Celebrating El Día de los Niños with a Giveaway!

¡Felicidades!

Today, all over the country, families and communities will be celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros and we are celebrating, too.

Let's remember that everyday should be a celebation of our children for the blessings that they are. For those of you looking for some ideas on how to celebrate this day, here are a few suggestions:

• Have your child pick out all of his or her favorite books and spend the afternoon snuggling on the couch or bed reading ALL of them....or as many as your child can sit still for!

• Make a surprise visit to your local library or bookstore to indulge in a few new titles. Or, to find out if there are any Día events scheduled for today near you, check out the ALA web site.

• Play the rhyming game every time you get in the car to go somewhere today.

• Break out the chalk and draw fantastical stories all over your sidewalks/driveways and then tell each other about them. Don't forget to take pictures!

• Get out the poster board, scissors and glue and help your child make a collage of her favorite books. Take pictures or find copies of the covers on-line and print them up in smaller sizes for your child to use.

• Visit illustrator/author Elizabeth O. Dulemba's page to download some free reading-themed coloring pages. She also has some activity pages to accompany several of her books including Soap, Soap, Soap/Jabón, jabón, jabón and Paco and the Giant Chile Plant/Paco y la planta de chile gigante.

• Learn the official Día song here.

• Send the children in your life a special Día e-card from Colorín Colorado. Or let them send one to all of your familia y amigos.


********NOTE: We would love to share your pictures on the LBBC, so please consider snapping a few of the ways in which your family celebrates Día or encourages literacy, and sending them in to us at admin [at] latinbabyusa dot com.


THE GIVEAWAY:

One of our sponsors, Lorito Books, is a company that supports developing second language literacy and promoting the beauty of Latino culture. And their high quality audiobooks are a valuable learning tool for bilingual families with young readers and second language learners. Each one is carefully chosen for its culturally relevant content and values.

We love these audio books and are happy to be able to offer one to you. Con mis oídos by Mariana E. Pellegrino is a beautiful story that teaches about all the wonderful sounds we can hear with our ears. It is lyrical in both its style and in its imagery. Spanish only, here is a snippet of my favorite passage...

Con mis oídos

escucho a los

pajaritos y sueño

que como ellos

puedo volar

por lugares

tan bellos

que dan ganas

de cantar.

Thank you to Lorito Books for providing us with a copy to review and share con vosotros.

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. The deadline to enter is Friday, May 7th. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. and announced next Saturday, May 8th.

And to increase your chances of winning, tweet about this giveaway and include a link to your tweet.

Don't forget to let us know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

¡Buenas suerte!

Contest is now closed. Felicidades to Adriana!

Multicultural Book: On the Pampas

On the Pampas

Written and illustrated by María Cristina Brusca

Celebrated Country: Argentina

 

The following review originally ran on the LBBC August 11th, 2008.

Not too long ago, a friend gave me a copy of "On the Pampas" by María Cristina Brusca. Instantly, it became my daughter's favorite and I must have read it five dozen times by now - at least once a day, sometimes twice. Normally, I would get tired of a new "favorite" after a few nights in a row and try to suggest a new one that we haven't read, but this sweet classic has definitely caught my heart.

I don't know of any little girls (or boys, for that matter) that don't like a good story about horses and life on the ranch. I certainly devoured books on this topic when I was a child. And since their infancy, I have seen this burgeoning love and affection for all things equine consume my children.

But for me, "Pampas" has sky-rocketed to the top of our favorite book list because it not only tells a great story about a girl's summer vacation on the family ranch - it tells about una niña's summer adventure on an Argentine estancia. So much of this story brings back childhood memories of times when I visited my father's familia in Spain and enjoyed the innocence, joy and passion of la vida española. I wish that every child could be able to experience the adventure of living in the country and discover the passion for living that the Hispanic culture embodies.

You will not regret the purchase after you read this wonderful book with your child. Both of mine are totally enthralled from beginning to end. And the illustrations are excellent, as well. I had a hard time picking one out from the book, so I wound up using my two favorites (not in sequential order.)

It is also an excellent tool for teaching your children about the differences and similarities of another culture. After reading the book, take a moment to show your children where Argentina is and, if they are old enough, have them write a report about the country. Or how about having them create a shadow box of one of the scenes in the book?

This is a hard to find book. Fortunately, we have a few used copies (mostly ex-library) in our LBBC Amazon store here.

