This document provides summaries of several bilingual biography books for children, including books about Bob Marley, Celia Cruz, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Cesar Chavez, and Sacagawea. Each summary includes the book title, author, publication details, grade level, and reviews from journals like School Library Journal, Booklist, and Horn Book.
This document summarizes 24 folktales and fairy tales from various cultures represented in books from the author's personal collection. For each book, a brief summary is provided along with key details such as number of pages, cultural group, genre, and recommended age level. The author also provides a short personal response to each book.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
This document examines African-American children's picture books and their importance. It discusses how these books were historically used to promote racist stereotypes but are now being used to teach positive cultural portrayals. The study analyzes publishing trends that show a lack of diversity in children's books, with only 5% of illustrators and 3.4% of books being by African-American creators. Promoting African-American children's literature is important for improving literacy rates in the Black community and teaching children of all backgrounds about Black culture and experiences. More work still needs to be done to increase diversity in publishing and overcome the historical negative stereotypes.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
By tracing a genre of resistance and cultural identity through African-American children’s picturebooks we can learn about the importance of how children understand themselves and their place within the community. Even during the current Golden Age of publishing, picturebooks still continue to lack African-American writers and illustrators. The question of why this is happening will be covered throughout this study by investigating statistical and scholarly sources. Also, the history of how African-Americans were portrayed in picturebooks through racist and stereotypical portrayals will be examined. Even today scholars continue to debate as to whether published works for children continue to contain racist depictions of Blacks. African-American children’s literature can be used as a tool to discuss how to reimagine racist stereotypes and be aware of the racist history within the stories marketed to children. The political benefit of teaching African-American picturebooks within community settings has key value for children of all races and backgrounds and provides role models that validate the importance of the Black experience in literature. Positive portrayals of African-Americans teach Black children the importance of diversity and prepare them for adulthood. By highlighting African-American children’s literature through, before or after school programs and camps, children will learn the importance of the Black cultural experience and understand the value of sharing and recognizing in the positive depictions of everyday Black life.
The document discusses the definition and characteristics of ethnic literature. It defines ethnic literature as works that have protagonists or speakers who are conscious of belonging to a group sharing a common racial, national, religious, linguistic or cultural background. It notes some common themes in ethnic literature, such as experiences of prejudice, generational conflicts between immigrants and their American-born children, and the feeling of being caught between two worlds. The document outlines the works of ethnic literature that will be covered in a class, including novels, poems, plays and films representing Native American, Latino, African American and Asian American heritage.
Gwendolyn Brooks was an influential American poet born in 1917 in Kansas. She published her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville, in 1945 which earned her critical acclaim. Brooks went on to receive numerous honors and awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 1950, making her the first African American author to win the Pulitzer. She wrote over 20 books and hundreds of poems in her career focusing on themes of African American life and the struggles of black women. Brooks helped establish a new generation of black poets and was a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement before her death in 2000.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
This document summarizes research on African-American children's picture books. It finds that until the 1960s, depictions of Black children in books often featured harmful stereotypes. Following the Civil Rights Movement, more books were published about the Black experience, but few authors were Black. Today, only around 10% of children's books depict people of color. Teaching African-American books has value for children of all backgrounds by promoting diversity and positive Black representations. More progress is still needed to increase diversity in publishing staff and authors.
John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas, California to parents of moderate means. He showed an early interest in writing and decided to become a writer by age 14. Steinbeck attended Stanford University but dropped out in 1925 without a degree. He published his first novel, Cup of Gold, in 1929 and achieved critical success with Tortilla Flat in 1935. Steinbeck is best known for his novels Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath which addressed economic and social issues of rural laborers. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 and continued writing until his death in 1968.
The document contains summaries of several children's books from different genres including historical fiction, biography, and informational texts. Strategies are suggested for using each book in an educational setting, such as read alouds, writing prompts, research activities, and connecting to curricular standards.
This document summarizes 24 folktales and fairy tales from various cultures represented in books from the author's personal collection. For each book, a brief summary is provided along with key details such as number of pages, cultural group, genre, and recommended age level. The author also provides a short personal response to each book.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
This document examines African-American children's picture books and their importance. It discusses how these books were historically used to promote racist stereotypes but are now being used to teach positive cultural portrayals. The study analyzes publishing trends that show a lack of diversity in children's books, with only 5% of illustrators and 3.4% of books being by African-American creators. Promoting African-American children's literature is important for improving literacy rates in the Black community and teaching children of all backgrounds about Black culture and experiences. More work still needs to be done to increase diversity in publishing and overcome the historical negative stereotypes.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
By tracing a genre of resistance and cultural identity through African-American children’s picturebooks we can learn about the importance of how children understand themselves and their place within the community. Even during the current Golden Age of publishing, picturebooks still continue to lack African-American writers and illustrators. The question of why this is happening will be covered throughout this study by investigating statistical and scholarly sources. Also, the history of how African-Americans were portrayed in picturebooks through racist and stereotypical portrayals will be examined. Even today scholars continue to debate as to whether published works for children continue to contain racist depictions of Blacks. African-American children’s literature can be used as a tool to discuss how to reimagine racist stereotypes and be aware of the racist history within the stories marketed to children. The political benefit of teaching African-American picturebooks within community settings has key value for children of all races and backgrounds and provides role models that validate the importance of the Black experience in literature. Positive portrayals of African-Americans teach Black children the importance of diversity and prepare them for adulthood. By highlighting African-American children’s literature through, before or after school programs and camps, children will learn the importance of the Black cultural experience and understand the value of sharing and recognizing in the positive depictions of everyday Black life.
The document discusses the definition and characteristics of ethnic literature. It defines ethnic literature as works that have protagonists or speakers who are conscious of belonging to a group sharing a common racial, national, religious, linguistic or cultural background. It notes some common themes in ethnic literature, such as experiences of prejudice, generational conflicts between immigrants and their American-born children, and the feeling of being caught between two worlds. The document outlines the works of ethnic literature that will be covered in a class, including novels, poems, plays and films representing Native American, Latino, African American and Asian American heritage.
Gwendolyn Brooks was an influential American poet born in 1917 in Kansas. She published her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville, in 1945 which earned her critical acclaim. Brooks went on to receive numerous honors and awards including the Pulitzer Prize in 1950, making her the first African American author to win the Pulitzer. She wrote over 20 books and hundreds of poems in her career focusing on themes of African American life and the struggles of black women. Brooks helped establish a new generation of black poets and was a leading voice of the Black Arts Movement before her death in 2000.
African-American Children’s Picturebooks: Examining the Genres of Childhood, ...Angelina Bair, MLIS
This document summarizes research on African-American children's picture books. It finds that until the 1960s, depictions of Black children in books often featured harmful stereotypes. Following the Civil Rights Movement, more books were published about the Black experience, but few authors were Black. Today, only around 10% of children's books depict people of color. Teaching African-American books has value for children of all backgrounds by promoting diversity and positive Black representations. More progress is still needed to increase diversity in publishing staff and authors.
John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas, California to parents of moderate means. He showed an early interest in writing and decided to become a writer by age 14. Steinbeck attended Stanford University but dropped out in 1925 without a degree. He published his first novel, Cup of Gold, in 1929 and achieved critical success with Tortilla Flat in 1935. Steinbeck is best known for his novels Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath which addressed economic and social issues of rural laborers. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 and continued writing until his death in 1968.
The document contains summaries of several children's books from different genres including historical fiction, biography, and informational texts. Strategies are suggested for using each book in an educational setting, such as read alouds, writing prompts, research activities, and connecting to curricular standards.
- The document discusses the American literary and philosophical movement of Transcendentalism. It notes that Transcendentalism reached its peak in the 1830s-1840s and was championed by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- Emerson believed that each individual could connect with the divine within themselves and the universe. He asserted the dignity and sanctity of each human being.
- Transcendentalism viewed all individuals as possessing a common soul or spirit. It emphasized both individualism and a shared social responsibility among all people.
Banned books selected for removal from schools and libraries do to their social content as part of the Banned Books week digital presentation from Christina Van Amerogen's LIT2000 Class
Gary Soto is an award-winning Mexican-American poet, novelist, and children's book author. He grew up in Fresno, California and draws from his experiences working in the fields and growing up in the Central Valley region. Some of his notable works include the poetry collections The Elements of San Joaquin (1977) and Neighborhood Odes (1992), as well as the novels Amnesia in a Republican County (2003) and Living Up the Street (1985). Soto is praised for his poems that focus on daily life and reflect on his experiences as a Chicano American.
Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Her works focused on issues of racial injustice, poverty, and the struggles of young black women. Though critically acclaimed, her works are not widely included in American literature course syllabi. Her poems depict a world where few black female characters can escape the constraints of poverty and racism.
This document provides a catalog for Anaphora Literary Press featuring various books. It includes sections on biography, reference, textbooks, children's books, poetry, novels, short stories and more. Several books are highlighted and described in 1-2 paragraphs with information on the authors. The catalog showcases the wide range of publications from the press across different genres.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author born in 1954 in North Dakota to a French Chippewa father and German-American mother. She has explored Native American themes in her novels, poems, and children's books. In the short story "Fleur" from her first novel Love Medicine, the character Fleur wins too much money playing cards, angering the local men who assault her in retaliation. A tornado then hits the town and kills the three men who attacked Fleur, who returns alone to the reservation.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She has written 13 novels and volumes of other works that explore Native American themes. Her 1984 book Love Medicine tells interconnecting stories through different character perspectives, including "The Red Convertible" about two brothers affected by one's experience in Vietnam. Erdrich also writes poetry addressing colonialism, like "Dear John Wayne," which references the actor's on-screen persona through an ambiguous letter format. Her writing examines universal struggles through Indigenous viewpoints.
The document summarizes why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is considered one of the greatest American novels despite receiving criticism and bans since its publication in 1885. Through Huck Finn's journey down the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim, Twain was able to condemn many social issues of the pre-Civil War American South such as racism and slavery. The novel provided a realistic portrayal of life along the Mississippi River through its use of vernacular language and regional dialects. It also examined themes of racism and how Huck comes to see Jim as a fellow human despite being raised in a racist society, which was groundbreaking for its time.
N. Scott Momaday. In the Presence of the Sun. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2009; and N. Scott Momaday. The Journey of Tai-me. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2010
This document provides information on the visiting writers series at Colorado College for Spring 2016, including dates, times, locations and brief descriptions of 16 authors who will be participating. Events will take place from January to April and include novelists, poets, journalists and music critics reading from and discussing their works. All events are free and open to the public.
