As a child, I recall Mamá as a quite, submissive woman who, when all the work and chores were done end of the day, would transform into a funny and gifted storyteller. In the evenings, she would entertain us with stories, rhymes, riddles, sayings and games -- all in Spanish.
Lotería, a Mexican version of bingo, was one of those games which can be found around the world, particularly in Latin American countries. The game is universally recognized . Its pictures are iconic, albeit, somewhat sexist and stereotypic for our modern times. The tradition of playing Lotería has been passed on from generation to generation in most Mexican and Latina American families. It consists of large bingo-like cards with four rows of pictures of objects, people, plants, etc., and a deck of cards with the same pictures (see the illustrations in the book). A designated caller shuffles the deck of cards and calls out the names on the pictures. Players find the pictures on their cards. Whoever finds all the pictures in a row, or in an agreed formation, (horizontally, vertically, four corners, etc.) is the winner.
As children, we never tired of playing Lotería. Just as Mamá played this game with my eight siblings and me many years ago, she taught it to her many grandchildren. Not all her grandchildren spoke Spanish, some understood more than they could speak; others knew nothing. Their lack of Spanish fluency did not deter Mamá from interacting with them. Her "I love you m'jo or m'ja and her demonstrative and affectionate hugs and kisses would always win them over. Who could resist?
How do I talk to Abuela? depicts the affectionate, playful and loving interactions of Mamá had with ALL her grandchildren in California, Texas, and Ohio. For creative purposes, the prototype family in the story borrows loosely from interactions with biracial grandchildren in Ohio, particularly my sister, Herminia's (Minnie) family. Although, there is a David Hubbard in the family, the story is not about Davis per se. The Character, David, is a composite of all the grandchildren and serves to illustrate my mother's typical interactions with them. Mama made a strong effort to get to know ALL her grandchildren and to interact with them on the assumption that "love needs no translation."
Lotería, a Mexican version of bingo, was one of those games which can be found around the world, particularly in Latin American countries. The game is universally recognized . Its pictures are iconic, albeit, somewhat sexist and stereotypic for our modern times. The tradition of playing Lotería has been passed on from generation to generation in most Mexican and Latina American families. It consists of large bingo-like cards with four rows of pictures of objects, people, plants, etc., and a deck of cards with the same pictures (see the illustrations in the book). A designated caller shuffles the deck of cards and calls out the names on the pictures. Players find the pictures on their cards. Whoever finds all the pictures in a row, or in an agreed formation, (horizontally, vertically, four corners, etc.) is the winner.
As children, we never tired of playing Lotería. Just as Mamá played this game with my eight siblings and me many years ago, she taught it to her many grandchildren. Not all her grandchildren spoke Spanish, some understood more than they could speak; others knew nothing. Their lack of Spanish fluency did not deter Mamá from interacting with them. Her "I love you m'jo or m'ja and her demonstrative and affectionate hugs and kisses would always win them over. Who could resist?
How do I talk to Abuela? depicts the affectionate, playful and loving interactions of Mamá had with ALL her grandchildren in California, Texas, and Ohio. For creative purposes, the prototype family in the story borrows loosely from interactions with biracial grandchildren in Ohio, particularly my sister, Herminia's (Minnie) family. Although, there is a David Hubbard in the family, the story is not about Davis per se. The Character, David, is a composite of all the grandchildren and serves to illustrate my mother's typical interactions with them. Mama made a strong effort to get to know ALL her grandchildren and to interact with them on the assumption that "love needs no translation."
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