Growing Readers and Writers: Creating a Mini-Book

One very important way to develop your child's literacy skills is through storytelling. Parents and teachers should keep an endless supply of paper, pencils, crayons and/or markers on hand so that little hands can practice or create whenever they feel like it. Encourage your child to write or draw a story, then ask them to tell it to you. Or, assign them the fun activity of writing/drawing a story about their abuelita, or their favorite jugete, or el perrito next door. Try to choose a topic they are excited about.

This is great on a number of levels because it:

• makes them think about basic storylines

• focuses them on the different aspects of a story such as characters, setting, challenges, and resolutions/endings

• helps reinforce the importance of sequence: this happened first, then that happened next, and finally this happened last.

• allows them to practice fine motor skills in preparation for writing

• gives them a voice and a platform to see themselves (or a part of themselves) reflected in literature

• develops imagination and critical thinking skills

• and encourages the idea that reading is FUN!

Sing-A-Lingo recently shared on Facebook, a video on "how to make a mini-book", created by Diane Farrug at Foreign Language House. If you are not following Sing-A-Lingo on FB, you can check them out here. We'd like to thank them for the heads-up and share it with you here...

This Week at Spanglish Baby: Bilingual Homeschooling

All this week, our amigas over at Spanglish Baby are running a series of articles and giveaways dedicated to Latino homeschoolers. Whether you choose to send your children to school or teach them at home, the resources they are offering are of benefit to you all. Let's remember that education begins at birth and the biggest lessons our children learn are at home.

As parents, we are our children's first role models and they look to us for guidance. We help to develop their outlook on the world, learning, relationships, work, and so much more. Our job is to do the best we can to help them do the best that they can. And Spanglish Baby is providing us with an opportunity to learn some ways that we can either supplement our children's education or direct it.

¡Nos vemos allí!

Giveaway: Global Wonders DVDs

As we celebrate diversity this month, it is important to remember that by teaching our childen about different cultures they are not only learning about the differences, but also the similarities. As parents, we strive to teach our children our family's history and heritage, encouraging them to embrace it and find pride in it. To know where we are going, we must first know where we have come from.

But it is also our responsibility to learn and share with them cultures that are foreign to our own. Our goal is understanding, peace, and love so that we may all live on this planet with tolerance, if not harmonía.

So it is our pleasure to offer our readers two DVDs from Global Wonders. Global Wonders is a cross-cultural entertainment and education brand that introduces children to the vibrant and varied cultures of their family, friends, neighbors and the world. Their products allow children to discover and share the everyday customs, music, heritage, language and lifestyles in the “kaleidoscope” of cultures that surround them.

THE GIVEAWAY:

First of all, the LBBC would like to thank Global Wonders for donating two of their products for us to share with our readers as we celebrate Día this month.

In Global Wonders: Around the World join all of our families and friends for a fun day at the park. Through fun group activities your child will discover new customs, music, languages, and lifestyles from around the world. Build a Blarney sand Castle with Brianna, sing happy birthday in Spanish with Marisa, taste Japanese karaage with Rina, and play the ney with Amir. When Lorenzo's World Cup soccer ball goes missing, team up with all your new friends on a ball hunt to save the day.  You can see a video clip here.

In Global Wonders: Mexico Trey and Brianna visit Marisa’s home which is buzzing with activity as her family prepares for a Quinceañera celebration for her sister Anna. The festive atmosphere transforms every room into a world of new discoveries and activities celebrating the vibrant culture of Mexican families: dance the rumba, sample enchiladas, play in a mariachi band, march in a Día de los Muertos parade, and learn about the ancient Aztec legend of Quetzalcoatl. As the day winds down, Anna surprises Marisa with some special gifts that will make her Quinceañera celebration more exciting for all. You can see a video clip here.

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post. The deadline to enter is Friday, April 30th. The winners will be chosen using Random.org. and announced next Saturday, May 1st.


And to increase your chances of winning, consider the following:

1.) Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post,

2.) Tweet about Día and this giveaway and include a link to your tweet,

3.) Follow us on Facebook,

4.) Subscribe to our feed through a reader or via e-mail.

Don't forget to let us know by posting a separate comment for each entry!


¡Buenas suerte!

Alma Flor Ada On Helping Our Children Grow Up Bilingually

Latino parents are frequently concerned about their children's language development. They want to make sure that their children learn to speak English very well. It is a valid concern, and everyone wishing the wellbeing of Latino children want them to learn English well.


The problem is that there is a popular misconception that children will learn English better if they are encouraged, or allowed, to use only English even when the parent's language may be Spanish. This is not so.

When a child has a well developed first language, in this case, Spanish, they will learn better the second language, in this case, English. All the skills they have acquired in the first language will transfer to the second one.

