Blog post 6: Dear Primo

Its important for young students to be exposed to some of the sociopolitical problems countries such as the United States is facing.  Duncan Tonatiuh's "Dear Primo" sugarcoats the reality of US-Mexico relations but I believe this would be an interesting read for young readers.  This text is somewhat problematic.  One major social issue I feel Tonatiuh touches on is identity.  Your identity or your values are socially constructed.  Dear Primo is about a young boy in Mexico writing letters to his Mexican cousin living in an unnamed city in the United States. The Mexican cousin living in the United States is writing back about everything he likes to do in America.  For example, primo Carlitos from Mexico lives on a farm, and likes to play f útbol.

This book perpetuates the stereotype of what "Mexicans" and "Americans" do for fun, or what they eat, or how they get to school.  What this book was trying to do, of course, is to draw a parallel on different environments: two kids will likely enjoy doing similar things regardless of their environment.  (For example, they both like to swim on a hot day).  However, this text becomes problematic if it strengthens the stereotype of what a Mexican boy living in Mexico looks like.  For instance, pictures show the boy wearing sandals and eating quesadillas. Therefore, its important to discuss what this book means, and the implications and problems it can create.