5 Historical Fiction Novels for Latino Teens

I'm delighted today to share some wonderful titles specifically for Latino teens. These historical fiction novels reveal the good, the bad, and the ugly. The writing is incredible and all of them are prize-worthy works.

Note: The following titles are written for teens and adults. They may contain adult language and situations. Parents are advised to read the books themselves first before sharing with their children. This post uses affiliate links.

Playing for the Devil's Fire

by Phillippe Diederich

A grim and violent depiction of the terror the drug cartel wreaks on communities, Playing for the Devil's Fire is a fictional account of one boy's valiant attempt to save his town.

Thirteen-year-old Boli and his friends are deep in the middle of a game of marbles. An older boy named Mosca has won the prized Devil's Fire marble. His pals are jealous and want to win it away from him. This is Izayoc, the place of tears, a small pueblo in a tiny valley west of Mexico City where nothing much happens. It's a typical hot Sunday morning except that on the way to church, someone discovers the severed head of Enrique Quintanilla propped on the ledge of one of the cement planters in the plaza and everything changes. Not apocalyptic changes, like phalanxes of men riding on horses with stingers for tails, but subtle ones: poor neighbors turning up with brand-new SUVs, pimpled teens with fancy girls hanging off them. Boli's parents leave for Toluca and don't arrive at their destination. No one will talk about it. A washed out masked wrestler turns up one day, a man only interested in finding his next meal. Boli hopes to inspire the luchador to set out with him to find his parents.

Burn Baby Burn

by Meg Medina

Burn Baby Burn is a coming-of-age story of a young woman who must face the turbulence in her city and her own home.

Nora Lopez is seventeen during the infamous New York summer of 1977 when the city is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam who shoots young women on the streets. Nora’s family life isn’t going so well either: her bullying brother, Hector, is growing more threatening by the day, her mother is helpless and falling behind on the rent, and her father calls only on holidays. All Nora wants is to turn eighteen and be on her own. And while there is a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when the killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late? Award-winning author Meg Medina transports us to a time when New York seemed balanced on a knife-edge, with tempers and temperatures running high, to share the story of a young woman who discovers that the greatest dangers are often closer than we like to admit — and the hardest to accept.

Out of Darkness

by Ashley Hope Perez

The ill-fated love affair between two teens of different races in a town and a time when segregation rules, Out of Darkness is a powerful story.

New London, Texas. 1937. Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.

Ashley Hope Pérez takes the facts of the 1937 New London school explosion the worst school disaster in American history as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir

by Margarita Engle

Based on the author's own childhood, Enchanted Air is the personal memoir written in verse of poet and author Margarita Engle.

Margarita is a girl from two worlds. Her heart lies in Cuba, her mother’s tropical island country, a place so lush with vibrant life that it seems like a fairy tale kingdom. But most of the time she lives in Los Angeles, lonely in the noisy city and dreaming of the summers when she can take a plane through the enchanted air to her beloved island. Words and images are her constant companions, friendly and comforting when the children at school are not.

Then a revolution breaks out in Cuba. Margarita fears for her far-away family. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Margarita’s worlds collide in the worst way possible. How can the two countries she loves hate each other so much? And will she ever get to visit her beautiful island again?

This River Here: Poems of San Antonio

by Carmen Tafolla

Sprinkled with heirloom photos, This River Here is a collection of poems sprinkled with Spanish words and filled with vivid imagery to give detailed accounts of Tafolla's family and town history.

San Antonio poet laureate Carmen Tafolla captures her hometown—the city of her ancestors for the past three centuries—in poems that celebrate its history as a cosmopolitan multilingual cultural crossroads. Discover San Antonio’s corazón in Tafolla’s poetry, accompanied by historic and contemporary photographs that convey its enduring sense of place. A century ago, San Antonio gave Oscar Wilde “a thrill of strange pleasure.” J. Frank Dobie claimed that “every Texan has two hometowns—his own and San Antonio,” and Will Rogers declared it to be “one of the three unique cities of America.” To Larry McMurtry, “San Antonio has kept an ambiance that all the rest of our cities lack.” Carmen Tafolla calls forth the soul of this place—the holy home of the waters, called Yanaguana by los indios—and celebrates the many cultures that have made of it “un rebozo bordado de culturas y colores.”

