(Her) stories are not only ENGAGING but also incredibly diverse, ensuring your students stay interested and excited. If this is your first time hearing her name, you NEED to check out her collection.
A.C. Quintero, Spanish teacher, author and keynote, Chicago, IL
INTRIGUING COLLECTION OF BIOGRAPHIES (LEVEL 1)
Jump into this delightfully illustrated book written in simple Spanish and see the many faces (rostros) and the ripple of influence (ecos) of this surprising group. Read more…
Shakira, Vicente Guerrero, Manuela Sáenz, Demi Lovato, Will Smith, Zoe Saldaña, Arturo Schomburg, Pope Francis, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Frida Kahlo. They are: musicians, singers, political, social and religious leaders, historical trailblazers, strong women, Afro-Latinos, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and many other diverse identities. Each chapter, shares a glimpse into their lives, struggles, and achievements. With footnotes, illustrations on every page and a full glossary, even beginners can read with ease. Each short chapter is a portrait that will whet your appetite to learn more about these unique and fascinating figures. Preview it here!
LEVEL 1+ | Available on Amazon | CPLI|CIBookshop | It is written using gender inclusive language.
What do all of these stories have in common? They are short, addictive and easy to understand. Each story is 11 illustration-filled pages with footnotes and a glossary for each story as well as a full glossary for all stories at the end. It is written using gender-inclusive Spanish and contains 2 bonus stories not included in the original edition! You can find each of these stories (and more!) on the YouTube channel “Storytime con Sra. Jensen.”
LEVEL 1 | Available on Amazon | CPLI coming soon! ~-~-~-~ OLD VERSION (2 fewer stories, no gender-inclusive language): On Amazon | CPLI
FAR-FETCHED STORY WITH A SURPRISING MESSAGE (LEVEL 1 GRAPHIC NOVEL)
Being rich, attractive, having a happy family… it’s the dream, right? Filomena is a teenager who wants for nothing. Her cup overflows, yet she is not happy. Read on…
What she seeks — what we all seek — is not found in material things. We all want to use our talents and find our place in this world. This story is silly and over the top, but lessons MY students have walked away with are: “money doesn’t solve all your problems,” “my favorite part was when she did what she wanted and not what everyone expected her to do”, “I want to be a mechanic but my parents want me to be a doctor. I like how Filomena’s parents supported her talent.” “I like how it shows women can do any job they want.” See the video that inspired it all. Filomena novel trailer. FREE teacher resources!
REAL LIFE CAUTIONARY TALE (LEVEL 1, GRADE 9 AND UP)
Cristina is a typical teenager who hangs out with her best friend Yessica and her boyfriend Dante. But Cristina has a secret… Read on…
which turns into another. And another. When should she tell? And who can she trust? This is such an important discussion to open up with teenagers, who are at high risk of SA yet are so often getting their information and influences from all the wrong places. Read Bryce Hedstrom’s Forward here. This level 1 reader is perfect for novices of high school age and above. 93% of the words are in the top 200 most common words in Spanish or are cognates.
TEACHERS GUIDE available on teacherspayteachers at my store Storytime con Sra. Jensen.
FAST PACED MYSTERY SET IN MEXICO (LEVEL 2)
A girl wakes up in a park beaten and disoriented with no memory of who or where she is. Every face is unfamiliar, and all have a different story to tell. Who is the mysterious man? Read on…
What happened to him? The more she learns, the less she knows what to believe or who to trust. The novel is set in beautiful Cuernavaca, known as the “city of eternal spring.” Cuernavaca is the capital of the state of Morelos, Mexico, just south of Mexico City. All of the places and businesses in this book are real. Experience everyday Mexican culture as the search for truth leads you around the city. Join her in a harrowing adventure to discover the secret of her past, and learn the meaning of “caras vemos, pero corazones no sabemos.”
TEACHERS GUIDE available on teacherspayteachers at my store Storytime con Sra. Jensen.
MYSTERY UNCOVERING SECRETS FROM WITHOUT & FROM WITHIN (LEVEL 2-3 sequel for Caras vemos
After the trauma of losing her parents, getting scammed, drugged and almost losing everything, Read on…
Lety’s life finally looks like it’s getting back on track. But what if her parents aren’t really dead after all? What if those closest to her have been lying to her for years? Find out why «caras vemos pero corazones no sabemos»! …pero corazones no sabemos is a sequel for the mystery Caras vemos. However, this book also works as a stand alone read.
LEVEL 2+ | Frequent use of subjunctive and other advanced grammar challenge level 3+ readers, yet footnotes, images and full glossary make it work for level 2 readers. Available on Amazon | CPLI | Bryce Hedstrom | CIBookshop
TEACHERS GUIDE available on teacherspayteachers at my store Storytime con Sra. Jensen.
REAL LIFE DRAMA, SOCIAL MEDIA-STYLE POSTS WITH COMEDIC INTERACTION (LEVEL 2-3)
If you want the tea, this is the book for you! Set up like social media posts, with commenters discussing, scoffing, quipping and offering advice. Read on…
It will have you are your students buzzing. Soltar la sopa is filled with anecdotes, quirks and bits of gossip that chismoses like you and I just can’t resist!
As Alice Roosevelt Longsworth said, “If you haven’t anything nice to say about anyone, come sit by me.”
LEVEL 2+ | Available on Amazon | CPLI|CIBookshop | It is written using gender inclusive language.
INSPIRING TRUE STORY OF A GIRL’S MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY (LEVEL 2)
Luisauny is a shy girl from deep in the heart of the Dominican Republic. She lives in a small, tight-knit community called Bobita. Read on…
Nearby green mountains wait to be climbed, a river shaded by trees promises an escape from the tropical heat, and a short drive in any direction leads to the loveliest beaches in the world. However, there is a dark side to life in Bobita. Something deep inside her is tearing her apart. Will her faith carry her through struggles with bullying, self-doubt, anxiety and depression? Can she overcome the stigma of mental health in the Dominican Republic? Read the astonishing true story of a brave girl and her harrowing journey, which has only just begun. Based on a true story! ***ALL proceeds from this book help provide mental health care for the children of Luisauny’s community at Manna Children’s Home in Bobita, Dominican Republic.
FAR FETCHED STORY WITH A SURPRISE MESSAGE (LEVEL 1 GRAPHIC NOVEL)
Being rich, attractive, having a happy family… it’s the dream, right? Philomene is a teenager who wants for nothing. Her cup overflows, yet she is not happy. Read on…
What she seeks — what we all seek — is not found in material things. We all want to use our talents and find our place in this world. This story is silly and over the top, but lessons MY students have walked away with are: “money doesn’t solve all your problems,” “my favorite part was when she did what she wanted and not what everyone expected her to do”, “I want to be a mechanic but my parents want me to be a doctor. I like how Filomena’s parents supported her talent.” “I like how it shows women can do any job they want.”
Storytime con Sra. Jensen 