This document outlines the seminar paper "The Study of James Baldwin's Selected Novels in Relation to Human Rights" by Ravindra Ramdas Borse. The paper will analyze four of Baldwin's novels - Go Tell it on the Mountain, Another Country, Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone, and If Beale Street Could Talk - in relation to violations of human rights faced by Black Americans. It provides definitions of human rights, introduces Baldwin and his works, lists the objectives and hypotheses of the study, and outlines the proposed methodology and chapter structure.
Marilynne Robinson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, returns to the world of Gilead with Jack, the latest in one of the great works of contemporary American fiction.Jack �tells the story of John Ames Boughton, the beloved, erratic, and grieved-over prodigal son of a Presbyterian minister in Gilead, Iowa. In segregated St. Louis sometime after World War II, Jack falls in love with Della Miles, an African American high school teacher who is also the daughter of a preacher?discerning, generous, and independent. Their fraught, beautiful romance is one of Robinson�s greatest achievements.The Gilead novels are about the dilemmas and promise of American history?about the ongoing legacy of the Civil War and the enduring impact of both racial inequality and deep-rooted religious belief. They touch the deepest chords in our national character and resonate with our deepest feelings. .
The document discusses several famous authors who worked in genres outside of what they were most known for, including writing children's books. It provides examples such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, the Brontë sisters, Lewis Carroll, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, E.B. White, Sylvia Plath, E.E. Cummings, and Carl Sandburg. These authors demonstrated their diverse talents by publishing poetry, children's fiction, biographies, plays, and more. Exploring authors' lesser known works provides fascinating insights into their full talents and creativity.
The document summarizes several books:
1) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - The novel tells the story of Kathy, a "carer" for clones known as "donors" who are bred to donate organs. Through Kathy's recollections, it's revealed that she and her friends from their boarding school were clones destined for organ donation.
2) Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells - The latest book in the Ya-Ya Sisterhood series focuses on the extended Louisiana family first introduced in prior books. However, the new book lacks the humor and heart of earlier entries in the franchise.
3) Where You're At by Patrick Neate - The
This document provides summaries of famous short stories, poetry, plays, novels, and notable literary authors from the Philippines. It discusses religious and secular dramas, as well as a famous novel titled "A Comrade's Death" and a famous play called "Ang Historyador na Manlilikha." The document also lists short stories, poems, and notable authors such as Jose Rizal, F. Sionil Jose, and Nick Joaquin that have made important contributions to Philippine literature.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author born in 1954 in North Dakota. She comes from a family involved with Native American culture and wrote novels, poems, and children's books exploring Native American themes. Her most famous work, Love Medicine, won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1984. Erdrich currently lives in Minnesota where she owns a bookstore. The story takes place in a town near a lake on a Native American reservation and focuses on the character Fleur Pillager, a Chippewa woman with magical powers who is both feared and disliked by the townspeople.
Works Cited
Greenough, Sarah . Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg . Munich, Germany : National Gallery of Art, DelMonico Books, and Prestel Publishing, 2010. Print.
McCurdy, Michael . To Eberhart From Ginsberg. Lincoln, Mass: Penmaen Press Books , 1976. Print.
Miles, Barry. Allen Ginsberg: Howl. First HarperPerennial Edition. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.
Morgan, Bill, and Nancy Peters. Howl On Trial: The Battle for Free Expression. San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books , 2006. Print..
Shinder, Jason . The Poem That Changed America: "Howl" Fifty Years Later . First Edition. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print.
This document provides information on Filipino authors and their works during a certain period in Philippine history. It lists common themes of the time like nationalism, injustice, love, and attraction. It then names six authors - Cecilio Apostol, Aurelio Tolentino, Mena Pecson Cirsologo, Deogracias A. Rosario, Manuel E. Arguilla, and Faustino Aguilar. For each author it provides a brief description of one of their works, such as the short story "A Son is Born" by Manuel E. Arguilla. Sources for the information are also listed as a Philippine Literature book and Google/the internet.
The document provides a history of Native Canadian literature from oral traditions to contemporary works. It discusses how Canadian literature began with oral stories passed down generations before written text. It outlines some early Indigenous authors and works from the 18th-19th centuries. It then discusses the growth of Native literature in the 1960s-70s, including new publications and genres. Some of the major Indigenous authors discussed include Pauline Johnson, Thomas King, Rita Joe, Maria Campbell and Maria Annheart Baker.
Nina Jaffe is an award-winning storyteller and author known for retelling Jewish and world folklore. She holds degrees from Wesleyan University and Bank Street College of Education. She has represented the United States at international festivals and created a Wonder Woman series emphasizing the character's mythological background. Jaffe has authored several books for children and young adults on folktales and stories from different cultures and religious traditions. Many of her works have received awards and honors.
- The document discusses the American literary and philosophical movement of Transcendentalism. It notes that Transcendentalism reached its peak in the 1830s-1840s and was championed by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- Emerson believed that each individual could connect with the divine within themselves and the universe. He asserted the dignity and sanctity of each human being.
- Transcendentalism viewed all individuals as possessing a common soul or spirit. It emphasized both individualism and a shared social responsibility among all people.
Banned books selected for removal from schools and libraries do to their social content as part of the Banned Books week digital presentation from Christina Van Amerogen's LIT2000 Class
Gary Soto is an award-winning Mexican-American poet, novelist, and children's book author. He grew up in Fresno, California and draws from his experiences working in the fields and growing up in the Central Valley region. Some of his notable works include the poetry collections The Elements of San Joaquin (1977) and Neighborhood Odes (1992), as well as the novels Amnesia in a Republican County (2003) and Living Up the Street (1985). Soto is praised for his poems that focus on daily life and reflect on his experiences as a Chicano American.
Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Her works focused on issues of racial injustice, poverty, and the struggles of young black women. Though critically acclaimed, her works are not widely included in American literature course syllabi. Her poems depict a world where few black female characters can escape the constraints of poverty and racism.
This document provides a catalog for Anaphora Literary Press featuring various books. It includes sections on biography, reference, textbooks, children's books, poetry, novels, short stories and more. Several books are highlighted and described in 1-2 paragraphs with information on the authors. The catalog showcases the wide range of publications from the press across different genres.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author born in 1954 in North Dakota to a French Chippewa father and German-American mother. She has explored Native American themes in her novels, poems, and children's books. In the short story "Fleur" from her first novel Love Medicine, the character Fleur wins too much money playing cards, angering the local men who assault her in retaliation. A tornado then hits the town and kills the three men who attacked Fleur, who returns alone to the reservation.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She has written 13 novels and volumes of other works that explore Native American themes. Her 1984 book Love Medicine tells interconnecting stories through different character perspectives, including "The Red Convertible" about two brothers affected by one's experience in Vietnam. Erdrich also writes poetry addressing colonialism, like "Dear John Wayne," which references the actor's on-screen persona through an ambiguous letter format. Her writing examines universal struggles through Indigenous viewpoints.
The document summarizes why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is considered one of the greatest American novels despite receiving criticism and bans since its publication in 1885. Through Huck Finn's journey down the Mississippi River with the runaway slave Jim, Twain was able to condemn many social issues of the pre-Civil War American South such as racism and slavery. The novel provided a realistic portrayal of life along the Mississippi River through its use of vernacular language and regional dialects. It also examined themes of racism and how Huck comes to see Jim as a fellow human despite being raised in a racist society, which was groundbreaking for its time.
N. Scott Momaday. In the Presence of the Sun. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2009; and N. Scott Momaday. The Journey of Tai-me. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2010
This document provides information on the visiting writers series at Colorado College for Spring 2016, including dates, times, locations and brief descriptions of 16 authors who will be participating. Events will take place from January to April and include novelists, poets, journalists and music critics reading from and discussing their works. All events are free and open to the public.
This document outlines the seminar paper "The Study of James Baldwin's Selected Novels in Relation to Human Rights" by Ravindra Ramdas Borse. The paper will analyze four of Baldwin's novels - Go Tell it on the Mountain, Another Country, Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone, and If Beale Street Could Talk - in relation to violations of human rights faced by Black Americans. It provides definitions of human rights, introduces Baldwin and his works, lists the objectives and hypotheses of the study, and outlines the proposed methodology and chapter structure.
Marilynne Robinson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, returns to the world of Gilead with Jack, the latest in one of the great works of contemporary American fiction.Jack �tells the story of John Ames Boughton, the beloved, erratic, and grieved-over prodigal son of a Presbyterian minister in Gilead, Iowa. In segregated St. Louis sometime after World War II, Jack falls in love with Della Miles, an African American high school teacher who is also the daughter of a preacher?discerning, generous, and independent. Their fraught, beautiful romance is one of Robinson�s greatest achievements.The Gilead novels are about the dilemmas and promise of American history?about the ongoing legacy of the Civil War and the enduring impact of both racial inequality and deep-rooted religious belief. They touch the deepest chords in our national character and resonate with our deepest feelings. .
The document discusses several famous authors who worked in genres outside of what they were most known for, including writing children's books. It provides examples such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, the Brontë sisters, Lewis Carroll, Robert Frost, William Faulkner, E.B. White, Sylvia Plath, E.E. Cummings, and Carl Sandburg. These authors demonstrated their diverse talents by publishing poetry, children's fiction, biographies, plays, and more. Exploring authors' lesser known works provides fascinating insights into their full talents and creativity.
The document summarizes several books:
1) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - The novel tells the story of Kathy, a "carer" for clones known as "donors" who are bred to donate organs. Through Kathy's recollections, it's revealed that she and her friends from their boarding school were clones destined for organ donation.
2) Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells - The latest book in the Ya-Ya Sisterhood series focuses on the extended Louisiana family first introduced in prior books. However, the new book lacks the humor and heart of earlier entries in the franchise.
3) Where You're At by Patrick Neate - The
This document provides summaries of famous short stories, poetry, plays, novels, and notable literary authors from the Philippines. It discusses religious and secular dramas, as well as a famous novel titled "A Comrade's Death" and a famous play called "Ang Historyador na Manlilikha." The document also lists short stories, poems, and notable authors such as Jose Rizal, F. Sionil Jose, and Nick Joaquin that have made important contributions to Philippine literature.
Louise Erdrich is a Native American author born in 1954 in North Dakota. She comes from a family involved with Native American culture and wrote novels, poems, and children's books exploring Native American themes. Her most famous work, Love Medicine, won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1984. Erdrich currently lives in Minnesota where she owns a bookstore. The story takes place in a town near a lake on a Native American reservation and focuses on the character Fleur Pillager, a Chippewa woman with magical powers who is both feared and disliked by the townspeople.
Works Cited
Greenough, Sarah . Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg . Munich, Germany : National Gallery of Art, DelMonico Books, and Prestel Publishing, 2010. Print.
McCurdy, Michael . To Eberhart From Ginsberg. Lincoln, Mass: Penmaen Press Books , 1976. Print.
Miles, Barry. Allen Ginsberg: Howl. First HarperPerennial Edition. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.
