When Tía Isa wants to buy a car, her niece helps out by taking small jobs in the neighborhood. Together, they save up and get a car big enough for the whole family.
Tía Isa Wants a Car
Discuss the Book
Saving for a Car
Pages 1–7
- Important Moment: Tía Isa grew up on an island. She and her niece start saving for a car so they can drive to the beach.
- Ask and Share: What are Tía Isa and her niece saving money for, and why? What would you save money for if you could? Why?
Pitching In
Pages 8–15
- Important Moment: After the man at the lot tells Tía Isa that she doesn’t have enough money for a car, her niece takes on small jobs—stacking oranges, feeding kittens, teaching a little Spanish—to help.
- Ask and Share: How does the niece help Tía Isa? What small jobs could you do if you wanted to earn some money?
The Perfect Car?
Pages 16–21
- Important Moment: Even though the car has a bad radio and no air conditioning, Tía Isa and her niece think it’s “the very one” because it’s shiny green like the ocean, and there’s room in the back for the rest of the family.
- Ask and Share: What’s wrong with the green car? Why do Tía Isa and her niece buy it anyway? Is there something that you like even though it’s not perfect?
Family Beach Day
Pages 22–29
- Important Moment: Tía Isa and her niece are at the beach. The girl’s parents are with them! The special green car took them all to the beach, at last.
- Ask and Share: Where are Tía Isa and her niece on the last pages of the story? Who do you think the extra people in the illustrations might be? If you could drive somewhere in a car, would you want to go to the beach or somewhere else?