Sofia Valdez, Future President

Book Title:  Sofia Valdez, Future President

Book Author:  Andrea Beaty

Book Illustrator:  David Roberts

This book addresses:  Community initiatives

Potentially Tricky Vocabulary:  

Bellowing: yelling or shouting very loudly

Grasping: holding

Kiosk: a small, standalone store, usually on the street or in a mall

Musty: smelling moldy

Petition: a written request to some level of government asking for a change to be made, usually with a collection of signatures

Commission: a written permit allowing someone to perform an act

Abuelo: grandpa

Te amo, mi vida: I love you, sweetheart (mi vida literally translates to my life)

Questions to ask the student before reading: 

• What’s your favorite public spot to be in Geneva? (Suggestions: library, visitor’s center, playgrounds, etc.)

• What do you do to help your family or your neighbors?

Historical context to give before reading:  

Building or improving things in a community can make a community happier and more fun, but it also takes a lot of work. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it! Caring for your community can come in big or small actions, from petitioning for a new playground or picking weeds from a public garden. 

(The questions to ask the student and historical content above are interconnected. The historical context is typically going to be a supplement to what your student might not know. Some students may already be knowledgeable about a subject, others may not know much yet. Pay attention to what your student already knows and share the historical context accordingly.)

While reading: 

Sofia has some pretty cool things on her bedroom walls, including posters of Sade and Frida Kahlo. Sade is popular Nigerian-British singer. Frida Kahlo is a famous painter from Mexico. In front of the town hall is a statue of Ida B Wells, an African-American journalist and activist. 

After reading: 

• How do you think Sofi felt at the end of the story, when the park was all built? 

• Do you think all the work that Sofia and the others put in was worth it? Why or why not?

Follow up activity (time permitting):  

Have your student brainstorm a plan for a new park to build in Geneva! What would the park include? Would it be big or small? Ask your student to draw a picture and write a short description. 

All definitions were adapted by Karina Connolly from the Merriam Webster online dictionary.