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Children's Sci-Fi & Fantasy Titles Featuring Latino Characters
  
  
• Latin@ Rising: An Anthology of Latin@ Science Fiction & Fantasy
  
  
• 7 Fantasy Books by Latino Authors for Tweens & Teens

• 4 Ways to Hook Reluctant Readers
  
  
• Self-Motivation Quiz for Teens

Book Review: Maya's Blanket

Time for another addition to your family library's Latino children's literature section! Today's picture book is a treasure that celebrates the special bond between Abuelitas and their grandchildren.

"What if the objects we love -- blankets, stuffed animals, dolls, toys -- never leave us?" ~Monica Brown 

Maya's Blanket ~ La manta de Maya

by Monica Brown

illustrated by David Diaz

I truly love this sweet story titled Maya's Blanket (aff), that puts a Latino twist on a traditional Yiddish folk song "Hob Ikh Mir a Mantl." Monica Brown's own multicultural background serves as the inspiration for this book; she's of Peruvian and Jewish heritage.

When Maya was just a baby, her Abuelita hand-stitched a beautiful blanket for her. Maya loved her special manta (blanket) because it kept her cosy and warm every night. As she grows, the blanket gets frayed along the edges, so she and Abuelita transform it into a lovely dress. But then she stains the front, so they turn it into a skirt. Before long, Maya has outgrown it and the skirt must be transformed again....

The story goes on with the beloved blanket changing - getting smaller and smaller - but still useful to Maya as she grows bigger and bigger.

Perhaps your family will be inspired by this book to save and repurpose those special gifts that are gifted or passed down from family members and friends.

What is most touching to me about this book is the special connection that Maya shares with her Abuelita. Their love is so strong that Maya clings to the blanket as it changes form... a symbol of the close bond she shares with her grandmother.

Bilingual families will love that the book comes with full text in both English and Spanish, though some Spanish words (manta, bufanda, etc.) are sprinkled into the English text. There is also a glossary included at the end of the book.

David Diaz' illustrations are, as usual, fantastic. The colors are vibrant, reaching out to pull your eyes into the story. Each page is a visual delight as each character seems to leap off the page.

This beautiful story is can be used to supplement lessons on family, recycling, repurposing, creativity, growth, metamorphosis, transformation, grandparents, and more.

Book Review: Roses for Isabella

In honor of Día de los niños, Día de los libros which takes place this coming Saturday, April 30th, I'll be dedicating this week to sharing reviews of books that celebrate children and other resources for Día. Some of the books are new releases, while others have been around for a while, but may not have received much publicity. I hope you'll follow along and find some new titles to explore and add to your home or school library.

Roses for Isabella

by Diana Cohn

illustrated by Amy Córdova

This book came out several years ago, but it's not one you see very often. That's a shame because Roses for Isabella (aff) is a wonderful story that takes you into the life of a young girl in Ecuador. Isabella is a budding writer and her family is so proud of her. One day, her teacher has a surprise for the class as she invites them to write stories in honor of Pachamama, or Mother Earth. One of the students will be selected to read aloud their story at the school assembly celebrating Pachamama, and, naturally, Isabella hopes it will be her, and decides to tell the story of her own family.

I love how this book tells us about Isabella's life through her own writing. I also loved about the important message it shares of how buying Fair Trade products benefits families around the world. In this story, we learn how Isabella's mother became sick from chemicals when she was working for a rose grower. She leaves her job and goes to work for a Fair Trade company that cares for its employees as well as its product. 

Isabella finishes up her journal writings with a poem in honor of Pachamama. 

The author has included an afterword describing Fair Trade around the world. It's a great history lesson for students and perfect for raising global citizens.

The illustrations by Amy Córdova are lively and colorful. I love how she captures the traditional clothing of the characters and the cultural details.

This beautiful story is can be used to supplement lessons on Ecuador, world history, children around the world, world cultures, Fair Trade, economics, family, schools around the world, holidays, Earth Day, and more. 

Teen Safety and Snapchat - What's The Story?

It can be difficult for parents to keep up with the latest apps and social media platforms that kids are using, but it’s important to make an effort to at least know the most popular ones. One of the apps that has quickly become a teen favorite is Snapchat.

What is Snapchat?

Snapchat is a “disappearing” messaging app that teens use to communicate via photos or videos with friends. Once a photo or video is seen by the receiver, it vanishes. However, the receiver can take a screenshot if he or she would really like to save the message.

