Abuelo, the Sea and Me
Book Summary:
Abuelo and the Sea follows a young girl who visits the ocean with her grandfather, where he shares stories of his childhood in Havana, Cuba. Through vivid memories of sights, sounds, and experiences from his homeland, Abuelo helps his granddaughter understand her family’s history and cultural roots. The book celebrates intergenerational storytelling, identity, and the powerful connection between place, memory, and belonging.
Recommended Questions:
Abuelo uses the ocean to remember his home in Cuba. How can a physical place—like a beach or a park—help someone feel connected to their history or heritage?
What can you learn about Cuba through Abuelo’s stories in this book?
How do Abuelo’s stories help his grandchild better understand her family’s history?
In what ways might learning about Cuba shape the grandchild’s identity?
Abuelo says he misses his homeland “so much it hurts.” Why might someone feel both sadness about leaving a place and happiness about building a new life with their family? How can those feelings exist at the same time?
Why do you think Abuelo chose to leave his medals behind when he left Cuba?
Why do you think it was important for Abuelo to share the story of the medals with his grandchild? What lesson might he want her to understand?
If you were the grandchild in this story, what questions would you ask your grandfather about his life in Cuba?
NCSS Theme 1: Culture
Abuelo and the Sea highlights how culture is passed down through language, storytelling, memory, and shared traditions. Abuelo’s vivid descriptions of Havana—its sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences—bring Cuban culture to life for his grandchild. The book demonstrates how cultural identity is preserved across generations and how family stories help children understand their heritage and sense of belonging.
Social Justice Anchor Standard 1: Positive social identity
In Abuelo and the Sea, the young main character explores her identity through her grandfather’s Cuban heritage and immigrant experience. As Abuelo shares stories of Havana and his youth, the history and culture of Cuba come alive for her, affirming her identity as both Cuban and American. The book validates dual identity and shows how family storytelling strengthens pride, belonging, and connection to multiple cultural communities.
WA Geography 2: Understands human interaction with the environment
In Abuelo and the Sea, the ocean plays a central role in shaping the family’s traditions, memories, and sense of identity. The beach becomes a space where culture, livelihood, and storytelling intersect, showing how natural environments influence how people live, work, and connect across generations. Students can examine how places—such as the sea in Cuba and the ocean in the United States—carry both physical and emotional meaning, shaping human experience and cultural continuity.
