Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! Janitor Stike in L.A.

"Si se puede" tells the universal story of parents who want their children to thrive, and of children who want their parents to be fulfilled as well. My 4-year-old daughter and I read it again and again because it's a heart-warming story of how precious this family bond is, and because we end up tackling larger issues as we talk about a family who struggles and wins. Carlitos' mother works hard to support her family, but finds that hard work isn't enough. She needs to join with other workers to improve conditions for herself and the other moms and dads who are struggling as well. The story comes full circle when the son she works to support ends up supporting her as well. It's surprising how well kids "get" issues like this, especially when they are told in the context of a loving mother/child relationship. This book is good for learning about societal issues, but it's also a good old sweet read. It's a great way to round out our library of fuzzy animal books.

There are frighteningly few picture books out there that truly celebrate the contemporary working class. Oh, you'll find tons of them willing to talk if the stories take place in the past. But shine the spotlight on today's janitors, hotel workers, and Walmart employees and watch that number of books evaporate like mirages in the sun. Now find picture books in which the child's parents are business people. There are TONS of them (usually because they belong to the garden variety mommy-and-daddy-please-don't-go-to-work camp). For this reason and this reason alone, "Si, Se Puede", was filling a very great need. In discussing not only the Justice For Janitors Campaign of 2000 but also the need for strong unions in America today, the book is both informative and interesting. It joins such equally important unionization children's books as "Harvesting Hope" and "Bud Not Buddy". What makes it remarkable, however, is the fact that it's taking place today. Carlitos loves his mother, but he feels bad for her. Every night she tucks him into bed, then trudges downtown to mop up the glass office buildings downtown. The job isn't bad, but Mama doesn't get paid much and can't afford to spend more time with her family. She even has to take on extra jobs on the week-ends. It isn't too surprising to Carlitos then when she informs him that she's going to join other janitors around town in a massive Los Angeles strike. The strike is well-coordinated and the people in the community are supportive. Little Carlitos wonders what he could possibly do to support his mother. The answer comes in the form of a painted sign reading, "I Love My Mama. She Is A Janitor!". This display of pride joins others and, in the end, the strikers win a living wage and Mama is available to take Carlitos to the park on week-ends. This hardly marks the end of Mama's new work, though. Hotel staff members need Mama's help with their own strike, so Carlitos grabs his sign and the two head off shouting a triumphant, "Si, se puede!". There is an argument in children's literary theory that propaganda never makes a good children's book. Certainly this is sometimes true (books like, "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!" aren't exactly vying for artistic merit). Unfortunately, it all depends on what you think is "propaganda". Cynthia Zolotow's remarkable, "William's Doll" would probably fall under strict scrutiny. In the case of this particular book, I guess it all boils down to whether or not you consider unions a "hot topic" To me, they're just a necessity of life. And since they exist, it makes all the sense in the world to try to explain what they are to kids. It's true, I suppose, that author Diana Cohn has limited her scope a little. The story is about a single historical incident and the framing sequence involving Carlitos and his mother give an otherwise factual incident a human face. So this isn't exactly going to be nightly reading for every child you know. On the other hand, th

There are frighteningly few picture books out there that truly celebrate the contemporary working class. Oh, you'll find tons of them willing to talk if the stories take place in the past. But shine the spotlight on today's janitors, hotel workers, and Walmart employees and watch that number of books evaporate like mirages in the sun. Now find picture books in which the child's parents are business people. There are TONS of them (usually because they belong to the garden variety mommy-and-daddy-please-don't-go-to-work camp). For this reason and this reason alone, "Si, Se Puede", was filling a very great need. In discussing not only the Justice For Janitors Campaign of 2000 but also the need for strong unions in America today, the book is both informative and interesting. It joins such equally important unionization children's books as "Harvesting Hope" and "Bud Not Buddy". What makes it remarkable, however, is the fact that it's taking place today. Carlitos loves his mother, but he feels bad for her. Every night she tucks him into bed, then trudges downtown to mop up the glass office buildings downtown. The job isn't bad, but Mama doesn't get paid much and can't afford to spend more time with her family. She even has to take on extra jobs on the week-ends. It isn't too surprising to Carlitos then when she informs him that she's going to join other janitors around town in a massive Los Angeles strike. The strike is well-coordinated and the people in the community are supportive. Little Carlitos wonders what he could possibly do to support his mother. The answer comes in the form of a painted sign reading, "I Love My Mama. She Is A Janitor!". This display of pride joins others and, in the end, the strikers win a living wage and Mama is available to take Carlitos to the park on week-ends. This hardly marks the end of Mama's new work, though. Hotel staff members need Mama's help with their own strike, so Carlitos grabs his sign and the two head off shouting a triumphant, "Si, se puede!". There is an argument in children's literary theory that propaganda never makes a good children's book. Certainly this is sometimes true (books like, "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!" aren't exactly vying for artistic merit). Unfortunately, it all depends on what you think is "propaganda". Cynthia Zolotow's remarkable, "William's Doll" would probably fall under strict scrutiny. In the case of this particular book, I guess it all boils down to whether or not you consider unions a "hot topic" To me, they're just a necessity of life. And since they exist, it makes all the sense in the world to try to explain what they are to kids. It's true, I suppose, that author Diana Cohn has limited her scope a little. The story is about a single historical incident and the framing sequence involving Carlitos and his mother give an otherwise factual incident a human face. So this isn't exactly going to be nightly reading for every child you

Excellent book! My children and I both love it. Well written, especially since the topic is sometimes difficult to explain to young children. Illustrations are top-notch. An EXTREMELY necessary subject for children to learn about and understand.