Snapchat has officially surpassed Instagram as the fastest-growing social media app and currently is considered the most popular app among teens. What’s so great about Snapchat? Teens love that unlike other social media platforms, Snapchat doesn’t post their messages for the world to see. Instead, teens can choose who receives the message and because it vanishes, teens feel safer sending photos or videos that they normally wouldn’t post on social media.

Are Teens Safe on Snapchat?

Many teens use Snapchat to innocently sent goofy pictures or videos back and forth to friends. However, there are dangers that teens can be exposed to on this app.

Predators

Many predators use Snapchat to send sexually explicit photos to teens, knowing that the evidence will vanish after a few seconds. Even the FBI has warned that these predators will convince teens to send them explicit photos as well, assuring them the messages will disappear anyways, so it’s not a big deal.

Cyberbullying

The disappearing-message feature makes Snapchat an attractive social media platform for bullies. Bullies can send harassing or threatening messages to teens knowing that the message will disappear and there will be no evidence that the bullying occurred. Sometimes, teens take pictures hanging out with friends at a party, and then send those pictures to other people to make them feel left out. There have been cases where teens send embarrassing or explicit photos to a friend, only to have the friend screenshot it and use it to cyberbully the sender. In fact, 52% of Snapchat users have noted that their messages have been saved as snapshots by the receiver.

Parents should remember that cyberbullying is not something to take lightly. In a recent survey, 30% of teens said that cyberbullying led them to turn to self-harming behavior, and 83% of victims suffered self-esteem damage.

What Can Parents Do?

Now that you know about the dangers that teens may face on Snapchat, follow these tips to protect teens as much as possible:

• Limit phone usage. Make certain times of the day or rooms in the house “no phone zones,” especially the bedroom. Keeping smartphones out of kids’ bedrooms will ensure that they don’t take any bad judgment calls by taking inappropriate photos.
• Make it relevant. There are a number of celebrity hacking scandals that have made headlines in the news recently. Use these relevant examples as a way to start a conversation with teens about whether privacy ever exists when you’re using a smartphone or a social media app.
• Teach kids not to respond. If someone cyberbullies your teen, it’s important that they learn not to respond to it and add fuel to the fire. Instead, tell kids that if a threatening or harassing message comes through Snapchat, try to take a screenshot of it so they have proof that it exist. Then, approach the school, or if the message is serious enough, the police with the evidence.

Remember, Snapchat is just one app that teens are using on a regular basis. As parents, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in social media so you’re always aware of what teens are doing online.

---------------------------------------------

Born and raised in Austin, TX, Hilary Smith is a freelance journalist whose love of gadgets, technology, and business has no bounds. After becoming a parent she now enjoys writing about family and parenting-related topics.

Dick & Jane Educational Snacks

The following is a product review by homeschooling mom, Mireya Marroquin Dunn.

How awesome is it to learn while you eat a healthy snack? As parents, we want the best for our kids. We work hard to get them to eat healthily and do our best to get the best education we can provide for them.

Well, I came across a great snack that you can serve to help your child learn the 50 U.S. states, all 44 U.S. Presidents, and even some English/Spanish vocabulary words. These snacks (cookies) are made with all-natural ingredients...and a big PLUS is that they are NUT free! 

Dick & Jane Educational snacks are a great way to enjoy a snack and your kids will have fun learning what they eat. You can also find them on Facebook.

What a wonderful idea from a husband and wife team; one is a teacher, and the other runs the bakery. You can find these yummy cookie snacks that taste like vanilla in select grocery stores or have them come right to your home through Amazon.com. You can buy them in small snack sizes (single servings) or in an 8oz. box (family size).

This company is on a mission as well: they are raising money for education. Their GOAL? $1,000,000,000 for EDUCATION. They work with schools around the nation to raise money for the classrooms and cafeterias.

In my opinion, these healthy snacks are a great way to learn together. They are great for starting conversations with your kids and even to share with friends wherever you go!

Explore the Outdoors with PBS KIDS

This morning, I filled my hummingbird feeder for the third time this year. Do you know what that means? It means that despite several late freezes, spring has officially sprung here in North Carolina. We welcome the warmer temperatures with great joy because my kids get so restless being trapped inside during the winter months. The hammocks get shaken out, the bike tires aired up, and the gardening gloves get dirty again.

We look for other ways to enjoy the outdoors as a family, too. A couple of weeks ago, we broke out the kayaks and the fishing poles and headed down to our local swamp. We were lucky to have warm weather and plenty of biting fish! I loved that my family had the opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful setting at the beginning of the season.

