receives a pink ribbon. This is a confidence boost for her in regards to her speaking.
9. Starfish. Stella tells her mom how starfish can grow back an arm if they have lost one. Stella’s mom tells her some people are as strong as starfishes. They are able to fight through tough things and bounce back. Just like a starfish does after losing an arm.
10. Ticket to the aquarium. Stella is excited to finally go to the aquarium. However, when she is there she sees Stanley and, out of embarrassment, tries to avoid him. Eventually, she can no longer avoid him and they talk about their shared love of marine life and become friends. This helps boost Stella’s confidence and she is able to give an impressive presentation to her class.
Dalton, B., & Grisham, D. L. (2013). Love That Book. Reading Teacher, 67(3), 220�225.
Dominiguez, A. (2018). Stella Diaz has something to say. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press.
November 2, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars
STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY is a delightful story that will appeal to readers who love books like Jasmine Toguchi, Cilla Lee-Jenkins, and Krista Kim-Bap.
In this story, Stella misses having her best friend, Jenny, in her class. It’s easy to talk to Jenny, but sometimes in front of of other people, Stella’s words don’t come out right. She might use a Spanish word instead of an English one, and so Stella prefers to stay quiet. But there’s a new boy in her class that she’d like to get to know, and a class presentation to make on her favorite topic, and Stella thinks it might be time to figure out how speak up.
What I enjoyed most about this story is the positive, upbeat feel of the book, while still tackling tough topics. Stella’s mom raises her and her older brother, Nick (their dad is largely absent, and their relationship with him is not very positive), but she’s actively involved in their lives, and a loving and fun character. Nick is a very supportive brother who helps Stella learn to ride a bike, work on her presentation with her, and makes being an “alien� feel less scary. There’s a lot of joy in the book while Stella navigates life’s challenges.
I’m very glad I finally made the time to read this book, and I highly suggest adding it to your collection.
STELLA DIAZ HAS SOMETHING TO SAY is a delightful story that will appeal to readers who love books like Jasmine Toguchi, Cilla Lee-Jenkins, and Krista Kim-Bap.
In this story, Stella misses having her best friend, Jenny, in her class. It’s easy to talk to Jenny, but sometimes in front of of other people, Stella’s words don’t come out right. She might use a Spanish word instead of an English one, and so Stella prefers to stay quiet. But there’s a new boy in her class that she’d like to get to know, and a class presentation to make on her favorite topic, and Stella thinks it might be time to figure out how speak up.
What I enjoyed most about this story is the positive, upbeat feel of the book, while still tackling tough topics. Stella’s mom raises her and her older brother, Nick (their dad is largely absent, and their relationship with him is not very positive), but she’s actively involved in their lives, and a loving and fun character. Nick is a very supportive brother who helps Stella learn to ride a bike, work on her presentation with her, and makes being an “alien� feel less scary. There’s a lot of joy in the book while Stella navigates life’s challenges.
I’m very glad I finally made the time to read this book, and I highly suggest adding it to your collection.
December 29, 2018
12/28/2018 ~ I had so much hope for this book, as I considered my elementary readers. In the first 50 pages, I was hooked, especially as I read the poignant pages where Stella realized that she is technically an "alien" (in a legal, immigration sense). However, as I read further, I found that the voice didn't work for me. Rather than feeling like I was a reading the voice of an 8 year old, I felt that the voice was that of an adult looking back. (Which, since the author explains that the story is based on her own experiences, makes sense.)
I'll probably order a copy of this for my elementary library, but I look forward to talking with some of my readers about the book. I almost feel that the 5th graders will be more drawn to the story than the 2nd and 3rd graders - perhaps looking at Stella as a little sister.
I hope Dominguez continues writing chapter books; her voice as an immigrant who didn't speak either English or Spanish quite as well as she wanted is an important one.
Where I heard about this book:
Not sure where I first saw it when I placed it on my TBR list on GoodReads in 2/2018, but I saw it again in 12/2018 here:
I'll probably order a copy of this for my elementary library, but I look forward to talking with some of my readers about the book. I almost feel that the 5th graders will be more drawn to the story than the 2nd and 3rd graders - perhaps looking at Stella as a little sister.
