My Havana: Memories of a Cuban Boyhood

By: Rosemary Wells with Secundino Fernandez
Illustrated By: Peter Ferguson
Candlewick Press, 2010
Reading Level: 4.2 (Accelerated Reader)
Independent Read

Book Description: Nonfiction, Biography, Diversity, Chapter Book

Secundino Fernandez in a young boy living in Havana, Cuba.  He loves Havana and its beautiful sights but when his family moves to Spain, Secundino finds that being away from home is not very easy.  Using his drawing book to bring back memories of Cuba, Secundino dreams of being back home once again.  However, when Castro takes power the Fernandez family heads to the United States and despite a rocky start, Secundino eventually finds a new home in New York.  However, he will remember the beautiful sights of Havana forever.  Rosemary Wells tells the story of Cuban immigrant Secundino Fernandez in this beautifully illustrated book.

*Teacher Resources for My Havana: Memories of a Cuban Boyhood

Supporting Electronic Resources:
Scholastic
Use this website before reading to introduce the topic of immigration.  Use examples of childrens' immigration stories to talk about the challenges of moving to a new country.  Have students talk about how they would feel if they were emigrating to a new place.
Google Earth
Use Google Earth before and during the story to map Secundino's travels.  Google Earth allows you to zoom in on landmarks and even has information on key sites mentioned in the story.  This will give students a better understanding of the extent of Secundino's travels.

Vocabulary:
pastel, palacio, dictator, gallego, malachite, soot

Teaching Suggestions:
-Use this story in conjunction with a lesson on immigration
-Discuss the characteristics of a biography
-Focus on the differences between cultures

Comprehension Strategies:
During Reading- Sequence the events in the story to map out the places Secundino travels to.  Mention what Secundinoo experiences in the different countries he mentions.
After Reading- Predict what happens next to Secundino.  Does he forget about Cuba?  How does life turn out to be in the United States?

Writing Prompt:
Pretend you are Secundino writing to a friend back in Cuba.  What do you want to tell him or her about the United States?  What do you like or dislike?  What are some challenges you face?