All the Way to Havana

All the Way to Havana 

Written by Margarita Engle

Illustrated by Mike Curato      

"I'm glad that Cara Cara is peacefully blue, like the clear sky above and the wide sea beyond." 

All the Way to Havana is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated book. The story is told in a way that is poetic, and it is accompanied by vibrantly colored pictures that make this more than a mere children's book--it is a work of art. The narrator, a young boy, sprinkles the pages with details of the trip he takes with his parents to Havana, Cuba for his baby cousin's birthday. They make the journey in their old blue car, which is called Cara Cara for the chattering noise it makes. At the end of the story, the author notes that many of the American cars in Cuba are from pre-1959, with old parts that have been fixed over and over again. She is able to tell the story in way that stays true to the reality of life in Cuba, while also celebrating the joy of the Cuban people. 

In the Classroom

Have students draw a picture of a scene from their own town or city, or a place that is special to their family or culture. Then, the students will write about the picture using literary devices like in All the Way to Havana, such as simile and onomatopoeia.

Age level: Children's book