Morgan, Bill, and Nancy Peters. Howl On Trial: The Battle for Free Expression. San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books , 2006. Print..
Shinder, Jason . The Poem That Changed America: "Howl" Fifty Years Later . First Edition. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006. Print.
This document provides information on Filipino authors and their works during a certain period in Philippine history. It lists common themes of the time like nationalism, injustice, love, and attraction. It then names six authors - Cecilio Apostol, Aurelio Tolentino, Mena Pecson Cirsologo, Deogracias A. Rosario, Manuel E. Arguilla, and Faustino Aguilar. For each author it provides a brief description of one of their works, such as the short story "A Son is Born" by Manuel E. Arguilla. Sources for the information are also listed as a Philippine Literature book and Google/the internet.
The document provides a history of Native Canadian literature from oral traditions to contemporary works. It discusses how Canadian literature began with oral stories passed down generations before written text. It outlines some early Indigenous authors and works from the 18th-19th centuries. It then discusses the growth of Native literature in the 1960s-70s, including new publications and genres. Some of the major Indigenous authors discussed include Pauline Johnson, Thomas King, Rita Joe, Maria Campbell and Maria Annheart Baker.
Nina Jaffe is an award-winning storyteller and author known for retelling Jewish and world folklore. She holds degrees from Wesleyan University and Bank Street College of Education. She has represented the United States at international festivals and created a Wonder Woman series emphasizing the character's mythological background. Jaffe has authored several books for children and young adults on folktales and stories from different cultures and religious traditions. Many of her works have received awards and honors.
21st Century Lit.-DLP Q2-Representative Texts and Authors from North America....IrishJohnGulmatico1
This document contains a daily lesson plan for grade 12 students focusing on 21st century literature from North America. The lesson objectives are for students to identify representative texts and authors from North America, appreciate their contributions, and do a close analysis of the poem "Forgetfulness" by Billy Collins. The content section introduces several famous North American authors like James Patterson, Nicholas Sparks, John Green, Suzanne Collins, and the featured poet Billy Collins. In the procedures section, the teacher presents information about these authors and their works, discusses themes in North American literature, and has students analyze symbols and message in Collins' poem. Formative assessment involves students identifying additional authors and their contributions.
This document provides an overview and introduction to the novel "The Diviners" by Margaret Laurence. It discusses the setting of the novel, which includes small towns modeled after places formerly inhabited by First Nations tribes. It also summarizes some of the main characters, including Morag Gunn, the protagonist, her daughter Pique, and her former lover Jules. The introduction establishes that analysis of these elements in the novel can provide insights into the portrayal and life of First Nations peoples in Canada in the mid-20th century.
This document provides biographical information on several female authors from early American history through the present. It discusses how women writers traditionally focused on moral instruction and documenting culture but also brought awareness to social issues. The document profiles authors such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan Glaspell, Audre Lorde, Lucille Clifton, Justin Torres, Maia Kobabe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Alice Walker. It provides context on their works and literary styles and how they portrayed women and addressed issues of gender, race, and sexuality. The document also discusses the genre of creative nonfiction and debates the relationship between truth, facts, and creative works that
The document provides summaries for 12 multi-cultural literature works appropriate for grades 9-12, organized by theme. The works include fiction and non-fiction books, as well as picture books, addressing topics like race, ethnicity, geography, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and multi-cultural schools. Each summary provides the title, author, publisher, grade level, genre and theme for a work, and suggests an activity for students to connect with the themes addressed in the work.
The document provides summaries for 12 multi-cultural literature works appropriate for grades 9-12, organized by theme. The works include fiction and non-fiction books, as well as picture books, addressing topics like race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, and multi-cultural schools. Each summary includes an activity suggestion for students to help explore the work's themes and topics further.
The document provides summaries for 12 multi-cultural literature works covering topics like race/ethnicity, geography, class, age, gender/sexuality, schools, and religion. For each work, a brief summary is given along with the intended grade level and genre (fiction, non-fiction, picture book). Suggested activities for students to accompany reading the works are also outlined.
The document provides summaries for 12 books and activities that teachers can use to teach topics related to diversity, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, class, and multicultural schools. The books cover a range of genres, including fiction, non-fiction, and picture books. The activities encourage students to discuss, research, write about, and present on the themes and issues raised in the books.
This document provides a list of literature and activities for a multi-cultural literature portfolio. It includes 18 sections covering different genres, topics, and age/grade levels. For each entry, it lists the title, author, publisher, and a brief summary, and proposes a related classroom activity for students. The genres covered include picture books, fiction, and non-fiction. The topics covered include the elderly, family, gender and sexuality, religion, race, geography, socioeconomics, and more. The suggested activities include writing assignments, discussions, and presentations related to understanding different cultures and perspectives.
The document provides background information on author Mark Twain and analyzes his famous novel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". It outlines Twain's life, writings, themes in Huck Finn including racism and slavery, motifs in the book, and the controversy around its use of racial slurs. The summary notes that Twain had an adventurous life along the Mississippi River that inspired his writing, Huck Finn is considered an American classic though controversial for its portrayal of slavery, and Twain remains one of the most renowned authors.
This document provides a list of literature options for a multi-cultural literature portfolio organized by theme. For each entry, it lists the title, author, publisher, grade level appropriateness, a brief summary, and a suggested student activity. The themes covered include age, gender and sexuality, multi-cultural schools, religion, race and ethnicity, language and geography, and class and socio-economics. Suggested activities include written responses, oral discussions, research presentations, and picture essays. The goal is for students to engage with literature exploring various cultural experiences and perspectives.
This document summarizes challenges and bans of several famous novels in the United States due to themes around sexuality, profanity, violence and other topics deemed inappropriate by some communities and schools. Some of the books mentioned that faced bans or challenges include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and Our Bodies, Ourselves by the Boston Women's Health
This document summarizes challenges and bans of several famous novels in the United States due to themes around sexuality, profanity, and morality concerns. It notes that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been banned in many states due to its use of racial slurs, while Moby Dick was banned in Texas for perceived homoerotic themes. The Grapes of Wrath, Catcher in the Rye, and Fahrenheit 451 have all faced numerous challenges and bans for themes and language school districts deemed inappropriate. Later works like Howl and Other Poems and Our Bodies, Ourselves were controversial for their depictions of sexuality.
The document provides a list of literature options for a multi-cultural literature portfolio organized by theme. Each entry includes the title, author, publisher, grade level appropriateness, brief description of the book, and suggested student activity. Themes covered include age, gender and sexuality, multi-cultural schools, religion, race and ethnicity, language and geography, and class and socio-economics. Suggested activities include writing paragraphs, oral discussions, presentations, and creating picture essays.
This document provides a reading guide for the short story "Why We Left?" by Cuban-American author Ana Menendez. The story follows a couple who moved from northern Miami to the west after losing a baby. It explores their grief process and instability as they try to move on from the past. Menendez focuses on issues faced by immigrants in the US as they build new lives after leaving Cuba post-revolution. The guide includes a plot summary, character descriptions, analysis of themes and symbols, and biographical context on Menendez and the work's historical setting.
This document provides biographical information about Maya Angelou. It discusses her early life growing up in St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas, where she was raised by her grandmother. As a child, she experienced trauma from being raped by her mother's boyfriend. She did not speak for five years after the event. The document outlines her education and career as an actor, writer, poet, and civil rights activist. It discusses her roles in plays and films as well as her work with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights Movement. Overall, the document gives a high-level overview of Maya Angelou's life experiences and influential career as an author and activist.
This document provides an overview of the authors and readings for Week 2. It introduces several early American women writers who brought awareness to issues of gender inequality, including Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, and Emily Dickinson. It also discusses 20th century authors like Audre Lorde who addressed racism, sexism, and homophobia. The document provides biographies of Justin Torres, Maia Kobabe, Alice Walker, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to help students choose topics for their literary analysis essay. It raises questions about the definitions of "truth" in creative nonfiction.
The document provides brief biographies of several authors and their works:
- Edgar Allan Poe is known for macabre stories and poems and invented the modern short story form. His works show the dark side of the American Dream.
- Robert Frost is considered one of America's greatest poets. His poem "Mending Wall" touches on universal themes and challenges traditional ways of thinking.
- Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus established comics as a relevant genre and describes his father's experiences in the Holocaust.
- Henry David Thoreau advocated for civil disobedience and influenced later leaders like Gandhi and MLK Jr.
- Sandra Cisneros' work focuses on challenges faced
1. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
Subject Collection:
Bilingual Biography Books
1st-6; 2nd-7; 3rd-8; 4th-9; 5th-10
Medina, Tony. (2009). I and I: Bob Marley. New York: Lee and Low.
ISBN: 9781600602573
Price: $19.95
Grades 9-12
Reviews: Booklist (February 1, 2010); School Library Journal (December 1, 2006)
The biography of Jamaican born Bob Marley is told through poetry. This reggae singer promoted
peace, music and Rastafarian beliefs. The verse and color saturated paintings are evocative of
Marley's music and country. Details, dates and background information are included in extensive
notes.
Ancona, George. (2004). My house = Mi casa. New York : Children's Press.
ISBN: 9780516250656
Price: $20.00
Grades: K-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (May 1, 2005); Library Media Connection (April 1, 2005)
George Ancona has a historian’s sensibility with a storyteller’s heart, both of which are evident
in Mi casa/My house. Araceli Rodriguez and her family moved from Mexico and now live on a cattle ranch in
Oregon where they raise calves, sheep, goats and corn. She has three sisters and one brother. They all have chores
such as feeding their animals and sweeping the floors. Their lives are not perfect--one sister is deaf and another was
hurt in a car accident. Even so, they attend church together and work hard to support their family
business. Mi casa/My house is another fascinating story from the “Somos Latinos” series. A Rodriguez family
history, a map marking the locations of Spanish-speaking countries, and a general, world history of Latinos
involved in cattle ranching help to provide the reader with a broad historical framework to Araceli’s life. The text is
in both Spanish and English, with the Spanish text first.
Benatar, Raquel. (2003). Isabel Allende : Memories for a story = Recuerdos para un cuento.
Houston, Tex.: Arte Publico Press.
ISBN-13: 9781558853799
Price: $14.95
Grades: K-4
Reviews: Children's Literature (May 1, 2003); Kirkus Reviews (April 15, 2004)
A simple description of the childhood and youth of the Chilean author Isabel Allende.
Brown, Monica. (2004). My name is Celia : the life of Celia Cruz = Me Llamo Celia: la vida de
Celia Cruz. Flagstaff, Ariz.: Rising Moon.