I hope Dominguez continues writing chapter books; her voice as an immigrant who didn't speak either English or Spanish quite as well as she wanted is an important one.
Where I heard about this book:
Not sure where I first saw it when I placed it on my TBR list on GoodReads in 2/2018, but I saw it again in 12/2018 here:
January 13, 2018
I received a copy of this from #netgalley to review.
For fan’s of Clementine and Gooney Bird Greene, Stella Diaz is an eight year old with a lot of heart. She is shy and worried about her “alien� status. She’s bullied but learns to rise above. She’s incredibly creative and curious and loves learning all she can about marine life. Her parents are divorced and her father doesn’t always know the best way to connect with Stella and her brother, Nick. Her mother works hard and always has just the right words to help Stella through hard situations.
This book is sweet and would fit perfectly into a library and a third grade classroom read aloud. Many students would see themselves in Stella and her struggles with friends and overcoming fears. I loved that Dominguez interjects Spanish words throughout the book and creates safe places for Stella in her speech class and the library.
For fan’s of Clementine and Gooney Bird Greene, Stella Diaz is an eight year old with a lot of heart. She is shy and worried about her “alien� status. She’s bullied but learns to rise above. She’s incredibly creative and curious and loves learning all she can about marine life. Her parents are divorced and her father doesn’t always know the best way to connect with Stella and her brother, Nick. Her mother works hard and always has just the right words to help Stella through hard situations.
This book is sweet and would fit perfectly into a library and a third grade classroom read aloud. Many students would see themselves in Stella and her struggles with friends and overcoming fears. I loved that Dominguez interjects Spanish words throughout the book and creates safe places for Stella in her speech class and the library.
March 3, 2018
Every child has something to say. When they give voice to their beliefs, opinions and ideas, they wish to be heard. Not only do they hope to have others listen to them, but they need them to do this with sincerity and respect. It's difficult when you struggle with the courage to speak and then others ridicule your beliefs, opinions or ideas.
If you and your family are living in a country other than the place of your origin, it is an extra challenge and source of concern. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say (Roaring Brook Press, January 16, 2018) written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez follows a third-grade student with her own special brand of brilliance waiting to shine. She discovers others can be marvelously supportive in contrast to the outright unkindness of a few.
My full recommendation:
If you and your family are living in a country other than the place of your origin, it is an extra challenge and source of concern. Stella Diaz Has Something to Say (Roaring Brook Press, January 16, 2018) written and illustrated by Angela Dominguez follows a third-grade student with her own special brand of brilliance waiting to shine. She discovers others can be marvelously supportive in contrast to the outright unkindness of a few.
My full recommendation:
February 19, 2018
Stella Diaz, a third grader, lives with her divorced mom and older brother Nic in Chicago. They moved here from Mexico three years ago. Stella struggles with both Spanish and English sounds and thus is in a speech class, but also struggles with shyness; and now the class is assigned a five minute oral presentation on an animal. What will this creative girl have to say?
Newly independent readers will be attracted to the book cover and the book size. It looks very grown up, yet has multiple black and white drawings that take up some space. Another bonus-- Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text. Young readers will appreciate that Ms. Dominguez has something to say in the story and through the illustrations.
Newly independent readers will be attracted to the book cover and the book size. It looks very grown up, yet has multiple black and white drawings that take up some space. Another bonus-- Spanish words sprinkled throughout the text. Young readers will appreciate that Ms. Dominguez has something to say in the story and through the illustrations.
July 10, 2019
Loved this global read aloud selection and think teachers will too. Think I already wrote a review.
Chapter 6 would make a fine read aloud by itself and did bring tears to my eyes.
As I read it I kept thinking that it was not set as if happening right now, but upon finishing and reading the Author’s note, I understand that it is fictionalized memoir.
I absolutely love Nick and how Stella's family functions. It is nice to have a somewhat sweet shy character (Stella) to possibly compare (in my eyes so favorably) with the Clementine, Judy Moody, and Junie B. characters.
