Alma and How She Got Her Name

2018, Candlewick Press, 2019 Caldecott Honor Book

""I love the story of my name! Now, tell me about Alma, Daddy. Where does she come from?"

"I picked the name Alma just for you. You are the first and the only Alma. You will make your own story.""

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Juana Martinez-Neal

Martinez-Neal is a writer and illustrator of children's books and has been recognized with at least twelve awards including a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Medal, the Pura Belpre Medal, and an Ezra Jack Keats Honor. Impressive for nine years of publishing! Many of her books are published in Spanish and English editions. Alma is her debut picture book! We've reviewed another of her picture books at Stories Matter: Fry Bread, A Native American Family Story.

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Book Synopsis

For Alma, her very long name -- Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela -- has way too many names! Until she learns the stories of who she came from.

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Picture book, 32 pages. Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela learns the meaning of her names.

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"What is the story of your name?
What story would you like to tell?"
Juana Martinez-Neal

Learning Options

Family Read Aloud Time
When you read Alma with your children be ready for the question, "What do my names mean?" The book is wonderfully whimsical as Alma learns her family's history.

Classroom Resource
Candlewick offers a Teacher's Guide with good ideas on using Alma to teach a number of Common Core Language Arts Standards for K-5. There are many more guides at the bottom of Martinez-Neal's book page.

Learning at Home
The Anti-Defamation League offers a Parent/Family Discussion Guide to teach respect for diversity and encourage social justice by looking at the themes of identity, culture and the importance of names in Alma.

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