ISBN: 9780873588720
Price: $15.95
Grades: K-3
Reviews: Multicultural Review (December 1, 2005); School Library Journal (January 1, 2005)
2. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
This bilingual book allows young readers to enter Celia Cruz's life as she becomes a well-known singer in her
homeland of Cuba, then moves to New York City and Miami where she and others create a new type of music called
salsa. Presents the life of popular salsa singer, Celia Cruz, an Afro-Cuban woman whose career brought her
through Mexico to the United States.
Brown, Monica. (2007). My Name Is Gabito : The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez = Me
Llamo Gabito : la Vida de Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Flagstaff, Ariz. : Luna Rising.
ISBN: 9780873589086
Price: $15.95
Grades: K-3
Reviews: Horn Book (April 1, 2008); School Library Journal starred (March 1, 2008)
Award-winning author Monica Brown presents My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a
bilingual English/Spanish picturebook about the brilliant and imaginative writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Following "Gabito" from childhood to adulthood, and his evolution from a dreaming boy to a great storyteller read
by millions, My Name is Gabito offers vibrant color illustrations by Raul Colon, featuring a visual texture to the
color distantly reminiscent of the swirls of a fingerprint. A wonderful multicultural
picturebook, My Name is Gabito features modestly involved text and is ideal for young readers who are just about
ready to enjoy chapter books. The flawless Spanish text alongside the English will also appeal to Spanish-language
students of all ages seeking to hone their skills and fluency.
Brown, Pam; Schloredt, Valerie. (2004). Martin Luther King : civil rights pioneer = pionero de
los derechos civiles. [San Diego] : Blackbirch Press.
ISBN: 9781410305060
Price: $27.45
Grades: 4-5
Reviews: Booklist (February 15, 2004); The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (April 1, 2005)
This is a bilingual (English/Spanish) biography of Martin Luther King, a minister who advocated and practiced
non-violent civil disobedience to protest prejudice, segregation, and discrimination based on color in the United
States. When Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat in 1955, King along with the others in the Montgomery
black community organized a bus boycott that launched King into a leadership role in the civil rights movement.
This book chronicles the civil rights movement from its beginning with the Montgomery bus boycott, the “Freedom
Rides” during the summer of 1961, the conflicts and church bombings in Birmingham, the 1963 March on
Washington where King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech, and King being honored with the 1964 Nobel
Peace Prize. The book ends with King’s assassination on April 4, 1968. On the last day of his
life, Martin Luther King had talked of change with peace and nonviolence. At the end of the book is a time line of
King’s life, a glossary of important terms used in the book, and an index.
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Abraham Lincoln = Lee sobre Abraham Lincoln.
Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780766026742
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (June 1, 2006); Multicultural Review (June 1, 2006)
3. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
These books are clearly organized, presenting one short chapter for each main area of the
subject's life-usually about four pages long. One or two paragraphs of large-type text and a
caption face a full-page, full-color photo, illustration, or reproduction. The sentences are to the
point and fairly clinical. Lincoln is the better of the two titles. Basic facts are related for children
beginning to show an interest in biographies, or for those doing simple reports. However, it's
unfortunate that the "important paper that freed the slaves" is not named, nor is its description
accurate. In the second book, the author sometimes attributes thoughts and feelings to his
subject.
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Cesar Chavez = Lee sobre Cesar Chavez. Berkeley
Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780766027442
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (June 1, 2006); Multicultural Review (June 1, 2006)
Chavez's experience
as a migrant farmworker after his family lost their land, and
King's experience of not being able to sit with his white
friends on the bus or in the movie theater, guided both to
struggle for justice.
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
These books are attractive but lack substantive information or any mention of the subjects'
awards or honors. This seems to be an especially noticeable omission when Feinstein neglects to
mention Dr. King's Nobel Peace Prize, and the text jumps from 1963 to 1968 on one page. Full-
page photographs or reproductions face each page of text and add to the information. The
glossaries, in the form of "Words to Know," are on the verso of the title page, a switch from the
usual placement, where it is more helpful to readers. Kathleen Krull's Harvesting Hope: The
Story of Cesar Chavez (Harcourt, 2003) and Doreen Rappaport's Martin's Big Words (Hyperion,
2001) capture the spiritual essence of these great Americans.
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Geronimo = Lee sobre Geronimo. Berkeley Heights, NJ :
Enslow Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780766025981
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (June 1, 2006); Multicultural Review (June 1, 2006)
Geronimo's happy childhood -- A terrible day -- Geronimo fights the Mexican army -- The
Apache lose their lands. Ceronimo returned to camp and. discoveredthat his mother, wife, and
4. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
children had been killed.
Distraught and angry, he led an attack against the Mexican
soldiers responsible and defeated them.
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Martin Luther King, Jr = Lee sobre Martin Luther King,
Jr. Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN: 0766027457
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: Criticas (June 1, 2006); School Library Journal (June 1, 2006)
Presents the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his birth, through his education and the early days of the civil
rights movement, until his death in 1968. Presents an examination of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., discussing
his childhood and early life in the South, his career as a minister, and his leadership during the civil rights
movement. Presented in English and Spanish.
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Sacagawea = Lee sobre Sacagawea . Berkeley Heights,
NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780766026742
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (June 1, 2006); School Library Journal (September 1, 2004)
These books are clearly organized, presenting one short chapter for each main area of the
subject's life-usually about four pages long. One or two paragraphs of large-type text and a
caption face a full-page, full-color photo, illustration, or reproduction. The sentences are to the
point and fairly clinical. Lincoln is the better of the two titles. Basic facts are related for children
beginning to show an interest in biographies, or for those doing simple reports. However, it's
unfortunate that the "important paper that freed the slaves" is not named, nor is its description
accurate. In the second book, the author sometimes attributes thoughts and feelings to his
subject. For example, after stating that Sacagawea's name means "Bird Woman," the text reads,
"Sacagawea wished that she could fly like a bird. Then she would be able to fly home." No
sources are listed to lend accuracy to these thoughts. Another point where a proper bibliography
would be helpful is when the author asserts that Sacagawea was abducted by the Minnetaree
tribe. Most sources use the name Hidatsa. The book's greatest flaw, however, is that it essentially
describes Sacagawea as nothing more than a translating maid for the Lewis and Clark
expedition. Other books for this reading level detail her skill as an ambassador, guide, navigator,
and occasional healer in addition to being a translating diplomat between the expedition
members and the tribes encountered. In both books, the illustrative material is handsome and
appropriately selected.
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
5. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
Feinstein, Stephen. (2006). Read about Tiger Woods = Lee sobre Tiger Woods. Berkeley Heights,
NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780766027435
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (June 1, 2006);
A short biography written in both English and Spanish about championship golfer, Tiger Woods.
And in the Tiger
Woods biography, Feinstein recounts how the 11-month-old
climbed out of his high chair to play with his toy golf club.
Young readers are exposed to the challenges these great
Americans faced and how those challenges shaped their lives
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
Griswold del Castillo, Richard. (2002). César Chávez : the struggle for justice = la lucha por la
justicia. Houston, Tex: Piñata Books.
ISBN: 9781558853249
Price: $14.95
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Booklist (December 15, 2002); Children's Literature (May 1, 2002)
A simple biography of the man who worked to win fairer treatment of the migrant farm workers in California in the
1960s and to establish the United Farm Workers union. César Chávez was a great organizer and believer in the
cause for fair wages and treatment for poor farm workers. He worked to help improve their lives. He organized the
first union among them and fought against the discrimination they suffered. He promoted non-violent protests and
was the first to call for a boycott against buying table grapes. The boycott was joined by millions of consumers.
Eventually an agreement was signed between the growers and the workers. He argued for legislation that protected
farm workers from violence and discrimination. Eventually this legislation was passed and was a model to other
states and the federal government. Griswold has an historic tale to tell to many children who have not been exposed
to the plight of the farm worker. However, the disjointed narrative Griswold writes leads to confusion about events.
The story about the strike could have been told simply without reliance on many dates and still have relayed the
facts. César has had a lasting influence on American labor and has a story worth telling.
Griswold del Castillo, Richard. (2010). César Chávez : The Struggle for Justice (La luncha por la
justicia). CD. 25:09 min. with paperback book. Live Oak Media.
ISBN: 9781430108344
Price: $18.95
Grades: 1-3
Multimedia Reviews: School Library Journal (November 1, 2010);
children's audio book, with accompanying print book. César Chávez and his fight for the rights of Hispanic
6. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
agricultural workers is an inspirational story about unity, justice, and perseverance. Richard Griswold del Castillo's
bilingual picture-book biography (Pinata Books, 2002) briefly examines the life of this Mexican-American leader,
including his first encounters with racism and his activism as an adult, with an emphasis on the use of nonviolent
methods to achieve his aims of organizing the United Farm Workers. Winner of a Carter G. Woodson Book Award,
the text is provided in both Spanish and English with crisp, colorful illustrations by Anthony Accardo. The CD has
three tracks--Spanish/English narration with page-turn signals, English narration (no page-turn signals), and
Spanish narration (no page-turn signals). Brian Armador reads the compelling text clearly and with power. Original
music with a Latin flavor accompanies the production. This would make an excellent listening center and provides
important insights into Hispanic civil rights.
Kirkpatrick, Rob. (2002). Jeff Gordon: NASCAR champion = campeón de NASCAR. New
York: PowerKids Press & Buenas Letras.
ISBN: 9780823961474
Price: $22.60
Grades: 3-4
Reviews: Library Talk (April 1, 2001); ()
Introduces Jeff Gordon, the NASCAR driver who won the Daytona 500 in 1999. Jeff Gordon is one of the winningest
drivers on the NASCAR circuit today, and one of the most recognizable sports personalities in America. He is the
winner of countless championships, including four Winston Cups, a record equaled only by racing legends Richard
Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Originally from Vallejo, California, he now lives in New York, Florida, North Carolina,
and at racetracks around the country.
Marks, Jennifer. (2010). President Barack Obama = Presidente Barack Obama. Mankato, MN :
Capstone Press.
ISBN: 9781429645942
Price: $21.32
Grades: K-3
Reviews: Children's Literature (February 1, 2011); Library Media Connection (October 1, 2010)
Early readers will enjoy this book. The font is big, the text simple and there are only one or two sentences on each
page. In addition, each page also has a photograph related to the content. There are a total of 353 words in the
book, making it easy reading for a beginning reader. The book includes a timeline that covers the events of Barack
Obamas’s life. It begins with his childhood, and continues through his early education, college activities, election
campaign and up to his election as the forty-fourth president of the United States. The end of the book includes a
fact page about Barack Obama and a president page, which lists all forty-four American presidents alongside their
terms of office.
Rivera-Marín, Guadalupe. (2009) My papá Diego and me : memories of my father and his art =
Mi papá Diego y yo : recuerdos de mi padre y su arte. San Francisco, Calif.: Childrens Book
Press.