And once again, PBS KIDS is celebrating their annual Explore the Outdoors initiative with new programming and fantastic online content for your family. Last week, new episodes of Ready, Jet, Go! aired featuring earth science and astronomy concepts. Maybe your child learned about asteroids, meteors, and meteorites. Or maybe they learned about the northern lights.

My kids are anxiously awaiting the new Wild Kratts episodes coming out next week, including the series' 100th episode! In true creature adventure fashion, my kids have been outside scouting for wildlife. They have been monitoring a dove nest in our carport for the last several weeks and the two babies finally fledged a few days ago.

This thing actually works!

The first butterflies showed up a few weeks ago. In fact, this weekend, my two kids went out and caught a tiger swallowtail and set it up in a butterfly habitat for an hour or two for observation before letting it go.

But you don't have to have a fancy butterfly house for your kids to enjoy nature. There are fun activities available at pbsparents.org/outdoors that you can download for your children. From making planters out of tin cans to making your own Wild Kratts nature journal, you'll find easy to follow directions and engaging printables.

Also next week, you'll see new episodes of Nature Cat. Your little ones might learn different ways they can help the environment or about nocturnal animals. So be sure you don't miss out!

Fueling Education Program for K-8 STEM Teachers

Are you a STEM teacher? Do you have a favorite activity or lesson plan for teaching your students specific STEM concepts? If so, I want you to know about this opportunity for you to win classroom supplies or an in-school teacher training session with science guru, Steve Spangler!

Citgo's Fueling Education Program is focused on nurturing children's interest in STEM. The best way they can do that is by supporting creative and ingenious K-8 teachers. They want to know how your students use STEM learning to boost their creative and critical thinking skills.

To enter, K-8 teachers simply visit www.fuelingeducation.com to share their favorite STEM teaching ideas or lesson plans through a brief description, photo, and/or video, for the chance to receive one of the following:

• 3 Grand-Prize winners will receive an in-school teacher training session led by Spangler, with the opportunity to invite up to 99 other fellow teachers to attend and learn STEM-related topics, lessons and activities to engage their students. Each Grand Prize winner will also receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.
• 9 First-Prize winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Spangler’s “Science in the Rockies” seminar, held mid-summer in Denver, to participate in hands-on workshops to further develop the way they teach STEM subjects. In addition, each First Prize winner will receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.
• 90 Second-Prize winners will receive a voucher to purchase classroom supplies from National School Supply.

According to the website, when you enter the contest, you will receive a STEM education packet with lesson plans and posters (while supplies last).

“At its very core, STEM is really about our ability as educators to build connections and create experiences that inspire our students to think differently as they imagine their unlimited potential as future scientists and engineers,” says Spangler. I totally agree!

I'd really love to see some Latino or Bilingual Ed teachers win!

LEGO...Shakespeare?

If your child is ANYTHING like mine, then you can teach them ANYTHING if you use LEGOs. So naturally, when I saw this, I almost swooned with joy!

This post uses affiliate links.

Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies - Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar is pure genius and claims to serve as an introduction to Shakespeare's tragedies. The book has one thousand color photographs to accompany Shakespeare's poetic writings.

Some people are purists. They don't like their kids/students reading abridged versions. They will only teach from the originals. But in my opinion, introducing young children to classic works with materials that are easier for them to understand and that are engaging, makes learning those classic works when they are older a LOT easier.

So... you can betcha I snatched these up as fast as I could and I cannot wait to get them. I'll update this post with a review once the book arrives.

And if you aren't that into tragedies, then perhaps Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies―A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew might be a better fit for you?

And you know what else? They have a second book featuring the Greek myths!!

Free Webinar: How to Celebrate Día in School

This is the week for free online programs! I'm excited to share that I'll also be a panelist discussing how to celebrate Día de los niños, Día de los libros in your school.

Not sure you have time to host a Día celebration? Don't have budget to buy materials? Already have something planned for April 30th? Our webinar answers all these questions and more.

This free webinar is being hosted by Lee & Low Books and takes place tomorrow, Thursday, April 14th at 4pm ET/1 pm PT. 

REGISTER HERE

Did you know that Día is turning 20 this year? The program is for educators and parents to celebrate and teach about Día de los niños, Día de los libros.