Parents will be able to develop better the language they know best. If that language is Spanish, that is the language they should model for their children.

A child who learns to speak two languages will have many more opportunities than a monolingual child. But important as the opportunities offered by knowing two languages, there are more powerful reasons to encourage a child to grow up bilingually.

If the primary language of parents, grandparents, or caregivers is Spanish the children who can only speak English will be deprived of the very valuable cultural and human enrichment that they could receive in Spanish. And this is a loss that cannot be overestimated.

Many parents emphasize English, disregarding Spanish, considering that in this way their children will be better able to compete and succeed in an English-speaking world. What is very unfortunate is that they fail to realize that the World is becoming less and less monolingual, and that many English-speaking parents are choosing to ensure that their children become bilingual. Thus, someday Latinos may find themselves not being in a good competitive situation not because they do not know English, but because they know only English, when others, who had no Latino heritage, have become fluent two languages.

Human beings are extraordinarily able to survive limitations, but, given a choice, two feet make life easier than one, two hands, easier than one. Why would it be difficult to realize that two languages will provide twice as many opportunities than one?

My own life has been enriched by bilingualism. I did not have the good fortune of growing up bilingual, and had to go the long route of learning English when already almost an adult. Yet, knowing two languages has given me great opportunities --for work, for professional enrichment, for traveling, for developing friendships and relationships, for growing in understanding of other human beings. If I were to single out the most valuable tool in my life it would be knowing two languages, and when I have recently published my life memoirs I have called it Vivir en dos idiomas or "living in two languages" to acknowledge the significance of my two languages in my long and rich life.

I chose to bring up my own four children speaking Spanish. It was the only language used at home. They learned English in school not only without difficulty, but rather with the added support of knowing well another language. Today all four are very successful professionals in different areas --each and everyone has benefited from being bilingual.

Latino children have a most rich cultural heritage that they will never be able to fully enjoy unless they know Spanish well. Let's not deprive out children from this rightful heritage, let's give them the power of two languages, the joy of bilingualism, the opportunity to do twice as much good unto others.

Feel free to visit me at: http://www.almaflorada.com/ where you can always leave me a message.

--------------------------------------

Alma Flor Ada, Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco, has devoted her life to advocacy for peace by promoting a pedagogy oriented to personal realization and social justice. A former Radcliffe Scholar at Harvard University and Fulbright Research Scholar she is an internationally reknown speaker in issues of bilingualism and multicultural education.

Alma Flor is the author of numerous children’s books of poetry, narrative, folklore, personal memoirs and non fiction. Her books have received prestigious awards; among many: Christopher Medal (The Gold Coin), Pura Belpré Medal (Under the Royal Palms), Once Upon a World (Gathering the Sun), Parents’ Choice Honor (Dear Peter Rabbit), NCSS and CBC Notable Book (My Name is María Isabel), Junior Library Guild (Tales Our Abuelitas Told). She is also the author of a book of memoirs, Vivir en dos idiomas, two novels for adults, En clave de sol and A pesar del amor, and several professional books for educators, including A Magical Encounter: Latino Children’s Literature in the Classroom, as well as a wealth of educational materials. Her work, in collaboration with F. Isabel Campoy in promoting authorship in students, teachers, and parents is the content of their book Authors in the Classroom: A Transformative Education Process. Alma Flor Ada has been awarded the American Education Research Association [AERA] Hispanic Issues Award for Research in Elementary, Secondary and Postsecondary Education and the California Association for Bilingual Education [CABE] Life Long Award.

Multicultural Book: Los siete mejores cuentos Peruanos/ The Seven Best Peruvian Stories

Los Siete Mejores Cuentos Peruanos/ The Seven Best Peruvian Stories

by Miguel Rocha Vivas
illustrated by Carmen Garcia


Celebrated Country: Peru


A collection of tall tales and fables from across Peru, these stories come from the humid tropical forests to the desert and irrigated costs, ascending and descending through the stunning mountains of the Andes. These tales, from the hands and mouths of peasants and indigenous people, will transport the reader to a world where animals, plants and spirits influence a man's life, a world in which Mother Nature is and where everything can happen.

The Seven Best Peruvians Stories offers a careful sample of the wonderful treasure of mythic narratives and popular stories in Peru. Several of the stories include oral traditions that date back to pre-Columbian time, and all have been passed down from generation to generation until today. This adaptation by Miguel Rocha Vivas, a researcher of the Colombian Andean oral tradition, has been specially made for the delight of children and adults, and is accompanied by illustrations from Peruvian, Carmen Garcia.