ISBN: 9780892392216
Price: $17.95
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (October 1, 2009); Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2009)
Daughter of artist Diego Rivera, Guadalupe Rivera Marín uses her father’s paintings as the springboard for
providing glimpses of her childhood and information about her father’s life and the culture of Mexico. Thirteen of
Rivera’s paintings are discussed by Rivera Marín in a warm, inviting bilingual (English/Spanish) narrative. About
“Women Combing Their Hair,” she writes, “In this picture, a mother is braiding her daughter’s hair… Back then…
7. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
it wasn’t just uncommon to wear your hair long and loose. It was scandalous!” Writing about “Orange,” in which
she is the subject, she says, “When my father was painting this picture, he gave me an orange to help keep me still…
He got really annoyed with me because I ate the orange before he finished the painting!” A handful of small
photographs accompany the introduction and endnotes of this lively volume.
Guadalupe Rivera Marín, the daughter of acclaimed Mexican artist Diego Rivera, reveals a little-known side of her
father through some of his most evocative work. "The book is not so much about Diego Rivera as it is about the
theme of childhood in his work and Guadalupe's reminiscences," says Dana Goldberg, executive editor at Children's
Book Press. "She has led a very interesting life even apart from her relationship with her father, but she has so many
memories tied up in these paintings. They were done when she was very young, but she still has strong memories of
modeling for him." Rivera Marín selected paintings that best represented her father's portrayals of children and
childhood, including many portraits of herself and her sister, to accompany her touching, personal
recollections. Her prose is offered in a bilingual edition that her publishers hope has broad appeal. "It was a
privilege to hear her," says Goldberg."She's so warm and has the most amazing sense of humor. Our books always
take a lot of work and care, but this was an effort on a whole new level for us.
Tafolla, Carmen; Teneyuca, Sharyll. (2008). That's not fair! : Emma Tenayuca's struggle for
justice = No es justo! : la lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia. San Antonio, Tex. : Wings
Press.
ISBN: 9780916727338
Price: $17.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Booklist (July 1, 2008); School Library Journal (March 1, 2009)
Before there was Cesar Chávez, there was Emma Tenayuca. This bilingual (Spanish/English) biography about little
known Emma Tenayuca’s struggle on behalf of Texas pecan shellers who were some of the lowest paid laborers in
the nation is well told by Emma’s niece Ms. Teneyuca and Dr. Tafolla. As is always the case involving unjust causes,
the poor peasants were oppressed Mexican Americans. Most of them were Texans of several generations, unlike the
many members of the current immigration problem who are mainly illegal residents. In the 1920s and 1930s these
pecan shellers worked in deplorable circumstances: twelve hour days, seven days a week, for as little as six cents
per pound of pecans shelled. Furthermore, most of these workers were women. They breathed the pecan dust when
working in closed quarters which made them sick. In 1938 their wages were cut in half and that was when they
found in Ms. Tenayuca a champion for their cause. Emma cared enough to organize a strike and eventually the
salaries were raised. Emma became a voice of hope. The illustrations by muralist Ybáñez have a decidedly Tex-Mex
feel. Every page is framed by a tree and branches making for very attractive double spreads. This biography is
perfect for use in the school curriculum. This is also recommended for public libraries. It is nice to have other
biographies of social reformers besides the well known ones on Cesar Chávez.
Winter, Jonah. (1991). Diego. New York: Random House.
ISBN-13: 978-0679856177
Price: $12.99
Grades: K-4
Reviews: Book Links (January 1, 2006); School Library Journal (January 1, 1992)
This story of Diego Rivera, the greatest muralist of Mexico--and of the world--is told in Spanish and English.
Vibrant miniature paintings convey the sense of adventure and magic that marked Rivera's early years. And the
story shows how his passion for painting and love for his country combined to make a powerful art celebrating the
Mexican people. Discusses the childhood of Diego Rivera and how it influenced his art.
Winter, Jonah. (2009). Sonia Sotomayor : a judge grows in the Bronx = la juex que creció en el
Bronx. New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers
8. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
ISBN: 9781442403031
Price: $16.99
Grades: K-3
Reviews: School Library Journal (January 1, 2010); Publisher's Weekly (November 1, 2009)
Born and raised in a poor neighborhood of the South Bronx, Sotomayor has just become the first Latina Supreme
Court justice, and this timely, accessible picture-book biography, which features both English and Spanish text on
every page, brings Sotomayor’s exciting rags-to-riches story to young readers. The exclamatory tone is sometimes
too much (“Oh, how Sonia’s mother loved her!”). But Winter lets the small details convey the drama, which is
amplified in the mixed-media illustrations in warm shades of red and brown. Growing up with her loving, single-
parent mom in a family that surrounded Sonia “like a warm blanket,” Sotomayor was a big reader as a child and
wanted to be Nancy Drew. After being diagnosed with diabetes, she had to learn to accept her physical limits, but
she graduated at the top of her high-school class and then at the top of her Princeton class. She felt different from
her privileged classmates, and kids of all backgrounds will recognize the universal emotions and experiences of
trying to fit in. A long author’s note fills in more biographical detail.
Weintraub, Aileen. (2006). Read about George Washington = Lee sobre George Washington.
Berkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Publishers.
ISBN: 9780766026735
Price: $21.26
Grades: 1-5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (February 1, 2006); School Library Journal (June 1, 2006)
As the first President of the United States of America, George Washington holds an important place in history. The
reader is taken briefly through Washington's life as he grows up on a farm in Verginia, serves in two wars, and
becomes President of a new nation. The book ends by discussing how we remember George Washington now, one
way being the Washington Monument. This entire book is bilingual, with English words written on the top of the
page and Spanish on the bottom. It is part of the "I Like Biographies! Bilingual!" series. Each page of words is
followed by a page with a piece of artwork and a description under it, first in English, then Spanish. Almost all of
this artwork comes from the Library of Congress. This book has an obvious connection to history, but would work
very well in integrating art to history. The readers are exposed to different works of art, but they are placed in a
simple and understandable context for younger students to benefit from. The book was originally written in 2004 in
English, but this is the first edition of the bilingual
Each of the eye-catching volumes includes color photos, a
time line, a map, Internet addresses for further research, a
glossary, and an index
371.87
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Ancona, George. (2004). My neighborhood = Mi barrio. New York : Children's Press.
ISBN: 9780516236896
Price: $20.00
Grades: K-3
Reviews: School Library Journal (May 1, 2005); Library Media Connection (April 1, 2005)
Presents a study of barrios written in both English and Spanish that follows Marc as he discusses his heritage, the
neighborhood in Brooklyn where he lives, his sister and their friends, and some of the things they do after school.
In MI BARRIO=MY NEIGHBORHOOD Marc Anthony tells his story about life in the Bushwick neighborhood of
Brooklyn. His parents emigrated from Puerto Rico. The feature for this story is about murals and the part art plays in
9. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
the community. The story also highlights the market place and foods. This series would be very useful in a bilingual
or ESL classroom since both English and Spanish text are used. The books also give the children an opportunity to
see other children like themselves and to learn more about their own culture. But their use should not be limited to
bilingual and ESL classrooms. It is important that regular classrooms have bilingual books and books depicting
cultures of all the students.
Ancona, George. (2004). My family = Mi familia. New York : Children's Press.
ISBN-13: 9780516236872
Price: $20.00
Grades: K-3
Reviews: School Library Journal (May 1, 2005); Library Media Connection (April 1, 2005)
Camila, a young girl, describes her life in Miami with her Cuban mother and Puerto Rican father, and introduces the
members of her extended family who have come to her home for her little brother's birthday party. Presented in
English and Spanish.
families that have immigrated to the United States from a Latin American country. The children in the family tell
their stories in first person. The text is presented in both Spanish and English. In the back of each book is a brief
history of the family told by the parent(s), a map showing the journey from the home country to the US, a dictionary
of Spanish/English words used in the story, a special feature that related to the story, and author information and
photos. In MI FAMILIO=MY FAMILY, the readers share her brother’s birthday. All the members of the family come
over--aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. You can tell the family is large by the two birthday cakes in the
picture. There is a photo of all the family together. They also get together on Sundays. Everyone loves music, and all
play a musical instrument during their Sunday afternoon get-togethers. Camila’s mother is from Cuba and her father
from Puerto Rico.
Gonzales Bertrand, Diane. (2007). Ricardo's Race = la Carrera de Ricardo. Houston, Tex. : Arte
Publico Press.
ISBN: 9781558854819
Price: $15.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Kirkus Reviews (May 1, 2007); Multicultural Review (December 1, 2007)
An illustrated biography of Ricardo Romo; discussing his childhood, family, education, love of running, wife, and
career as president of the University of Texas in San Antonio. Presented in English and Spanish.
This direct and heartwarming biography follows the life of Ricardo Romo from his boyhood in San Antonio, Texas,
as the son of small grocers, through his hard work and successes as a high-school and university athlete and into his
adult life as a schoolteacher, professor and university president. Focusing both on family love and responsibilities,
and his school successes and disappointments (his junior-high counselor suggested he not attend a college-
preparatory high school), Bertrand portrays a boy and young man always ready to contribute to his family or team
and prepared to push himself as far as he can. Accardo's old-fashioned and realistic artwork suits the time period—
the 1940s through the 1960s—with rich colors and strong, simple lines, reminiscent of those in coloring books. Both
English and Spanish texts are smooth, inviting and squarely aimed at young readers
Brown, Monica. (2010). Side by side : the story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez = Lado a
lado : la historia de Dolores Huerta y César Chávez. New York : Rayo.
ISBN: 9780061227813
Price: $16.99
Grades: K-3
Reviews: Booklist (November 1, 2010); School Library Journal (November 1, 2010)
10. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez were two instrumental individuals who helped fight for the rights of farm workers
and their children. In this bilingual book, the beginnings of their activism are presented in a straightforward and
child friendly text. The accompanying illustrations are a superb supplement to the biographical account of these two
crusaders. Huerta and Chavez’s initial meeting and 30 year joint venture for the betterment of working conditions
and wages for farm workers in the United States is the focus of the nonfictional story. Standing side by side their
passion and courage brought about these changes and it was no easy feat. The legendary 340 mile California march
along with Chavez’s 36 day hunger strike is presented for young readers to understand the sacrifices made by both
individuals. The English and Spanish text includes a note to parents and teachers as well as quotes from each leader.
This book would be an asset to any bilingual classroom or library media center.
Herrera, Juan Felipe. (1995). Calling the doves = El canto de las palomas story. San Francisco,
Calif. : Children's Book Press.