Chapter 6 would make a fine read aloud by itself and did bring tears to my eyes.
As I read it I kept thinking that it was not set as if happening right now, but upon finishing and reading the Author’s note, I understand that it is fictionalized memoir.
I absolutely love Nick and how Stella's family functions. It is nice to have a somewhat sweet shy character (Stella) to possibly compare (in my eyes so favorably) with the Clementine, Judy Moody, and Junie B. characters.
July 13, 2019
I read this book in preparation for the Global Read Aloud 2019. I’ll be reading it with my grade three class. I loved this story about Stella who is often nervous and unsure of herself. She has a wonderfully supportive older brother and a mom who knows just what to say to help Stella over the bumps in grade three life. There are so many things that I can connect to the students I teach, the biggest one being that most of my students are new Canadians so they may share Stella’s fears that she will say the wrong word or lapse into her first language at the wrong time. Lovely book!
July 9, 2018
A great chapter book that is perfect for beginning readers and a middle grade audience! I really loved Stella and her lovable Mexican family. The sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the book makes for an authentic reading experience. This book would also be perfect for a read aloud.
Definitely recommend!
Definitely recommend!
August 17, 2017
This book is great! It definitely fills in many holes; green card holders, divorced parents, making new friends, being shy, being bilingual. I would recommend this to well-read 2nd graders-3rd grade. Can't wait to share Stella with my patrons!
October 1, 2019
Good read for:
Those who are learning English and can make connections to Stella and how she feels
Those who do not understand the struggle of learning a new language or different cultures…shows Stella’s point of view
Those who are learning English and can make connections to Stella and how she feels
Those who do not understand the struggle of learning a new language or different cultures…shows Stella’s point of view
March 28, 2018
I've seen an increase in Diverse books about Latinos, but very few for younger readers. This book helps fill that void. Kids of all shades will connect with the book.
April 18, 2018
Inspired by the author's own childhood experiences as a young immigrant. If you love Clementine and Alvin Ho, you'll adore Stella.
November 15, 2018
Yes! Excited to share this book with young readers. I love the inclusion of Spanish throughout and Stella sharing her feelings of not quite fitting in. Readers are going to love meeting her.
July 9, 2019
Stella, based on the author’s childhood, struggles with confidence until she asks for advice and then follows it.
November 14, 2019
Check another book off the list! This was an infinitely relatable book for me, but not so much for my daughter. I totally turn roja and my tongue seems to swell talking in front of a crowd. I still get teased by my wife about my mispronunciation of pinch (peench) and at times mix up my sh and ch sounds. Definitely some great discussion opportunities for appreciating differences and overcoming challenges with public speaking. Where the book loses ground is acknowledging the deadbeat dad as acceptable. I hope my children never find me unreliable and would call me on it if they ever felt I was letting them down. The dad in this book was worse at dadding than he was at his part-time job, and Stella shrugged it off as dad just being dad while he spent much of the year being absent. Fortunately, mom was a champ, so I suppose that made the bitter pill of their dad easier to swallow. It was a fun read and one of the stronger options of the SSYRA list.
October 20, 2020
I absolutely love this book! Growing up bilingual, I could relate so well to Stella. I was so shy to speak and read out loud in class, worried that I had an accent and that I would be made fun of, and was also easily embarrassed if I mispronounced something. To this day, I fear public speaking but I have gotten much better! I wish I had this book as a young girl, but it still brought me comfort and joy as an adult, especially knowing that this book exists now for young readers.
May 10, 2022
I love the representation of bilingual students in Stella Diaz Has Something To Say. I am not sure a young reader who only speaks English could handle the Spanish in the book without listening to the audiobook. I wasn't a huge fan of Stella's voice. Something about it was off-putting. This story didn't really stick with me either.
May 12, 2021
Great early chapter book - recommended for grades 2-4.
Sweet slice of life story featuring a shy Chicago girl learning how to make new friends and branch out after her bestie ends up in a new classroom.
Read-alike: Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
Sweet slice of life story featuring a shy Chicago girl learning how to make new friends and branch out after her bestie ends up in a new classroom.
Read-alike: Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson
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