My Name is Jorge

A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book
A NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts

The moving poems in this timely, bilingual book for young readers are written in both Spanish and English and are told from the point of view of Jorge, a young immigrant from Mexico who struggles to make a new life in a new country. Poignant and powerful, this award-winning title is a thought-provoking choice to share with children at home or in the classroom, and is an ideal book for children who are learning a new language or navigating between languages.
 
Jorge is trying to learn the ways of his new country on the other side of the river from his home in Mexico. He wants to fit in at school, but he doesn't want to forget his homeland. His family is still doing things as if they're in their old country, but Jorge is curious to find out everything he can about his new country. Learning a new language, getting a library card, taking tests, and making friends are challenges for Jorge. And just when Jorge finds a new friend in Tim, his life changes once again. Author Jane Medina and illustrator Fabricio Vanden Broeck bring Jorge to life in this timeless, accessible tale."(I)nsightful... the poems, and the accurate English translations, are well laid out on the page and neatly complemented by primitive-looking scratchboard illustrations... carries significant emotional poignancy." —School Library Journal

"These truly bilingual poems are packed with poignant, tender moments in the life of a Mexican immigrant child trying to fit in without losing his identity." —Horn Book GuideJane Medina is a teacher and poet. She lives with her husband Pablo and their children, Annie and Joey, in Orange, California.

Fabricio Vanden Broeck is the illustrator of Under the Breadfruit Tree by Monica Gunning, and Torch Fishing with the Sun by Laura E. Williams. He lives in Mexico.