ISBN: 9780892391325
Price: $14.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: School Library Journal (February 1, 1996); Booklist (January 1, 1996)
A bilingual story in English and Spanish in which the author recalls his childhood in the mountains and valleys of
California with his Mexican-American migrant farmworker parents who inspired him with poetry and song
The author recalls his childhood in the mountains and valleys of California with his Mexican American migrant
farmworker parents who inspired him with poetry and song
In lyrical and imagistic prose, prominent Mexican American poet Juan Felipe Herrera has written a bilingual memoir
of his childhood as the beloved son of migrant farmworkers traveling from harvest to harvest in a truck towing their
little square loaf house along the roads winding through the mountains and valleys of California. Embraced by the
love of his family, Herrera was set on his own road to becoming a writer. "As the cities came into view, I knew one
day I would follow my own road. I would let my voice fly the way my mother recited poems, the way my father
called the doves." Composed in the style of robust murals, Simmons' lushly colored, creamy illustrations pulsate
with a multitude of images as they chart the landscapes of Herrera's childhood heartland. Certainly a welcome
alternative to the usually bleak portrayal of the migrant farmworker experience, this is an inspirational self-portrait
of a loving Latino family. A poetic picture-book memoir that will add beauty to any literature, Latino culture, or
biography collection.
Herrera, Juan Felipe. (2000). The upside down boy = El niño de cabeza. San Francisco, Calif. :
Children's Book Press.
ISBN-13: 9780892391622
Price: $15.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Horn Book Magazine (September 1, 2000); Multicultural Review (June 1, 2000)
Herrera's free-verse poems sing with a unique voice in both languages, his playfulness and imagination conveying
humor, lyricism, love, and hope. Gómez's enchanting illustrations are reminiscent of Chagall's paintings: colorful
and ethereal. . . . Not only a valuable asset for bilingual classrooms and families, The Upside Down Boy pays
homage to an inspiring teacher and offers a testimony of hope for children struggling to find their own place."
This exuberant bilingual picture book chronicles Juanito’s experience of finding his feet in a new place and his voice
in a new language. In a brief introductory note, Herrera (author of Calling the Doves, BCCB 12/95) explains that
when he was eight years old, his mother decided it was time for the family to give up their nomadic life as
campesinos (field workers) and settle down in the city so he could go to school. Juanito’s understandable anxieties at
this move are poignant and poetic; since he does not yet speak English, he especially worries about the language gap
and wonders, “Will my tongue turn into a rock?” The sometimes surreal acrylic illustrations successfully convey
11. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
Juanito’s nervous excitement as well as the disorientation he expresses when he later describes himself (after
mistakenly eating his lunch during recess time) as “the upside down boy.” In time, however, Juanito rights himself,
thanks to his parents’ appreciation of both their native Spanish and their acquired English and thanks to Juanito’s
young teacher, who praises his first poem and his singing voice. A happy ending that reads the same in both English
and Spanish (“
475.71
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Gleiter, Jan; Thompson, Kathleen. (1989). Hernando de Soto. Milwaukee : Raintree Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780817229030
Price: $21.40
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Publishers Weekly (July 18, 1994); Children’s Literature (January 1, 1994)
A biography of the Spanish explorer who led the first European expedition to reach the
Mississippi River, explored in what is now Florida, and took part in the Spanish conquest of the
Inca Empire.
Chrisman sheds some light on the life of de Soto, the Spanish explorer who led the conquest of
the Inca nation and later served as the governor of Cuba. A valuable resource for social studies.
Part of the "Hispanic Stories" series, the text is printed in Spanish and English.
Ancona, George. (2004). My school = Mi escuela. New York : Children's Press.
ISBN-13: 9780516236865
Price: $20.00
Grades: K-3
Reviews: School Library Journal (May 1, 2005); Library Media Connection (April 1, 2005)
Christopher, a fifth-grade student whose father came from El Salvador and mother from Guatemala, describes some
of the things he and his friends do in school. Presented in English and Spanish.
describes Christopher Alonzo participating in typical activities in his fifth grade Los Angeles classroom. The book’s
many appealing colorful photos enhance and expand its brief bilingual text. Each page of text begins with a Spanish
paragraph, followed by the English translation and small photos and reproductions of children’s drawings. A large
related photo takes up the opposing page. Christopher lives with his father, who came from El Salvador, his mother,
who came from Guatemala, and his younger brother. Photos and text show Christopher arriving at school, doing
math problems, playing at recess, reading, eating lunch, drawing scientific diagrams, celebrating Halloween, and
playing the flute. A page near the end of the book presents the family histories of Christopher’s parents, followed by
a map showing their past journeys and present location. The first person narrative, told from Christopher’s and then
from his parent’s perspective, adds to the book’s sense of reality and vitality. In spite of the book’s brevity, the skillful
interweaving of this conversational text with stunning photos helps the reader get to know and appreciate
Christopher, his family and school. This book does a wonderful job of celebrating both the diversity and unity of the
Latino experience. A glossary, and a page of background information on Central America are included.
Lee, Sally. (2011). Eleanor Roosevelt. Primeras Damas/First Ladies Series. Mankato, Minn. :
Capstone Press.
ISBN-13: 9781429661126
Price: $17.99
Grades: 3-5
12. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
Reviews: Library Media Connection (March 1, 2011); The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews
(Vol. 23, No. 4)
Text and photographs describe the life of the popular First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, and describes her childhood,
education, private life, and years of public service. Written in English and Spanish.
Eleanor Roosevelt was born in 1884 to a very wealthy family, but she was a very shy child. Her parents died while
she was very young, and at age eight she went to live with her grandmother, who was very strict. Later, she went to a
boarding school in England. There she became more self-confident and was a very good student. Eleanor married
her distant cousin, Franklin Roosevelt, in 1905, and they had six children. Franklin was elected the President of the
United States in 1933, and Eleanor began to help the millions of people that were in need of jobs, homes, and food.
She was very active in helping the poor and underprivileged across the country. Then World War II broke out, and
again she went to the aid of people that needed help. In 1945, Franklin died, and Eleanor missed him very much.
She worked for several years after his death for the United Nations. She worked to get rights for people all across
the world so that they could have personal freedoms. She died in 1962 and is still remembered today for her hard
work for other people that were less fortunate than she. The photographs throughout the book are in black and
white and express the seriousness of Eleanor’s life. She worked hard and did much to make the country a better
place for many people. She was not afraid to speak out against the way that African-Americans were being treated.
Many people did not like the way she tried to get things changed. The simple text and bold pictures of Eleanor’s life
remind readers of how she thought actions were much more important than just sitting at home. A time line
continues through the book on each page. Events are added as the story of her life unfolds. Eleanor’s history is not
dull or dry. Readers will be stirred by her energy and endurance to get things changed during her lifetime. This will
make a great biography to add to any collection. It can also be used as a good starting place to begin a love for
history and famous people that have helped change our country into a great nation. The added information section
at the end will give students additional places to go for more material on Mrs. Roosevelt.
Raatman, Lucia. (2011). Michelle Obama. Primeras Damas/First Ladies Series. Mankato, Minn. :
Capstone Press.
ISBN: 9781429661102
Price: $23.99
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Library Media Connection (March 1, 2011); Children’s Literature (January 1, 2011)
Some of the interesting facts presented about Michelle Obama include her leaving her law firm job due job
dissatisfaction and her wanting to help people, the planting of a vegetable garden in the White House, and her
crusade to get others to volunteer in their communities. Accompanying the photographs and the bilingual text is a
timeline of events in the life of the First Lady. The translations are suitable for young readers and the text is
simplistic enough for either language learner. The biography includes a table of contents, glossary,
Raatman, Lucia. (2011). Jacqueline Kennedy. Primeras Damas/First Ladies Series. Mankato,
Minn.: Capstone Press.
ISBN: 9781429661119
Price: $23.99
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Library Media Connection (March 1, 2011); Children’s Literature (January 1, 2011)
Young Spanish and English readers will learn about the life of Jacqueline Kennedy in this “First Ladies” series
from the Pebble Bilingual plus collection of four titles. In this feature interesting facts about one of the most popular
13. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
first ladies include her ability to speak three languages, being the first lady to catalog all of the artwork in the White
House, her Vassar college education, and her notable newspaper reporting and editorial skills. The twenty-four
pages include a table of contents, glossary, Internet sites, and an index. Along with the factual information is a
timeline of her Jacqueline Kennedy’s life along with photographs of the former first lady. Other first ladies included
in this series are Martha Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Michelle Obama. Bilingual readers will get a succinct
overview on the life of this first lady. This biography makes a suitable addition to a library collection or classroom
library.
588.07
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Lee, Sally. (2011). Laura Bush. Primeras Damas/First Ladies Series. Mankato, Minn. : Capstone
Press.
ISBN: 9781429653251
Price: $23.99
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Library Media Connection (March 1, 2011); Children’s Literature (January 1, 2011)
A celebration of amazing women and the ways they worked to improve life in the United States.
Striking photos and simple text give readers an up-close look at First Ladies who helped shape
the country. A time line integrated at the bottom of each spread captures important events,
culminating in a complete summary on the final page.
Lee, Sally. (2011). Martha Washington. Primeras Damas/First Ladies Series. Mankato, Minn. :
Capstone Press.
ISBN: 9781429661133
Price: $23.99
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Library Media Connection (March 1, 2011); Children’s Literature (January 1, 2011)
Text and photographs describe the life of Martha Washington, the first woman to hold the
position of First Lady of the United States. Written in English and Spanish.
The founding first lady of the United States, Martha Washington, is the feature of this four “First Ladies” Pebble
Plus bilingual series. The other first ladies in this series include: Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, and
Michelle Obama. In this simplistic but informative bilingual text, young readers will get a great overview of the life
and accomplishments of Martha Washington. Some of the interesting facts presented for bilingual readers are her
previous marriage, her kindness, affluent upbringing, and also being called Lady Washington by the people of the
nation. The Spanish translations are suitable and simplistic for either language learner. Accompanying the bilingual
text are paintings and illustrations to coincide with the information. In addition, a timeline of events is found
throughout the biographical pages. This book includes a table of contents, glossary, Internet sites, and an index.
This book makes a suitable addition to a library collection or bilingual classroom library.
Stewart, Mark. (2002). Latino baseball's hottest hitters = Los mejores bateadores del béisbol latino. Brookfield,
Conn. : Twenty-first century books.
ISBN: 9780761325673
Price: $26.90
Grades: 4-5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (September 1, 2002); VOYA (October 1, 2002)
14. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
A history of Latino baseball players in the United States, including individual biographies of star
players, with a focus on fielders. Presented in Spanish and English.
