REVIEW: It’s Middle Name Pride Day!

​I never really liked my middle name all that much. It seemed too generic. Too common. Once I asked my mom why she chose it. She kind of shrugged and said something about a one-syllable name sounding good next to a two-syllable first name. It didn’t sound like she spent too much time thinking about it, probably because she and my dad had a hard-enough time agreeing on a first name for me. When I got married, I decided to take my husband’s last name and change my middle name to my maiden name. I have no brothers, so in this way I thought I’d carry my dad’s family name and show my family pride. In honor of Middle Name Pride Day I bring you a review of a book all about how a little girl got her name:

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TITLE: ALMA & HOW SHE GOT HER NAME

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS: Juana Martinez-Neal

PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press/2018

OPENING LINES: 
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela had a long name--
too long, if you asked her.
“My name is so long, Daddy. It never fits,” Alma said.
“Come here,” he said. “Let me tell you the story of your name. Then you decide if it fits.”

​This book has everything I love: Beautiful illustrations, a surprise under the book jacket, a sweet, relatable main character, and a story full of heart. Little Alma has a big name. So big, it “doesn’t fit” (as shown when she tries to write it on a piece of paper). When she complains to her father, he tells her the story of how she got her name. One of her names came from her grandmother who loved books and flowers, just like Alma. One came from her grandfather who was an artist, just like Alma. In the end (spoiler alert), Alma comes to love her name and decides it fits her “just right.” I could gush more about every aspect of this book, but I could never do it justice. You’ll just have to read for yourself. And I highly recommend you do. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
 
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