For the Love of Mangoes
By 826 Valencia
Students at literacy organization 826 Valencia pay tribute to this elite fruit in honor of National Mango Day.
Illustration by Montana Manalo
Nico Johnson, Age 11
Attended Bessie Carmichael School
Mango
Oh mango, you are amazing food because I can make you into a popsicle or juice.
You are the best because you’re so sweet and you can be sour.
Oh mango, you taste so good it's like my taste buds are having a tropical party.
You feel so smooth and you look delicious.
When I eat you, you sound like crunch.
You are as colorful as a rainbow and as yellow as the sun.
I thank you, mango, because you are so delicious and awesome.
I remember I ate you with my brother and cousin at a festival,
and on a hot day I made you into a popsicle and I said, “It’s so delicious.”
People say, “It’s so good and so sweet.”
You dance in the Tajín and scream when I put you in the blender.
You also shine in the light.
You connect to my family because they buy you because they know you’re my favorite.
Oh mango, when I bite into you, my teeth fall out because you’re so sweet!
Iya Mae Flores, Age 13
Attended Bessie Carmichael School
Mango Juiciness
Oh mango juiciness, you are the sourest and the sweetest and juiciest.
People say, “You are very sour.”
Sometimes we pick the sweetest, just like how my family loves me.
You smelled good, and when I ate you,
I said, “You are good and sweet and sour sometimes.”
You are as green as grass.
You are as cold as ice.
Thank you for giving us food and juiciness.
One time I ate you in my house in the Philippines and America,
and I said, “Good and yummy.”
You dream in my mouth of mango forests full of sunshine.
You are as sweet as my family and my life.
At ikaw ang pinakamatamis sa pagbibigay sa amin ng kagalakan sa aming buhay.
I can eat a billion in a second.
And you’re so juicy, so the people drink you like a billion people.
Esteben Perez-Flores, Age 10
Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8
Mi Pequeño Momento
Cuando mi mamá me corta el mango, yo pienso que soy un dinosaurio comiendo mango
en un Mundo de Mango. Yo corto me mango en el medio por el hueso y me como el
mango. Mi mamá me corta el mango como una flor y también me gusta comer mango cortado en cuadros. Solo mangos en mi cabeza
Yo como mango con Taj́in® y sal y chamoy y limón y con otro tipo de fruta. Cuando como mangos me siento feliz y me gusta comer mango y ver la televisión. Me gustan los mangos porque son dulces y agrios a veces. La piel de los mangos son verdes como el zacate y rojos como los zapatos. Mangos deben de ser el presidente.
Me gustan las fresas con lecherita y mi mamá corte las fresas en triángulos. Cuando como fresas me siento como puedo hacer todo en el mundo.
Cuando mi mamá me corta fresas, yo pienso solo en fresas y cuando mi mamá me corta la jícama yo pienso, porque el color de jícama es blanco. Cuando mi mamá me corta la piña, yo pienso, “¡Yummy!” Y me como mi mango como un dinosaurio. Yo le digo a mi mamá, “Gracias.”
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My Little Moment
When my mom cuts my mango, I feel like a dinosaur eating mango in a Mango World. I like to cut my mango in the center by the pit and then I will eat it. My mom cuts my mango into a flower, but I also like to eat mangoes that are cut into squares. The only thing on my mind are mangoes.
I like to eat mangoes with Taj́in®, salt, chamoy, lime and mixed with other types of fruit. When I eat mangoes I feel happy and I like to eat mangoes while watching television. I like mangoes because they are sweet and sour sometimes. The skin of mangoes can be green like grass and they can be red like shoes. Mangoes should be the president.
I also like strawberries with lecherita. I cut them into triangles and eat them. When I eat strawberries, I feel like I can do anything in the world.
When my mom cuts my strawberries, I only think about strawberries. When my mom cuts my jicama, I wonder why the jicama is white. When my mom cuts pineapple, I think, “Yummy!” I eat the fruit and I eat my mango like a dinosaur. After I am finished, I tell my mom, “Thank you.”
Maritza Contreras
Attended Bessie Carmichael School
Bursting Mango
Oh mango, you open your door to sweetness.
You always dreamed that one day I’d carry you and cut
you and eat you.
Mango, you’re medium and feel smooth as my bed
sheet.
And your color reminds me of a red and green sunset.
Oh mango, you’re as fresh as my refrigerator.
Mango, thank you for coming to Earth because you’re
so good!
Oh Mango, when I eat you, I slurp the sweetness out of
you.
Oh mango, when I was at my house, my mom cut you,
and you hugged the knife as I was screaming to eat you.
My sister said, “I wish we could eat you every day.”
You begged me to eat you because you were ready to
be eaten!
Ready to leap on a plate
Oh mango, you connect to my life because you’re so
good. I wish I could farm you so we could dance every
day!
Mango, I’m so thankful for coming to Earth.
You’re the best fruit ever!
I hope you never leave my side.