The "Dual Language Sports Books" series features a bilingual format, with Spanish and English
text on facing pages. Hottest Hitters explains the beginnings of baseball as a popular sport in
the United States and how those from Latin American countries became involved. Racism of the
time and its effects on the game are also discussed. Pioneer hitters are profiled, and career
biographies include Bobby Abreu, Moises Alou, Jose Cruz Jr., and Carlos Delgado. Eight hitters
are profiled in a similar Ones to Watch section. Pages are thoroughly filled with text, color
photographs, fact boxes, and quotations. Curriculum connections to U.S. and world history are
possible, and use in ESL and Spanish classrooms is feasible. Although the information contained
will quickly become dated, these books written in sports lingo will surely appeal to English- and
Spanish-speaking baseball fans and reluctant readers. Dual Language Sports Books (Un Libro
Deportivo en Ingles y Español).
Ancona, George. (2004). My friends = Mis amigos. New York : Children's Press.
ISBN-13: 9780516236902
Price: $20.00
Grades: K-3
Reviews: School Library Journal (May 1, 2005); Library Media Connection (April 1, 2005)
Part of the “Somos Latinos” bilingual Spanish/English series, this title shows Amelia Moyer Perez engaging with a
variety of friends in a variety of activities. Amelia, who seems to be around nine years old, lives with her older
brother, her Dominican-American mother, and is visited by her European-American father. The book’s many
appealing photos enhance and expand its brief bilingual text. Each page of text begins with a Spanish paragraph,
followed by an English translation and small photos and reproductions of children’s drawings. A large related photo
takes up all of the opposing page. Photos and text show Amelia, her family and many friends of both sexes and a
variety of ethnicities and ages, interacting in many different activities: drawing, fixing breakfast at school, building
sandcastles, playing basketball, climbing trees, dressing up like fairies and reading in bed. A page near the end of the
book presents the family history of Amelia’s mother, followed by a map showing her journey from the Dominican
Republic to California. The first person narrative, told from Amelia’s and then her mother’s perspective, adds to the
book’s sense of reality and vitality. In spite of the book’s brevity, the skillful interweaving of this conversational text
with stunning photos helps the reader to get to know and appreciate Amelia, her family and friends, and their
activities. This book does a wonderful job of celebrating both the diversity and unity of the Latino experience.
******De Anda, Diane. (2001). Dancing Miranda = Baila, Miranda, Baila. Houston, Tex. : Piñata Books.
ISBN: 9781558853249
Price: $14.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Children’s Literature; The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 4)
Miranda, a young Hispanic-American girl dances with grace and enthusiasm everywhere she can. Soon she must
dance in front of hundreds of people, including the mayor, to celebrate Children's Day. One day Miranda is upset
after overhearing her mother talking to her dance instructor about how her mother's poliomyelitis prevented her from
dancing as a girl. Miranda must overcome her sorrow in order to rehearse and dance successfully on that special day.
The text appears in both Spanish and English on each page. The artist uses a rich, warm palette to echo the closeness
between mother and daughter. The story provides an empathetic view of a physical handicap and how one person's
gift can enrich others. The illustrations are very appropriate for the story. The illustrator does a
tremendous job of capturing the mood of the characters in a very realistic way. All of the
15. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
illustrations are colorful and hold the attention of the reader.
Stewart, Mark. (2002). Latino baseball's finest fieldersSpanish text by Manuel Kalmanovitz =
Los más destacados guantes del béisbol latino. Brookfield, Conn. : Millbrook Press.
ISBN: 9780761317494
Price: $26.90
Grades: 4-5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (September 1, 2002); VOYA (October 1, 2002)
This is a terrific sports-book idea, because it gives young Latino fans some heroes to root for and a list of up-and-
coming players to watch--and it does so in both Spanish and English. The stories of Nomar Garciaparra, Javy Lopez,
Ivan Rodriguez, Roberto Alomar and other hot-gloved players are told bilingually, on facing pages, which gives
Hispanic-American kids a chance to practice their Spanish reading skills. The authors also provide an interesting
introduction to the ways the sport caught on in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other countries--and reminds kids
that from 1871 to 1947, fewer than four dozen Latino ballplayers made the majors because of the color bar. In
addition, the book explains that the game is played differently in the Latino culture, which focuses more on strategy
and stylish defense than swinging for the fence or pursuing no-hitters.
Treviño Hart, Elva. (1999). Barefoot heart : stories of a migrant child. Tempe, Ariz. : Bilingual Press/Editorial
Bilingüe.
ISBN: 9780927534819
Price: $17.00
Grades: 5
Reviews: English Education (July 1, 2002); VOYA (December 1, 1999)
I am nobody. And my story is the same as a million others.... Poor Mexican-American.... Some of us grow up and
move to cities. Others of us stay. I don't know which is better." With this introduction, Hart lures the reader into a
journey through her childhood. Seven children and a life of poverty has drained her Ama (mother), leaving no
strength for expressions of love for little Elva. Apa (father), strong and hard-working, expects the same from his
children, but he also has a dream for them--a high school diploma. He will not keep them in the fields when school
starts in the fall; each summer they return, literally, to the wrong side of the tracks in their segregated Texas town for
the first day of school. Hart paints an extraordinarily clear picture of a shy little girl, playing at the edge of a field all
alone, waiting for the signal to bring water to her family. Reminiscent of The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez,
(University of New Mexico Press, 1997), Barefoot Heart carries the reader deep into the heart and soul of her
Mexican-American migrant family. Quiet dignity, stoic acceptance, longing, and fear radiate from the pages. Hart
fulfilled her father's dream and more, earning a master's degree in computer science/engineering. Her story is the
triumph of a soul.
Lomas Garza, Carmen. (1990). Family pictures paintings = Cuadros de familia / cuadros. San Francisco, Calif. :
Children's Book Press.
ISBN: 9780892390502
Price: $12.95
Grades: K-3
Reviews: Kirkus Reviews (October 1, 1990); The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
(October 1, 1990)
Not a picture book, this is instead an album of paintings accompanied by explanatory captions. Drawn from the
artist's memories of growing up in a small Texas town, the paintings are naively styled, straightforward depictions of
what life was like in her Hispanic community: celebrating a birthday, picking cactus, making tamales, going to
16. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
church. This would be nostalgic but for the specificity of the images and memories: "This is my grandparents'
backyard. My grandmother is killing a chicken for dinner. My grandfather is in the chicken coop trying to catch
another chicken. Later, my family will sit down to eat Sunday dinner--chicken soup." The painting shows
grandmother calmly breaking a chicken's neck while one surprised child spills his snowcone. Another shows people
playing "cakewalk," a musical-chairs game "to raise money to send Mexican Americans to the university." The
paintings are filled with small patterns and details, with each leaf and blade of grass sharply defined. The flat
perspective iconographically places the activities on a two-dimensional plane that gives each scene a formalized
dignity. This is an honest portrayal of a culture rarely seen in children's books, and (more important as far as
children are concerned) every page offers a lot to look at. The text is in both English and Spanish.
Brown, Monica. (2009) Pelé, king of soccer = Pelé, el rey del fútbol. New York : Rayo.
ISBN: 006122779X
Price: $17.99
Grades: 2-5
Reviews: Booklist (November 15, 2008); Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2008)
The life of Pelé, “King of Soccer,” begins in a town in Brazil, where he has to work hard to help his poor family. He
plays soccer with his friends and with his father, promising his father to win a World Cup for him and for Brazil
some day. At fifteen, Pelé is invited to join a professional team; at seventeen he plays in the World Cup final and
fulfills his vow. Pelé helps win two more World Cups for Brazil, and becomes the first player to score a thousand
goals. The tale is told clearly and succinctly in both languages. Visualized in mixed media on double pages teeming
with additional images from life, the story’s impression is one of intense, fluid color. Shapes flow into bands of
decorations across the pages with pictures of Pelé in action dominating his teammates and crowds as he races after a
ball or kicks a pass. From the expanding spiral on the jacket to the end of his famous “bicycle kick,” emotions are
kept at high pitch.
Gleiter, Jan; Thompson, Kathleen. (1989). Marti, Jose. Milwaukee : Raintree Publishers.
ISBN-13: 9780817229061
Price: $21.40
Grades: 5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (January 1, 1994); Publishers Weekly (July 18, 1994);
Jailed and exiled many times for his work and writings, Martí founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party and dedicated
himself to Cuba's fight for independence from Spanish rule. Dual English/Spanish text that highlights the
contribution of this famous leader make this text a valuable resource for social studies.
A biography of the Cuban patriot, author, and journalist, who dedicated his life to Cuba's struggle for independence
from Spain.
794.14
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Brown, Monica. (2005). My name is Gabriela : the life of Gabriela Mistral = Me llamo Gabriela : la vida de
Gabriela Mistral. Flagstaff, Ariz. : Luna Rising,
ISBN: 9780873588591
Price: $15.95
Grades: 4-5
Reviews: Multicultural Review (Spring 2006); School Library Journal (February 2006)
Gabriela Mistral, was the name Lucía Godoy Alcayaga gave herself because she liked the sound of it. Mistral loved
words, teaching, and learning. She was the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. In
17. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
this quiet and poetic picture book, we learn through Parra’s imaginative illustrations and Brown’s prose what her life
was like. Not many children’s books deal with Nobel Prize winners in this manner, but this is an exquisite picture
book biography. The palette, though subdued, richly conveys bygone times. The text is in both English and Spanish.
Lomas Garza, Carmen. (1996). In my family : paintings and stories = En mi Familia : cuadros y relatos. San
Francisco, CA : Children's Book,
ISBN-13: 9780892391639
Price: $16.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Book Links (March 1, 2004); Horn Book Magazine (November 1, 1996)
The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her experiences growing up in an Hispanic community in
Texas.
Following the best-selling Family Pictures, In My Family/En mi familia is Carmen Lomas Garza's continuing tribute
to the family and community that shaped her childhood and her life. Lomas Garza's vibrant paintings and warm
personal stories depict memories of growing up in the traditional Mexican-American community of her hometown
of Kingsville, Texas.
The author describes, in bilingual text and illustrations, her experiences growing up in an Hispanic community in
Texas.
843.99
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Winter, Jonah. (2002). Frida. New York : Arthur A. Levine Books.
ISBN-13: 9780590203203
Price: $16.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Booklist (March 1, 2002); Parents Guide (Fall 2002)
Drawing saves her from being sad. . . . Instead of crying, she paints herself crying." This picture-
book biography of Frida Kahlo is about the great Mexican painter who transformed her
childhood illness and catastrophic injury into art. While the quiet words tell of the struggle with
polio that kept Kahlo bedridden for months ("That's when Frida teaches herself how to draw")
and of the bus accident that left her always in pain, brilliantly colored, acrylic illustrations, in
Mexican folk-art style, show the imaginary animals and mythical creatures that kept her
company. One powerful double-page spread is like a fairy tale with the young maiden caught in
the thorny branches of a tree spreading across the night sky. The author's note at the end refers to
Kahlo's marriage to Diego Rivera, but the focus here is on her youth and her roots. It's great that
there's no heavy message. It's the magic realism that shows and tells the richness of the inner life
that makes the painter strong and beautiful.