Día de los niños, Día de los libros began 20 years ago when Latina author and poet Pat Mora was on a radio show and heard about the Mexican holiday, Día de los niños. Children's Day is actually a holiday that is celebrated around the world, but it wasn't a celebration that had caught on here in the United States. Mora had the idea to combine the holiday celebrating children with books and reading. And Día was born.

The webinar promises to be a fabulous discussion. I'm delighted to be talking with
Claire Tesh, Senior Manager of the Community Education Program at American Immigration Council; Carolyn Vidmar, Public Librarian and Summer Reading Program Coordinator at Spanish Playground; and Susan K. Coti, professional storyteller and educator.

And I think you will especially love the packet of free resources that have been compiled for attendees. From lesson plans and reading lists to printable worksheets, bookmarks, and more, you'll find plenty of printables to help you with your own Dia celebration. It even includes some great printables that I created for you!

So be sure to go and register today! The good thing is that if you can't watch it live, it will be recorded and you can go back and watch it at your convenience.

Hope to "see" you there!

The North Carolina Science Festival

Did you know that the North Carolina Science Festival is in full swing? There are hundreds of events happening all across the state between now and Sunday, April 24th.

From dissecting owl pellets at the Rocky Mount Children's Museum to a LEGO Robotics Workshop in Charlotte to Earth Day Celebrations, you will love all the awesome opportunities taking place to help nurture your child's interest in science.

If you live in North Carolina (or near one of its borders), you can find programs near you by simply visiting NCScienceFestival.org and clicking on their calendar of events.

Online Summit: Raising Global Citizens at Home

One of the things that matters most to me in my journey as a mother, is raising a child that can empathize, relate to, and communicate with any person in the world. I'm trying to raise not just a responsible U.S. citizen, but also a respectful, contributing global citizen. I want them to be able to travel anywhere and be able to interact with the community and it's people. I want them to be able to visit a culture and find the beauty that exists. I don't want them to view differences as something to be feared, but something to be recognized and appreciated. I don't expect my kids to agree with everyone or to adopt every tradition or belief, but I do expect them to respect the rights of others to live and believe as they wish.

I don't think that I'm the only parent who feels this way.

So I'm delighted that my dear friends at Multicultural Kid Blogs have come up with the brilliant idea to create a FREE online summit for parents (and educators)! In it you'll find tools and resources to help you raise your young global citizen.

The free "Raising Global Citizens at Home" summit starts today! 

I will have the honor of sharing the virtual stage with a line-up of fantastic speakers in the “Raising Global Citizens at Home” online summit. Join us to find inspiration and ideas on how to use arts and crafts, music, food, play, movement, travel, language, books, apps and other media to raise the next generation of globally-minded world citizens.

All you have to do is REGISTER HERE and you will gain free access to all the videos and resources (which you can enjoy at any time that is convenient for you) and a workbook that you can use at home with your kids.

I have to say THANK YOU to our hosts (Leanna Guillen Mora of Multicultural Kid Blogs, Olga Mecking of The European Mama, Lana Jelenjev of Smart Tinker) and to our organizers (Annabelle Humanes of The Piri-Piri Lexicon, Rita Rosenback of Multilingual Parenting, and Varya Sanina-Garmroud of Creative World of Varya) for putting together this amazing resource for parents!

The schedule for this week:

Monday, April 11: Why is it important to raise global citizens?

• Homa Sabet Tavangar of Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World
• Ana Flores Flores of SpanglishBaby & Latina Bloggers Connect
• MaryAnne Ko of Mama Smiles - Joyful Parenting

Tuesday, April 12: How TRAVEL supports global citizenship.

• Rachel 'Pieh' Jones
• Ashley Steel of Family on the Loose: The Art of Traveling with Kids
• Amanda Ponzio Mouttaki of MarocMama

Wednesday, April 13: How FOOD connects us in a global society.

• Wendy Dakroub of Pint Size Gourmets
• Lisa Sadleir of Cooking with Languages
• Sasha Martin of Global Table Adventure

Thursday, April 14: How ARTS and CRAFTS promote global citizens.

• Cindy Ingram of The Art Curator for Kids
• Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou of DARIA MUSIC
• Becky Mladic Morales of Kid World Citizen

Friday, April 15: How PLAY encourages global citizenship.

• Varya Sanina-Garmroud of Creative World of Varya
• Giselle Shardlow of Kids Yoga Stories
• Amanda Boyarshinov of Amanda Boyarshinov

Saturday, April 16: The importance of MEDIA, APPS, and BOOKS in raising global citizens.