Hardcover. Spanish text only.


 

Author Contribution: Amy Costales

When I finally held my latest picture book in my hands, I flew back in time to the day that I first started thinking of writing. My daughter, who is now about to turn twenty-two, was a toddler in my lap, watching T.V. for the first time. There was a happy father on the screen pulling a toddler in a wagon. I was enjoying the scene, tapping my toe to the accompanying song of “Daddy’s Taking Me to The Zoo Today” with no deep thoughts. My daughter was the one doing the profound thinking. She tapped me on the knee, trying to comfort me, saying, “Don’t worry Mami, I have my Poppop”. Poppop was grandpa, and Papá was long gone, but my two-year-old was able to assess her family situation and realize there was plenty of love going around. Although my little hija had indeed managed to comfort me, I was from that day on aware of the way the image of family in the media never reflected mine or my friends’. Where were the young single moms? The dads working two jobs? The children sharing rooms? The families sharing houses? Where were the brown-skinned children?

I started writing, but it was many years later that I wrote about my daughter and my father, inspired by the lasting love between them. My father was treated for cancer, and although he survived the disease, the treatment almost killed him. One day, when he was still struggling to walk again, I walked by his room and saw my daughter lying in bed next to her Poppop, watching him nap. I started to cry, remembering when she was the one struggling to walk, holding his big hand and when he lay patiently by her bedside soothing her to sleep while I went to college at night. A story was born.

Abuelo vivía solo ~ Grandpa Used to Live Alone (Arte Público Press, 2010) was inspired by my father and daughter. When I hold it, I feel deeply satisfied by Esperanza Gama’s lovely illustrations of a young single mom, a little brown girl, and a dedicated Abuelo. I am inspired to keep on writing, slowly and patiently broadening the image of family. Recently, when I pick up a book, I read about the author first, looking for those who first sat at their computer screens or picked up a pen and became writers, not just out of a love of writing, but because they felt a need to see children they know in books.

I would like to remind Latino families to seek out books about Latino families in diverse settings. I would also like to remind them to expose their children to families that are different than theirs, teaching tolerance. May children open books and see their reflection, as well as a window into the world of different children, be they next door or miles away.

-Amy Costales

--------------------------------

 

Amy Costales is a passionate advocate of multicultural education and a bilingual children’s author. She learned her first words of Spanish on her grandfather’s lap. He was a teller of tall tales who created a fantasy world about Spain and Cuba. When her family moved to Spain when she was a child, Grandpa’s fantasy world became hers. As a teen she moved to Southern California along the Mexican border, which opened the door to another part of the Spanish-speaking world. Amy has taught Spanish, Social Studies, ESL, and bilingual primary school in the U.S. public school system and in international schools in India and Thailand. She currently teaches Spanish at the University of Oregon. She lives in Eugene with her children, husband and a myriad of pets. Amy firmly believes that all children should be able to open books and see the astonishing diversity of the world, as well as a life that looks like their own. This belief, above all other things, led her to writing for children.

Celebrating Earth Day, Celebrando día de la tierra

Happy Earth Day! Today people around the world are celebrating día de la tierra, so we are sharing some links to crafts and activities that promote this holiday, as well as some books that promote the concepts of this special day.


Activities to promote literacy:

• Provide your child with some chalk, then get outside and encourage them to draw a story. Afterwards, encourage them to tell you all about it by asking questions. Try to teach them about the elements of a story by asking questions like, "where does your story take place?" and "who are the characters in your story?" and "what happens to them first? Second? Last?"

• Sit down and brainstorm on ways your family can be more environmentally friendly. Have your child write the list. If they are too young, help them by writing it and saying the words out loud as you go along. Check out the EPA's bilingual site for ideas on ways to enforce Earth Day at home, school, or in your community.

• Read books like the following Spanish and bilingual titles that are available in our bookshop:

- How a Seed Grows (Spanish edition): Como crece una semilla (Let's-Read-and-Find... Science 1) by Helene J. Jordan and Loretta Krupinski

- Semillas by Fleischman, Paul, Isaac Hernandez, and Sid Fleischman

- A Seed Was Planted / Sembre una semilla by Toulla Palazeti

- Plantas (Proyectos Fascinantes) (Spanish Edition) by Sally Hewitt, Adrew Geeson, Catherine Ward, and Peter Wilks

- A sembrar sopa de verduras by Lois Ehlert, Alma Flor Ada, and F. Isabel Campoy

- La tierra (Que es? series) by Charline Zeitoun and Peter Allen

- Rios/rivers (Conoces La Tierra? Geografia Del Mundo/Where on Earth? World Geography) (Spanish Edition) by JoAnn Early Macken

- La Tierra / Earth (Pebble Plus Bilingual) by Adamson and Thomas K.

