My Two Boarder Towns
Book Summary:
My Two Border Towns is a gentle, evocative picture book about a young boy and his father who routinely cross the U.S.–Mexico border to run errands, visit family, and help others in their community. Along the way, the story highlights the shared culture, everyday life, and challenges faced by people living on both sides of the border, including friends waiting for asylum. Through this child’s perspective, the book celebrates community care and the interconnectedness of life in border towns.
Recommended Questions:
How does this story illustrate the economic, cultural, and community connections between the two towns?
In what ways are the towns on either side of the border similar, and in what ways are they different? How are they connected?
Why do you think the story includes both Spanish and English? What does this choice reveal about the culture of the towns?
Do you agree with the father’s statement that the most important part of their visit is the duty to care for their gente? Why or why not?
How does this book convey the idea of “community care”? What specific examples can you identify?
What might it feel like to live in a place where people cross back and forth between countries frequently? What are some potential benefits and challenges?
How might it feel to watch people cross daily when you are not able to cross yourself?
How are refugees or people waiting for asylum portrayed in the story? How does the book help you understand their experiences?
How do borders influence people’s daily lives and friendships in the story?
What does the ending suggest about the future of the border towns?
NCSS Theme 9: Global Connections
My Two Border Towns shows how communities on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border are deeply connected economically, socially, and culturally. The story illustrates that events, policies, and human relationships in one country directly affect people living just across the border. Students can explore how migration, trade, and shared cultural practices create global interdependence, making the border a lens for understanding broader international connections.
Social Justice Anchor Standard 14: Power, Privilege and Systems
My Two Border Towns connects to this standard by prompting students to recognize how systems of border control and immigration policy shape relationships and access to opportunity. The story highlights individuals affected by their legal status—such as asylum seekers waiting to be admitted—encouraging students to think about how institutional power influences people’s lives. Through community care and interpersonal connection, the book raises awareness of how privilege and policy impact human dignity.
WA Social Geography 1: Understands physical and cultural characteristics and location of places, regions and spatial patterns on the Earths surface
The book helps students explore what makes border towns unique places, including geographic features like the Rio Grande and the cultural blending that occurs there. It shows how spatial proximity influences language, traditions, food, and relationships for people in twin towns that exist on either side of an international boundary. Students can examine how geography shapes everyday life in interconnected communities.
