Alma and How She Got Her Name; Juana Martinez-Neal

Alma has a very long name, so long in fact that it is sometimes hard to fit it all on one piece of paper. Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela is her full name and Alma definitely thinks that it is too long! But sometimes you are named for a reason and so Alma’s father tells her the story of how she got such a long name…

As Alma learns all about her different names she realises that she has something in common with each of the people that she was named after. The explanation of the names helps her feel connected to each of them as she learns about her relatives and ancestry. The more Alma hears about her names, the more they all seem to make sense. The names are a part of her and by the end they no longer feel too long, they feel perfect, they belong to her as she belongs to them.

She learns about grandmother Sofia, great-grandmother Esperanza, grandfather José, great-aunt Pura and other grandmother Candela. As for Alma, there is no story to this, this is her own name and it is her story to tell. What starts off as a really long name that is scribbled on a piece of paper with another bit taped at the bottom (obviously one piece of paper was not enough) is transformed by the end of the story and is written in elegant and elaborate fonts and Alma is proud of who she is.

Largely illustrated in grey scale, the illustrations show the unique nature and personalities of each of her namesakes. Alma is portrayed in colour in her red and white striped clothing and a bob of black hair.

A delightful story of heritage and about discovering the truth behind a name. Will have curious children and inquisitive adults wanting to know more about their own names.

Recommended for 4+.