Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Armando and the Blue Tarp School is eye opening, but hopeful story. Armando is part of a Colonia, and with his father picks trash everyday. Mr. Davis comes every day with a tarp and teaches the local students, giving Armando a chance at a better life. Armand and the Blue Tarp School does not shy away from abject poverty; everything in the story reminds the reader of it from the shacks for houses, to child labor, to the school being a blue tarp. This book can be an eye opening experience for a privileged reader, these characters truly struggle everyday. However, the book is hopeful that with education Armando can have a better life. The illustration is interesting, the style makes it look like construction paper cutouts which is unique. Overall Armando and the Blue Tarp School has a strong story, that will give context for the struggle many people have to go through. ( )

All Armando wants is to go back to Senor David's school during the summer again, but he knows he needs to help his father with their work as trash-pickers to make money now that he is older. However, his parents re-think and decide that they want Armando to gain an education for his future. Armando learns all kinds of things, from Spanish words, English words, numbers, and animals, even though their school is just Senor David and the children gathered together on a blue tarp. One night, their colonia catches on fire, and Armando and many others lose their homes. Still, they go back to school the next day. A reporter comes and writes a story about the school and the fire, using Armando's drawing of it on the front page. An anonymous donor sees the article and donates money for them to build a real school. The people of the colonia work to build a school in between rebuilding all of their houses. Armando is beyond thrilled to be able to learn in his new school building and its walls, its roof, its floor with a blue rug, and even its art easel.

This was one of my favorite books I have read in this class so far. The teacher in the book, Senor David, is based on a real man from New York named David Lynch that came to the colonia of Tijuana. He continued to come to Tijuana to teach small groups of students there for twenty-seven years. Armando was a composite of all the students the author met when learning about Lynch's story. The illustrations were interesting. They were a mix of abstract shapes and realistic looking faces, which I think might be symbolic to how the story is based on a true story. ( )

Armando and his family work as trash pickers in the city but Armando wants to go to school, which in his city is just a blue tarp on the ground. Because his family needs the money Armando is unable to go at first but later can. Even though the children didn't have a building or textbooks they made the best of it and learned as much as possible. This book can teach children to be grateful for school and an opportunity to learn. The language in this book is simple and the illustrations are eye catching so I think this book would be great for younger audiences. ( )

This is an inspiring true story of what hard work can accomplish.This is based on David Lynch and the school he founded on a blue tarp in a Mexican Dump. One man’s dream can bring hope and change to the world! ( )

This story is about a little boy who works in a junkyard where he helps his mother and father all day but also has a passion for going to school.He has an area in the junkyard where his father would teach him what he knew and Armando would draw. After a long period of struggling,Armandos parents agreed to let him stay in the afternoon at Senor David's school. However after a devastating fire the colonia had turned in to ashes. Where there was no where to go Armando invited all the kids to join him at his 'school' in the junkyard. One day when the students were to to draw the fire that they saw reporters from the press happened to pass by.Their drawings were featured in the newspaper and after a woman from the city saw Armando's drawing she decided to donate some money to build another school!
This story is very inspiring and sends the message to students to not give up on their dreams and to follow their passions even when they dont have the facilities to do so.As long as there is passion, any dream can be achieved! ( )

I enjoyed reading this book. The book exposes children to diversity in language. Their is English and Spanish language throughout the entire book. This book also teaches a lesson to not give up in what you believe in.

The main character in this story is Armando and he comes from a family that is not well educated. His families jobs were all destined. However, Armandos father wants a change for his son. Armando’s father noticed how his son was into the education field. Armando’s father wanted to pursue Armando’s dream to be educated. ( )

This book was a great read, because it was based on a true story. The end of the book provided pictures and background about the real events of this book and characters. The plot was very intriguing. You turned the page and something new was happening every day. Armando’s parents letting him attend the school, instead of dig for trash was very sweet. But then the village burned down in a massive fire and you felt very nervous about what would happen to everyone in the village. Last, the newspaper came and wanted to write about the people and fire. You would not think that the article about the town would create such publicity that a new school would be built. The help of others really created something amazing, for not only the children, but for the future of the village. The illustrations really helped the reader see what was happening in the village. With the trash picking, you could see why Armando wanted to be in school instead of the dump. Also, seeing Armando’s picture in the newspaper was really interesting. I would not think a hand drawn picture would make the front cover of a newspaper, but it was able to evoke emotions with the readers around the village. I think the big message with this story, is that education can do a lot more then improve the lives of individuals. It can also help communities and in this case Armando’s village. ( )

I enjoyed reading Armando and the Blue Tarp School by Edith Hope Fine for various reasons. Firstly, the book is bilingual; this English- Spanish translation helps expose children to a new language and learn about another culture. For example, in the book it says “ tumbledown houses in their colonia, their neighborhood.” The reader learns that colonia means neighborhood. I also really like how descriptive this book is, it really allows the audience to develop their own image of the setting themselves. When describing where Armando went to school, the book said it was “down the dirt road, across the wobbly plank, and past the big rock.” Also, the illustrations in this book were extremely colorful, and helped the reader see how sad Armando was when he couldn’t attend Senor David’s Blue Tarp School because he had to work in the trash dump. The illustrations do a great job of showing emotions to the audience. Overall, this book really shows the reader a different perspective of life for a child in a country like Mexico, and how important education is. ( )

Armando works very hard with is father at the dump every day to support their family. However, he longs to join the other children at Senor David's "blue tarp school." He begs his father to attend the school, but his father explains that he "must do the work of their family." After some time, word spreads about Senor David's school, and Armando's father has a change of heart. He allows Armando to go to the school. Armando draws a picture of a fire that destroyed their neighborhood, and Senor David has it published in the newspaper. Money is then donated by a woman who saw Armando's picture to build a new school for the children.
This book would be great for children learning Spanish, or simply to expose a child to another language. The author uses Spanish words throughout the book, and even includes a "Glossary and Punctuation Guide." ( )

Based on true story

This book was nominated by the children of the state of California for the California Young Reader Medal. We will be voting on whether we think that this is the best book in its category, Picture Books for Older Readers.

reviewed

"Armando and his father are trash-pickers in Tijuana, Mexico, but when Señor David brings his "school"--a blue tarp set down near the garbage dump--to their neighborhood, Armando's father decides that he must attend classes and learn."