Mountains To Climb

By: Richard Wainwright

Summary:

Roberto lives in a small village in the Andean mountains. He and his family have a lot of work, and he has to feed the animals before breakfast. The newest llama, Consuelo, was born with only one eye. Roberto and Consuelo went everywhere together ... even to the United States to live with his aunt and uncle and study English. These would be big challenges? Could he do it?

Reader Enjoyment Factors:

Beautiful illustrations and a story about facing challenges offer kids important life lessons.

Content Awareness Factors:

None.

Young Reader Reaction

This book has lots of words. It took too long to get to the point.

Parent Reaction

This is a beautiful story complemented by incredible illustrations. This is a picture book that verges on being a chapter book because of the amount of text. Roberto is an endearing, sensitive child. When he speaks, he offers ideas that will make kids think. Although bringing Consuelo to the United States seems out of the ordinary, it works (and is important) for the story. I also liked how the story showed the different forms discrimination, handicap, and prejudice can take.

Type of Book:
This is a story for a multicultural world, addressing prejudice and discrimination, honesty and courage.

Educational Themes:

Because of the way the events are presented, it is easy to isolate a theme for small group discussion: dealing with fear, leaving home, cooperation and teamwork, being "dropped in" a new culture, etc. In today's multicultural classroom, this would be a good story to start talking about personal histories.

Reading Level:
5.5

Recommended Age To Read By Yourself:
10 and Up

Recommended Age To Read Together:
5 and Up

Age of child:
Read by an 10-year-old girl. She participated in a youth ministry project at Effort Baptist Church helping our Use Your ABCs project.

Purchase Recommendation:
Borrow. This is a beautiful book and a story that kids need to hear.

Title	Mountains to Climb
Author	Richard Wainwright
Publisher	Family Life Publishing © 1991
Illustrators	Jack Crompton
ISBN	0961956631
Material	Hard Cover
Cost	$17.95
Genres	Cultures & Tradition, Health & Wellness, Life Lessons, Disabilities \| Developmental Challenges, Latin America \| Latine People