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In honor of Women’s History Month, we invited Denver City Council President Jamie Torres to read a story that inspires her for Phone-a-Story. Now through March 19, dial (720) 865-8500 and press 3 to listen to her read Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña.
Phone-A-Story Guest Star Profile
Council President Jamie Torres and her sister were raised by a powerful single mother who taught her about the importance of education, staying curious, and the power of community.
Inspired by the values modeled by her mother, the Council President felt compelled to ensure Denver is a city focused on social justice and the needs of its residents, such as their civil and human rights.
She spent 18 years in the Human Rights & Community Partnerships Agency (HRCP) in the City and County of Denver. In 2019, Council President Jamie Torres took office as Denver City Council Member representing District 3, Denver’s westside, and became Council President in 2022 and 2023.
Her roots are directly in the West Denver community, where she and her husband, along with their cat and dog, currently call home.
More About the Featured Telephone Tale
Carmela Full of Wishes, by Matt de la Peña, tells the story of a young girl named Carmela and her immigrant family. Carmela loves her family and is finally old enough to join her brother for errands. This story demonstrates how everyone in a community makes it run, including a young girl and her immigrant family.
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We’ve got more special guests coming this year, so stay tuned for more Phone-a-Story news. Are you looking for more children's books like the one the Council President read? Take a look at this list of similar titles below:
Alma and How She Got Her Name, by Juana Martinez-Neal
When Alma Sofia Esperanza Jos? Pura Candela asks her father why she has so many names. She hears the story of her name and learns about her grandparents.
The Piñata that the Farm Maiden Hung, by Samantha R. Vamos
Using the building verse of "The House that Jack Built," a farm girl creates a piñata of papier mâché with the help of a boy and the animals on the farm. Includes a glossary of Spanish words and a step-by-step guide to building your own piñata.
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music, by Margarita Engle
Follows a young Cuban girl in the 1930s as she strives to become a drummer despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums and that there's never been a female drummer in Cuba. Includes note about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and Anacaona, the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters.
River of Mariposas, by Mirelle Ortega
A young girl dreams of a time when the land and sky belonged to the mariposas amarillas or yellow butterflies, and tries to re-create their glory with paper and glue.