Book Discussion Guide

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh

Carlitos and Charlie live far away from each other – one in Mexico, the other in a big US city – but they love to keep in touch by writing letters. As these cousins swap letters, each describes his life and community. Charlie explains what it is like to live in a big city in America, and through his letters, Carlitos teaches Charlie about living in Mexico. Your family will learn lots as Carlitos shares his Mexican culture and you’ll be interested to compare it to lifestyles in an American city. The author includes Spanish words throughout the book so you can add to your vocabulary and learn a new language! Dear Primo will remind you of the power of familial connections – even though the boys live far apart, their Mexican heritage ties them together.

Questions To Talk About
While Reading

Vocabulary

It's important to make sure that your child has an understanding of key words in the book. Talking about words while reading is a great way for your child to learn new words.

In this book, you might talk about these words:

surrounded (pg. 2)
stoop (pg. 14)
traditions (pg. 24)

You might use a question like:

In the book, what does the word surrounded mean? How does the image help you understand the word?

Key Ideas and Themes

In addition to words, it's important to talk about key ideas and themes and how they develop over the course of the book.

Here are some examples to get you started:

1
On pages 4 and 7, Charlie uses nonliteral, or figurative, language to describe the city. Ask your child to explain what he means when he says, “. . . the lights from the city look like the stars from the sky” and, “The subway is like a long, metal snake.” How does this language impact you as a reader? How do you think Charlie’s descriptions help Carlitos understand the city?
2
The book is made up of letters, but how can we tell who is writing? Talk with your child about how we know who is writing and when. What does the author do to help you know which boy is writing?
3
Throughout the book, Charlie uses phrases like, “Score!” and “Nothing but net.” Carlitos shares words in Spanish too. As a family, point out similar words and phrases on each page. Talk about why the author chooses to use this language.
4
The two boys talk a lot about their lifestyles. Talk about how they are different and similar to each other. Make a list with your child, by asking, “What do you think the boys have in common? How are they different?” Have your child jot down his or her thinking on paper. If you’d like, you can use a t-chart, like the one below:

Similarities Differences
5
Dear Primo teaches us a lot about family and culture. Talk with your child about what he or she learned about living in the city and in Mexico. After you talk about these ideas as a family, review the Author’s Note and the back flap of the book jacket. Why do you think the author wrote this book? How did his experiences inspire the words and images throughout the book?

Extra Activities

1
With your child, brainstorm a list of relatives that live far away. Have your child pick one to write a letter to. As he or she writes the letter, review the structure Carlitos and Charlie use to begin their letters, on pages 2 and 4. Talk about the topics the cousins wrote about in their letters together and pick 3-4 to include in the letter. Remind your child of the nonliteral language used in Charlie’s letters, like, “The subway is like a metal snake.” Challenge him or her to use a simile or two as they describe their own life. Make sure to include questions for the relative and invite them to write back!
2
Talk with your child about the different features of Carlitos’ community and Charlie’s. Which lifestyle is most similar to your own? Using the images as a guide, flip through the pages of the book and have your child point out features that remind him or her of their life and features that may be different. Talk about the value of learning about other cultures and lifestyles as a family.