Children will be fascinated by life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo as presented in this stunning picture book
biography that blends lush, highly charged art evocative of Kahlo's own work with a spare, understated narrative.
Despite its restraint, the text delivers a bounty of information about Kahlo in short, beautifully weighted sentences
that convey more than mere fact: "For little Frida, the world is Mexico." Kahlo was plagued by illness as a child. As
a young adult, she was terribly injured in a bus accident. Art began as her diversion from loneliness and pain. It grew
into a spiritual, soul-deep need that illustrator Ana Juan has captured in her fanciful, haunted paintings for this
striking book. Both playful and frightening, they convey Kahlo's escape from physical trauma through her incredibly
rich life of the mind, which in turn inspired the artwork she created. A brief author's note provides additional
information on Kahlo's life, such as her marriage to Diego Rivera, to supplement a narrative that focuses on the
relationship of this singular artist to her art.
18. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
860.94
--
Davila Martinez, Diana. (2003). A school named for someone like me = Una escuela con un
nombre como el mío. Houston, Tex. : Piñata Books.
ISBN-13: 9781558853348
Price: $7.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Catholic Library World (Jun 1, 2006); School Library Journal (May 1, 2005)
This book presents a moving tribute to the author’s brother, Jaime Dávila, who became a role model for many in the
community where he grew up. Readers are given a brief history of the Dávila family, their immigration to the United
States from Mexico in the 1950s, and the childhood of the author and her brother. In spite of occasional boyhood
rebellions, Jaime continuously strove to make his parents proud. He excelled in baseball, karate, public speaking,
and academics. He also understood the importance of volunteering in community projects. He not only went on to
graduate from Harvard but he later earned a law degree from the University of Texas Law School. Over the course
of the book, astute readers might pick up on the fact that Jaime is always mentioned in the past tense and thereby
realize that something unfortunate happened. In fact, the author does relate the sad news that her brother drown
during a tubing trip down a river with some lawyer friends. But she uses her brother’s successes to encourage
children, especially those in Hispanic communities, to put as much effort as they can into their own educational
efforts. Because of Jaime’s drive to use his education for the betterment of his community, a scholarship and an
elementary school were named after him. This book would be an excellent tool for demonstrating to students that
everyone is capable of achieving their goals through hard word and dedication
868.89
Ancona, George. (1994). The piñata maker = El piñatero. San Diego : Harcourt Brace
ISBN-13: 9780152000608
Price: $16.95
Grades: 2-5
Reviews: Booklist (February 15, 1994); Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 1994)
In lucid color photos and a simple bilingual text, the work of 77-year-old Don Ricardo ("Tio Rico"), a Mexican
craftsman who "started creating pÞatas fifteen years ago when...making felt sombreros became too hard for him."
Beginning with a small boy delivering some of Tio Rico's materials (old newpapers and paper bags), Ancona leads
into a detailed depiction of making of an unusual swan pÞata. Forming a shape of cardboard and banana leaves,
incorporating a clay pot, and applying decorative covering are all explained so clearly -- in both the text and the
admirable photos -- that readers will be able to follow up by making their own pÞatas (Ancona also offers some
alternative construction methods). Creating a couple of other shapes and a party where one of them meets its
intended end round out an attractive presentation.
Don Riendo has been the pinata maker of a small village in Mexico for fifteen years. Even now at 77 years of age
the children still love him and invite him to nearly all of the parties. From the beautiful photographs and the
informative text we get a glimpse of how pinatas are made and how they are enjoyed by the children at parties in a
Mexican village.
885.84
----
901.79
--
19. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
Benatar, Raquel. (2009). Yes, You Can Too!/¡Tú también puedes!: The Life of Barack Obama/La vida de Barack
Obama. Englewood, N.J. : Laredo Pub.
ISBN: 9781564923653
Price: $16.95
Grades: 5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (September 1, 2010); School Library Journal (September 1, 2010)
follows Obama's life from his somewhat turbulent childhood to his election as the first African-American President
of the United States. The focus is on his rising above personal challenges stemming from a fragmented family life to
develop self-confidence, gathering strength from those close to him, and in being successful in school. The author
also explores how Obama's passion for helping others developed over time into a desire to make a difference in the
world. An expert on biographical illustration, Levitas uses watercolor and pencil illustrations, mostly in earth tones
and shades of green and red, to portray key aspects of Obama's life. The Spanish and English texts flow nicely and
could be used as a source for intermediate language study.
918.74
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*Treviño Hart, Elva. (1999). Barefoot heart : stories of a migrant child. Tempe, Ariz. : Bilingual
Press.
ISBN-13: 9780927534819
Price: $17.99
Grades: 5
Reviews: Library Journal (July 1, 1999); School Library Journal (November 1, 1999)
I am nobody. And my story is the same as a million others.... Poor Mexican-American.... Some of us grow up and
move to cities. Others of us stay. I don't know which is better." With this introduction, Hart lures the reader into a
journey through her childhood. Seven children and a life of poverty has drained her Ama (mother), leaving no
strength for expressions of love for little Elva. Apa (father), strong and hard-working, expects the same from his
children, but he also has a dream for them--a high school diploma. He will not keep them in the fields when school
starts in the fall; each summer they return, literally, to the wrong side of the tracks in their segregated Texas town for
the first day of school. Hart paints an extraordinarily clear picture of a shy little girl, playing at the edge of a field all
alone, waiting for the signal to bring water to her family. Reminiscent of The Circuit by Francisco Jiménez,
(University of New Mexico Press, 1997), Barefoot Heart carries the reader deep into the heart and soul of her
Mexican-American migrant family. Quiet dignity, stoic acceptance, longing, and fear radiate from the pages. Hart
fulfilled her father's dream and more, earning a master's degree in computer science/engineering. Her story is the
triumph of a soul. Watch for more from this fledgling author.
936.73
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Moriarty, J.T. (2003). Phillis Wheatley : African American poet = poeta afroamericana. New York : Rosen Pub.
Group.
ISBN-13: 9780823941674
Price: $20.95
Grades: 3-5
Reviews: Booklist (February 15, 1997); School Library Journal (July 1, 2001)
A biography of the African slave who was taken in and educated by a Boston couple and became well-known
because of the poetry she wrote.
20. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
A practical, well-documented introduction to the life and work of the poet. Salisbury chronicles what is known about
her subject and places it in the context of the times. In the process, she describes slavery, Christian New England,
and the American Revolution. The main events of Wheatley's life are related in a clear fashion; the text is organized
into interesting subheadings and accompanied by period maps and reproductions. Readers may be inspired to learn
more about this remarkable woman.
957.68
--
Goodwin, David. (1991). Cesar Chavez : hope for the people = César Chávez : la esperanza para
el pueblo. New York : Fawcett Columbine.
ISBN: 9780449906262
Price: $11.99
Grades: 5
Reviews: Children’s Literature (February 1, 1992); KLIATT Review (April 1, 1992)
The son of poor Mexican Americans, Cesar Chavez grew up in grinding poverty. In 1962, he set out to do what
many before him had tried and failed to do -- organize a trade union for farm workers. With courage and
determination, he transformed the plight of the workers into an international cause.
This review was written to address three books in the "Great Lives" series which provide biographies of Cesar
Chavez, Sandra Day O'Connor and Thomas Jefferson. There are at least 17 books in this new series of biographies
written for middle school readers. The subjects are categorized as "Great Explorers," "Leaders of 20th Century
Politics and Government," and "Great Americans." The covers feature pastel portraits. Inside are a few grainy
photographs. Each book contains a table of contents, eight or ten chapters, a short bibliography, and a paragraph
about the author. The O'Connor book also includes an appendix that explains how the Supreme Court works and the
Jefferson book includes a copy of the Declaration of Independence. The Chavez book is a bilingual edition, Spanish
on the left-hand page and English on the right. I found that a useful arrangement for trying to expand my limited
knowledge of Spanish. The translation is by Maria Teresa Gonzales. The book makes clear how Chavez neglected
his own family in his zeal for "La Causa" but it also makes clear the urgency of that cause. None of the books is a
laudatory whitewash of the character, as so many biographies for young readers have been in the past. The O'Connor
book makes such a sincere attempt at simplifying the complicated cases she dealt with that it left me confused. The
Jefferson book provides perspective for numerous famous episodes in our country's history. I would have liked to
see crediting for some of the information, but recognize that it would be inappropriate for a short book for young
readers to be replete with footnotes. A few minor typos don't interfere with these books being useful for their
intended purpose
969.67
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Thatcher Murcia, Rebecca. (2011). What it's like to be-- Marta Vieira = Qué se siente al ser--
Marta Vieira. Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers.
ISBN: 9781584158523
Price: $25.79
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Booklist (October 15, 2010); School Library Journal (January 1, 2011)
Celebrity series are not only omnipresent, they’re largely interchangeable. What gives these titles in the What It’s
Like to Be / Qué se siente al ser . . . series a larger reach is the bilingual focus. Each layout carves out spaces for
both English and Spanish, and though the asymmetrical placement isn’t especially conducive to word-to-word
comparison, it is nonetheless a sturdy translation that will be appreciated by bilingual learners. The expected puffery
21. Sources for Book Reviews:
Titlewave and the Mackin Collection development tools include review sources. The journals that we evaluated in
class are searchable through the UNT database. Children's Literature Collection includes reviews.
pairs fairly dense blocks of cheery text with both staged publicity shots and grainier candids. The layout is simple
but effective, with insets spotlighting secondary characters as well as oversized arrows clarifying group shots. Marta
Vieira describes the four-time FIFA World Player of the Year as she performs admirably on and off the soccer field.
No source notes here, but a list of further reading will aid report writers in these titles good for entry-level celebrity
worship. Grades 1-3
Series:
995.46
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+25.79 = 1021.25-16.95=1004.30-15.95=988.35
Gange, Tammy. (2011). What it's like to be-- Sonia Sotomayor = Qué se siente al ser-- Sonia
Sotomayor. Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers.
ISBN: 9781584158530
Price: $25.79
Grades: 1-3
Reviews: Booklist (October 15, 2010); School Library Journal (January 1, 2011)
These titles cover the lives of contemporary women who excel in very different fields. Each book chronicles the
individual's childhood, education, and current achievements. For instance, children learn about Sonia Sotomayor's
birth in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, her studies at Princeton and Yale, and her work for the New York State
Court System before being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Shakira readers discover how a childhood
memory of homeless kids wandering in a park moved the superstar to help needy children in her native Colombia.
Each book treats women with the same attention to detail and relevant photos, and child-friendly bilingual texts
illustrate each point. Youngsters will enjoy learning about these personalities.