If you have traveled to Guatemala, you’ll know that the buses “camionetas,” are colorful, lively, bumpy, loud and a journey within a journey. You have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, share stories of the day, watch life from the bus window, listen to Spanish music from the 80s, eat fresh sliced mango, and share a seat with a chicken or a dog. Vamanos!
Regional focus: Guatemala
Author: The Amador Family
Illustrator: Melanie Williamson
Genre: Children’s literature
Join a Guatemalan family on an exciting bus ride through their town with a fresh new perspective on a classic children’s song.
What I love:
- The book includes facts about Guatemalan life at the end of the story.
- The book comes with a CD of the song so that children can sing along.
- Ilustrations are playful and colorful.
Themes:
Transportation, family, journey, community
Discussion:
- What modes of transportation exist in your community?
- If you were on a bus in your town, what sites would you see from the window?
- Who do you like to travel with? Why?
Connections:
- Make a map (draw or create with recycled materials) of your town and include notable landmarks on it.
- Learn a few new words in Spanish, one of the many languages of Guatemala (autobus=bus, ninos=children, ciudad=city, madre=mother, padre=father).
- Make tortillas, a traditional food from Guatemala, or just pretend to with playdough.
Recipe (8 tortillas):
1 cup of masa (corn flour)
2/3 cup water
1/8 teaspoon salt
Mix ingredients, separate into 8 balls, flatten, cook on stovetop, eat, enjoy!
Sail Away Story 
Published by