Introducing an uplifting bilingual children’s story--
JIMMY’S CARWASH ADVENTURE/LA AVENTURA DE JAIME EN EL AUTOLAVADO
Little Jimmy makes a friend of a kind carwash man who helps him send his pedal car through the carwash. When Jimmy & his dad later find the carwash workers striking for fair pay, Jimmy does something unexpected…and dangerous, and teaches his dad an important lesson about social justice and solidarity.
An uplifting bilingual book that children and parents can equally enjoy.
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Victor Narro — Author
A nationally known expert on immigrant rights and low-wage workers, Victor Narro has been involved with immigrant rights and labor issues for over 30 years. Currently Victor is Project Director for the UCLA Labor Center and Guest Lecturer for UCLA School of Law. Victor is co-editor of Working for Justice: The L.A. Model of Organizing and Advocacy (Cornell University Press, 2010); coauthor of Undocumented and Unafraid: Tam Tran, Cinthya Felix, and the Immigrant Youth Movement. (UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education, 2012); and author of Living Peace: Connecting Your Spirituality with Your Work for Justice (CreateSpace Publication, 2014). Victor is happily married to Laureen Lazarovici, a long time labor activist and journalist.
A nationally known expert on immigrant rights and low-wage workers, Victor Narro has been involved with immigrant rights and labor issues for over 30 years. Currently Victor is Project Director for the UCLA Labor Center and Guest Lecturer for UCLA School of Law. Victor is co-editor of Working for Justice: The L.A. Model of Organizing and Advocacy (Cornell University Press, 2010); coauthor of Undocumented and Unafraid: Tam Tran, Cinthya Felix, and the Immigrant Youth Movement. (UCLA Center for Labor Research and Education, 2012); and author of Living Peace: Connecting Your Spirituality with Your Work for Justice (CreateSpace Publication, 2014). Victor is happily married to Laureen Lazarovici, a long time labor activist and journalist.
Yana Murashko — IllustratorYana Murashko earned her bachelor’s degree in 2014 at the National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts in Ukraine, with a major in Design. Her degree qualified her as a Landscape Designer. Immigrating to the United States, she has studied English language courses at Kingsborough Community College and at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Madelin Arroyo Romero — Translator
My name is Madelin Arroyo Romero. I was born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am adventurous and I like traveling to new places to fall in love with them and their people. Currently, I am an ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor at a local city college and enjoy it very much.
My name is Madelin Arroyo Romero. I was born in Mexico City and raised in Los Angeles, California. I am adventurous and I like traveling to new places to fall in love with them and their people. Currently, I am an ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor at a local city college and enjoy it very much.
QUESTIONS FOR TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS AND PARENTS TO DISCUSS WITH CHILDREN
Jimmy's father told him never to pedal his car alone away from the house. When Jimmy pedaled his car all by himself to the Carwash in order to support Juan and the other workers, he did something that was dangerous.
Do you think Jimmy did a bad thing pedaling his car by himself to the Carwash? If it was a bad thing, what is something safe that Jimmy could have done to show his support for the workers?
If you were Jimmy's parents, would you have been angry with him? If you were angry, would you have punished him in some way? If so, what punishment do you think would be fair to give Jimmy?
In the beginning Jimmy's dad did seem very sympathetic to the Carwash workers. Remember how he drove away from the demonstration, saying, "Those people look angry, there might be trouble." But in the end, Jimmy's dad came out to support them. Why do you think he changed his attitude about the protest?
The men and women at the Carwash were working without a union.This means they have nobody to speak for them when they feel the boss has not treated them fairly. What do you think a union could do for the workers if it was representing them?
Working in a Carwash can be dangerous. There are machines with giant rollers, strong chemicals used to clean bugs off of cars, and people driving their cars in and out. Do you think the owner should keep the work place safe for the workers? If the owner of the Carwash demanded that the workers work in a way that was dangerous, what could the workers to do protect themselves?
Many of the Carwash workers came to America from poor countries, where there were not a lot of jobs and life was difficult. Do you think it is a good thing for people to move to a new country in order to find work? If you owned a business, would you hire an immigrant worker?
Some of the Carwash workers left their home and their families when they came to America. They miss them very, very much. What would your life be like if your mom or dad left to work in a faraway place? Would you be lonely? How would you stay in touch with your loved ones?
Think about other businesses where men and women work. How many of them have a lot of immigrant workers - workers born in other countries? Do you think they have a union to speak for them when they feel they have not been treated fairly?
The Carwash workers in the demonstration carried signs that asked for higher pay. They felt they were not paid enough money to support a family and pay their bills. If that is true, why do you think the owner of the Carwash doesn't pay the workers more? Do you think the owner is mean or selfish for paying them so little? What would prevent the owner from paying the workers more?
Perhaps the next time you go to a store or a place that gives your mom or dad a service, like a car repair or a grocery store, you could ask a worker that you meet if they have a union. If they do not have a union, you could ask if they like to have a union to speak for them?
Jimmy's father told him never to pedal his car alone away from the house. When Jimmy pedaled his car all by himself to the Carwash in order to support Juan and the other workers, he did something that was dangerous.
Do you think Jimmy did a bad thing pedaling his car by himself to the Carwash? If it was a bad thing, what is something safe that Jimmy could have done to show his support for the workers?
If you were Jimmy's parents, would you have been angry with him? If you were angry, would you have punished him in some way? If so, what punishment do you think would be fair to give Jimmy?
In the beginning Jimmy's dad did seem very sympathetic to the Carwash workers. Remember how he drove away from the demonstration, saying, "Those people look angry, there might be trouble." But in the end, Jimmy's dad came out to support them. Why do you think he changed his attitude about the protest?
The men and women at the Carwash were working without a union.This means they have nobody to speak for them when they feel the boss has not treated them fairly. What do you think a union could do for the workers if it was representing them?
Working in a Carwash can be dangerous. There are machines with giant rollers, strong chemicals used to clean bugs off of cars, and people driving their cars in and out. Do you think the owner should keep the work place safe for the workers? If the owner of the Carwash demanded that the workers work in a way that was dangerous, what could the workers to do protect themselves?
Many of the Carwash workers came to America from poor countries, where there were not a lot of jobs and life was difficult. Do you think it is a good thing for people to move to a new country in order to find work? If you owned a business, would you hire an immigrant worker?
Some of the Carwash workers left their home and their families when they came to America. They miss them very, very much. What would your life be like if your mom or dad left to work in a faraway place? Would you be lonely? How would you stay in touch with your loved ones?
Think about other businesses where men and women work. How many of them have a lot of immigrant workers - workers born in other countries? Do you think they have a union to speak for them when they feel they have not been treated fairly?
The Carwash workers in the demonstration carried signs that asked for higher pay. They felt they were not paid enough money to support a family and pay their bills. If that is true, why do you think the owner of the Carwash doesn't pay the workers more? Do you think the owner is mean or selfish for paying them so little? What would prevent the owner from paying the workers more?
Perhaps the next time you go to a store or a place that gives your mom or dad a service, like a car repair or a grocery store, you could ask a worker that you meet if they have a union. If they do not have a union, you could ask if they like to have a union to speak for them?