Doña Fela's Dream: The Story of Puerto Rico's First Female Mayor

by Monica Brown (Author) Rosa Ibarra (Illustrator)

Doña Fela's Dream: The Story of Puerto Rico's First Female Mayor
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

The inspiring story of Doña Fela, an enterprising woman who broke barriers and stopped at nothing to make the island of Puerto Rico a better home for all.

Though she was born before women on her island were allowed to vote, Felisa Rincón de Gautier did not let that stop her from becoming the first female mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1946. Easily spotted on the streets of San Juan by her flair and the jasmine flowers braided into her hair, she radiated style and grace.

Doña Fela, as she affectionately came to be called, loved her city. Doña Fela was always ready to listen to problems and find solutions. With determination and resilience, she brought lasting change to the island. Doña Fela's inspiring story as a visionary leader is brought to life on the page through stunning paintings that evoke the vibrant colors and culture of Puerto Rico.

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Hardcover
$18.99

Kirkus

A loving salute to a powerful woman who dedicated herself to helping others.

Review quotes

"A loving salute to a powerful woman who dedicated herself to helping others."—Kirkus Reviews
Monica Brown
Monica Brown is the author of many multicultural books for children, including the Lola Levine series and the award-winning Waiting for the Biblioburro / Esperando el biblioburro, Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina, and Frida and Her Animalitos. Monica's books are inspired by her Peruvian and Jewish heritage and her desire to bring stories to children. Monica lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she is a professor of English at Northern Arizona University. She invites you to visit her online at monicabrown.net.

Rosa Ibarra is a fine artist who works in oils, interweaving thick layers of paint to convey the vibration of light and to build texture and design. Born in Puerto Rico, she spent her childhood in Old San Juan. She received a degree of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and exhibits her work in galleries and museums in the United States and abroad. She invites you to visit her online at rosaibarra.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780316178358
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date
September 03, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF007000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | General
Library of Congress categories
Puerto Rico
Mayors
San Juan (P.R.)
Rincaon de Gautier, Felisa
Women mayors
San Juan

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