Knight of the Cape: Definitely Dominguita , #1
Written by Terry Catasus Jennings
Illustrated by Fatima Anaya
Published by Simon & Schuster
All Dominguita wants to do is read. Especially the books in Spanish that Abuela gave to her just before she moved away. They were classics that Abuela and Dominguita read together, classics her abuela brought with her all the way from Cuba when she was a young girl. It helps Dominguita feel like Abuela’s still there with her.
One of her favorites, Don Quixote, tells of a brave knight errant who tries to do good deeds. Dominguita decides that she, too, will become a knight and do good deeds around her community, creating a grand adventure for her to share with her abuela. And when the class bully tells Dominguita that girls can’t be knights, Dom is determined to prove him wrong. With a team of new friends, can Dominguita learn how to be the hero of her own story?
Primary ISBN: 9781534465039
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback
Chapter Book, Age 06 or older
Community Represented: Cuban/Cuban American
Themes: Allyship, Community Action, Cross-Group Friendship, Education & Literacy, Educator Resource, Engagement Tool: I'm Your Neighbor Books Created, Family Relationship: Grandparents, Generation: 2nd, Generational Differences: Gender Roles, Multilingual Character, Own Voices/Lived Experience
Setting: United States (Florida)
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: 2nd Generation
Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience
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ACTIVITY KIT: DOMINGUITA’S GUIDE TO KNIGHTHOOD
When Cuban American Dominguita Melendez is teased for spending recess reading her Abuela’s Spanish copy of Don Quixote, she makes a rash statement. Dom claims to be in training to be a knight. When her tormentor says, “girls cannot be knights,” Dom’s resolves to prove him wrong. This Activity Kit shares all of Dom’s lessons in knighthood including:
Outfitting Yourself
Invite your readers to explore the 940s section of your library to look for books on knights. What kind of armor did they wear? Dipping into the recycling bin, what sort of armor could be created at home, in the classroom, or in a book club setting?
Knight Naming
Dominguita creates the perfect name for her knighthood. With a paper craft, your readers can build a Knight Name Generator.
Selecting Squires
Your readers are forming new and independent friendships and may welcome the reminder to seek and maintain the squire-ish ones and to never assume friends are damsels in distress.
Random Acts of Kindness & Knight-ness
Dominguita both asks people what deeds need to be done and looks for random opportunities for kindness. This activity gives examples of random acts, but also prompts them to work together to interview their community to uncover needs and solutions.
Abuela Book Club
Dominguita’s relationship with her abuela can be the inspiration for readers to use their newfound reading skills to read in person, over the phone, or in a video chat to their abuelas or other elders.
DOWNLOAD Definitely Dominguita: Activity Kit (PDF)
KNIGHT OF THE CAPE: EDUCATORS GUIDE
Author Terry Catasus Jennings shares ways to explore Language Arts with Dominguita.