• Carla Curiel Castro of Mundo Lanugo
• Monica Olivera Hazelton of MommyMaestra
• Mia Wenjen of PragmaticMom

Sunday, April 17: The role of LANGUAGE in raising global citizens.

• Olena Centeno of Bilingual Kids ROCK
• Marianna Du Bosq of Bilingual Avenue
• Rita Rosenback of Multilingual Parenting

What are you waiting for? Go register and start watching! 

Enjoy!!

Free Download: "El parque" Mini-Lesson in Spanish

Despite the fact that winter keeps grasping at us, spring has emerged in our neck of the woods. The days are warmer, my garden is blooming, and we've seen our first hummingbird of the season. Our sponsor - Spanish for You! - has some great freebies for you to celebrate the season. This month's download helps them learn and practice key phrases associated with the park - perfect because many of us are spending more time at our local parks!

This printable activity teaches key vocabulary associated with the location. The 4-page download comes with vocabulary cards, worksheets, and directions. Not sure of the pronunciations? No worries! It also comes with the audio to help you with the pronunciation of each word. This time, Debbie has included a few other wonderful goodies for you to use, as well!

Click here to download this file

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!

Free Download: Middle & Ending Syllables in Spanish

I just love all the amazing resources that our sponsor Lectura para niños shares with MommyMaestra readers. Leah is a teacher herself, so she knows exactly the types of materials that educators need to help their students learn how to read and spell in Spanish. And this month's freebie is no exception!
Leah says:

This book is completely revised! This book is meant to specifically work on middle and ending syllables that the students are working on for the week. I have the kids repeat the word, then segment the words into syllables. Once they segment, I have them fill in the missing syllable which correlates to the letter of the week! I hope your readers enjoy!
If you love these sample pages and would like to get the whole book, you can find it here.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THIS FILE

For more awesome Spanish materials, especially those that teach children to read in Spanish, check out Lectura para niños on Facebook, Teachers Pay Teachers, Blog, and Pinterest.

The Best Way to Teach the Upper Times Tables

A couple of years ago, my oldest child really struggled with learning her multiplication tables. I tried helping her as best I could; I downloaded songs, rhymes, and checked out various books. I tried 5-minute memorization methods and repetition. I tried slow and I tried fast. There was a good bit of frustration and there were a lot of tears, but she eventually mastered them. And - ¡híjole! - I was so relieved!

This post uses affiliate links.

So you can imagine my stress when I realized that the time for my youngest to memorize these math facts was quickly approaching. He's not as strong in math as his sister, so I knew that this was probably going to be even more difficult.

And then, I happened to see a deal for Times Tales (aff link). I remembered reading a review in which the mom simply raved about how quick her daughters learned their upper times tables, so I decided to go ahead and buy it.

I was confused at first when all I received was a DVD. I had ordered the basic kit and thought that it came with some sort of game and worksheets. It turns out there are two discs in the case and the second has all the printable materials you need.

I popped the DVD in the player and watched the simple directions: Watch Part 1 and then use the printables to supplement the learning.

So I sat my son down and we hit "play." Thirty minutes later, he knew half his upper times tables and I was overjoyed!

Here's the premise: each number is assigned a character and then a short story happens when two characters get together. Your child watches and learns the simple stories then remembers them when presented with multiplication facts.

It is so simple. And it worked. I can't tell you how much I love this product. I only regret that I didn't have it when my daughter was learning her times tables!

There are two parts to the program. The first part covers the multiples of 3 and 4, and the second part covers the remaining multiples of 6, 7, 8. The program does not cover the easier multiples of 1, 2, 5, and 10.

Part 1 is divided up into parts: first you learn the stories, then you get a Game Show which asks you questions based on the story elements. Finally, you play Beat the Clock and get a timed quiz using only the numbers. When you've completed the video portion, you finish up by taking a written test.

The program recommends waiting a week before watching Part 2, in order to allow your child to master the stories in Part 1.

There is also a CD inside the case that contains the printables you can use with your child after they've watched the DVD. These include a crossword of the story elements, flash cards, printable game dice, and a review test.

I have to tell you that I LOVE this program (aff link). The results were amazing and I'm so glad I made this investment. If you have a child who is struggling with learning his or her times tables, this is so worth buying! Even if your kid is a whiz at math, this product is another way to make learning FUN.

Enjoy!