Paletero Man

There really is nothing better than the very first popsicle of the summer. When I was growing up, popsicles had two purposes: to hydrate you when you were sick or to cool you off on those hot Midwest summer days. I vividly remember opening a brand-new box of popsicles and pulling out a perfectly red cherry-flavored popsicle. If there were no cherry popsicles left by the time it was my turn to choose, my second choice was grape. No more cherry or grape? I would pass and hope for better luck next time.

As my boys grew, my oldest loved cherry and grape too, but my youngest? He went straight for the orange popsicles, which made things a little easier when it came time to hand out treats.

Popsicles were always an end-of-the-year treat for my first graders. We would take our melting popsicles outside, sit under a shady tree, and enjoy the sweetness while trying not to let the summer heat melt all that goodness away. Cherry and grape were still the favorites, but with a whole class involved, the orange and lime flavors found plenty of fans too.

During my final year of teaching, I discovered a book that completely changed this end-of-the-year tradition. I came across Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz, and our annual popsicle celebration suddenly became so much more than a treat. We started reading the story together under the tree, and after we finished our popsicles and washed our sticky fingers, we headed back to the classroom for writing, art, and literacy activities inspired by this wonderfully sweet book.

Why Kids Love Paletero Man?

Kids are drawn to Paletero Man from the very first page. The bright, colorful illustrations capture all the sights and energy of summer, while the rhythmic text feels almost like a song. But what students seem to love most are the paletas themselves! Even if they have never heard the word “paleta” before, they quickly connect it to a frozen treat on a hot day. Before long, everyone is talking about their favorite flavors and wishing they could catch up with Paletero José, too.

Why I Love Using Paletero Man in My Classroom?

Some books just naturally lead to more learning. These are the books that remind us of a moment in time and make you want to linger a bit longer with the story. This book, does just that. This book naturally lends itself to writing, art, vocabulary, community-building discussions, and even a little bit of culture and geography, so I had to limit how many extension activities I could do with my group before the last day of school. We managed to complete 2 of the activities I created and left the others for another time. Read on to learn what we did.

Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz

On a hot summer day, all our narrator wants is a paleta from Paletero José — but when he finally catches up with him, his pockets are empty! It takes the kindness of the whole neighborhood to save the day. Along the way, readers are introduced to the sights, sounds, and flavors that make summer feel so special.

Skills Practiced with These Activities

Opinion Writing
Descriptive Writing
Vocabulary Development
Cultural Awareness
Creativity
Fine. Motor Skills

Extension Activities

What Is a Paleta?
This anchor chart introduces students to the vocabulary in the story by answering two important questions: What is a paleta? and who is a paletero? Building this background knowledge helps students better understand and enjoy the book.

 Design a Paletero Cart
Using the included cart template, students design their own paletero cart complete with flavors, prices, decorations, and, of course, plenty of delicious paletas! This creative activity encourages imagination while helping students connect with the story.

What Is Your Favorite Flavor?
Students write about their favorite paleta flavor and explain why they chose it. Then they illustrate their tasty treat. This simple opinion writing activity is always a class favorite!

Create a Brand-New Paleta
What if you could invent the perfect paleta flavor? Students create a brand-new flavor, name it, describe its ingredients, and illustrate their creation. The results are always creative and colorful.

Paper Paleta Craft
Students create a colorful paper paleta using construction paper and simple classroom supplies. These crafts look wonderful displayed alongside the writing activities and add a fun hands-on element to the unit.

Favorite Flavor Tally Chart and Graph
Students survey their classmates to find out their favorite paleta flavors. They tally the results and create a bar graph to display the data. This activity is a fun way to connect math and literacy while practicing data collection and graphing skills.

Paleta Number Cards
These colorful paleta number cards can be used to play a variety of number games. Use them to practice number recognition, number order, comparing numbers, and other important math skills in a fun, summer-themed way.

FREE Paleta Subitizing Cards
Looking for an easy math extension? These FREE Paleta Subitizing Cards are perfect for practicing number recognition and subitizing while keeping the summer theme going. Use them in math centers, small groups, or independent practice.
👉🏼 Download the FREE Paleta Subitizing Cards here!

💡 Mix and match these activities to create a colorful summer-themed bulletin board that students, families, and visitors will love!

Looking to extend your reading of Paletero Man? These activities make it simple to bring writing, math, art, and creativity together while celebrating this wonderful summer story. Whether you choose one activity or complete them all, your students are sure to have a sweet time learning!

---

👉🏼 Grab the complete Paletero Man Reader Response Activities from TPT here.

Have you read Paletero Man with your students? I’d love to hear how you extended the story in your classroom. Share your ideas in the comments below!