Mrs. Hernandez's Childhood Book

One of the first book/poem I read with my mom was Los Zapatitos de Rosa by Jose Marti. My mom actually recited this poem to me almost every night.  In Cuba, students had to learn and memorize many poems and quotes for school.  

The poem is about a privileged little girl hands over her beloved pink shoes to a poor, sick child she meets at the beach. For one moment the youngsters' different worlds meet and mesh, each one's fantasy becoming the other's reality. Marti's poem depicts a world of contrasting images: wealth and poverty, sickness and health, joy and misery. 


I still enjoy reading this poem because it teaches a great life lesson to children, to share and value the things we have, and to understand that there are others kids less fortunate.

--Mrs. Hernandez