Francisco's Kites/ Las cometa de Francisco

Gr 2–4—Salvadoran immigrant Francisco misses his hometown where he used to fly kites with all his friends. After moving to Chicago, neither he nor his mom can afford to buy a kite. Francisco scours his neighborhood for usable junk, and before long he collects enough material to make a kite. A gentleman from church is so impressed by Francsico's resourcefulness that he commissions 20 more recycled masterpieces at four dollars apiece. His new enterprise gives Francisco the confidence to start a kite-flying club at school and make new friends. Undercuffler's colorful and distinct illustrations will entice children to try designing and building their own kites. This bilingual story's emphasis isn't on the hardships new immigrants face but rather on a young boy using his love of kites as a coping device in an unfamiliar environment.