Mama's Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation

Have you ever had a family member taken away? If you did experience this, you and the main character in this book are similar. When Saya’s mom goes away she would always listens to her mama’s tape ever since her mother went to Sunshine Correctional, it’s a prison where women without paper go. She lives in America with her father. She wanted mama home, but she needs the right papers.Next, Saya and her father go see her mother. Afterwards, Saya and papa went back home. She then earns a tape recorder from her mother. She then visits, again. After, Saya asked her father if she could write letters to her mother. She sent her letters to the prison. As a result, a woman told her and her father if she could publish their writing.They ended up in the news then somewhere where they didn’t really expect, the courtroom. The judge said something that surprised some people in some way.Most people won’t believe this but some people will when I say: Saya is a brave girl. She was brave enough to be in TV answering questions without a hint of fear in her voice. She was determine to say what she said, even though she was nervous about being on television she still said it. An example in the story that shows that Saya was brave is when she says “I miss Mama and how I wish she can be with us again.”. This example shows that she is brave because she said it with a lump on her throat so she was nervous but still said it to a person she doesn’t know, also she said it to the world that is watching the news.There is a part that will be disliked by some of the people, it may look silly when the illustrations showed Saya being taken away from her mom. This is because the illustration looks weird, that I can’t take this seriously anymore. They could’ve put those arrows to show that she is moving her arms back and forth. In the text it shows Saya with three arms going up and down. It would have been better if they drew it with drawing movement which would’ve made sense, and for your information this is a heads up.Either way, I recommend this because is says about separation and family. This is good for people that love happy endings because it says in the end it had Saya, her father, and her mother all happy again, either separated or together, who knows you’ll have to read it. This would be a good book for ages 4+, this is because this book is good for understanding how it feels when a part of a family is gone. It’s good for the kids to know how it feels and maybe they will learn how to deal with it like how Saya learned how to deal with it, but not fully.

Great way to explain or introduce your child to immigration and how it can affect families.

This book is really beautiful and touching. I’m a teacher, but I don’t know if I could ever read this book to a class without starting to cry. Maybe I could share it with my older students, but be prepared for a wave of emotions with this story. However, even if I keep it for myself, I’m very glad it’s in my collection. The message of empowerment is so strong, and stories such as these are so important.

This is a very thoughtful book on educating young children on the challenges faced by immigrants. The young ones in preschool loved the images and the story. I also used it with my middle schoolers and high schoolers when teaching a unit on immigration and refugees. When you can move high school and middle school boys with a children's book, you have a winner.

Well written story from the point of view of a child, waiting for Mom to get the right “papers”. Powerful connection to current events

This story apply our current immigration policy. It shows how families are continued to be torn apart by this. It is simple but well explained in this colorful and beautiful book. It is great for preschoolers and kindergarteners, as well as parents.

These books were not only interesting in their bilingual form, but they were so beautifully illustrated. Truly to be appreciated by th echildren and great o use in English classes with the younger kids. I loved all of them.

This is a beautiful story. It helps adults and children understand & feel the pain that comes with a family being torn apart. A pain being inflicted on too many families.

It's a great way of communicating such important social issues as this.