Also, if you are looking for some fun activities or coloring pages, take a look at First School, or their Spanish site, Primera Escuela. They have an entire section dedicated to Earth Day.

The Cricket Sings: Poems and Songs for Children By Federico García Lorca

As we continue to celebrate National Poetry Month, we'd like to share an exceptional book of poetry by the amazing Federico García Lorca. Written many years ago, this classic treasure is an example of the power and skill with which Lorca created written art.

The Cricket Sings is a selection of the poems and songs Federico Garcia Lorca wrote especially for children, presented together with the Spanish texts. María Horvath's ink drawings do not detract from the text, though they are detailed with intricate patterns. This book would make a wonderful gift worthy of "family heirloom" status!

You can take a look inside the book for yourself here, using Google Books. And if you would like to purchase your own copy, you may do so here, or simply click on our bookshop button in the sidebar. We have both new and gently used books available.

Small Phrases, Wordly Lessons

As a young girl growing up in dos mundos - my Spanish world at home, and my English world at school - my actions, both positive and negative, were met with short sayings meant to teach me some sort of lesson.  When I wouldn't get up from bed to get ready for school, my mother would say "A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda".  She wanted me to hop out of that warm bed, you know, to catch that worm.

When I became too friendly with kids who were up to no good, Mami warned wisely, "Dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres" - tell me who you hang out with, and I'll tell you who you are.  Mami would sigh, "De tal palo, tal astilla" when I became moody, just like my dad.  And during tough times, when she managed to stretch a pot of rice and some vegetables to feed our family of six - "Cuando hay hambre, no hay mal pan".  My father often repeated the Quechua phrase "Ama sua, ama kella, ama llulla." This moral lesson from the Incas advised "Don't steal, don't lie, don't be lazy."

At school, it was no different.  Important lessons were often taught in short phrases.  Do unto others.  Honesty is the best policy. Clothes do not make the man.

As a classroom teacher, I recognize the value in these small gems.  There is much wisdom, culture, and language to be learned in these refranes and dichos.  Mi primer libro de dichos/My First Book of Proverbs by Ralfka Gonzalez and Ana Ruiz is a book I go to year after year with my students.  The pages display favorite sayings in Spanish and English, with colorful, folky illustrations to accompany each.  A favorite activity that invites much creativity and thought is to have my students select a dicho that they've heard, and to have them write, in their own words, what it means.  Along with their writing, they are invited to illustrate a literal interpretation of the saying. 

The study of idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and sayings is an important part of language learning and awareness.  Often, as native speakers of a language, we take these words for granted, not stopping to consider what they mean, or where they come from to begin with.  For more on these jewels, check out Only the Best/Sólo lo mejor - which contains 100 quotations and proverbs in Spanish, with translations.  As well, you might want to have on hand the bilingual Dictionary of Proverbs. 

And in keeping with the LBBC's celebration of El día de los niños, El día de los libros, here is one of my favorite quotations, or frases célebres:
Yo siempre me había imaginado al Paraíso como una especie de biblioteca. ~Jorge Luis Borges

Multicultural Book: Los Zapaticos de Rosa

Los Zapaticos de Rosa
by Jose Martí
illustrated by Lulu Delacre

Celebrated Country: Cuba

The following review originally ran on the LBBC February 11th, 2009 and was contributed by Carrie Ferguson Weir.


The name Pilar was on the short list when we were expecting our first and only daughter. My child was named Maria, but the inspiration for Pilar was the classic poem Los Zapaticos de Rosa by Cuban poet Jose Martí.


It was read to me by my family and my teachers when I was growing up in Miami. One of my aunts will, with some regularity, break out into perfect oration of the poem, which she learned more than 50 years ago in Cuba.

If you don't know what it is about, the short version: A wealthy and well-dressed girl, Pilar, meets a sickly and poor girl on the beach. Pilar gives the girl her beautiful pink zapaticos, and more. It was published in 1889.

It is rhythmic and colorful:

Hay sol bueno y mar de espumas,

Y arena fina, y Pilar

Quiere salir a estrenar

Su sombrerito de pluma.

"¡Vaya la niña divina!"

Dice el padre, y le da un beso,

"Vaya mi pájaro preso

A buscarme arena fina!".

"Yo voy con mi niña hermosa",

Le dijo la madre buena:

"¡No te manches en la arena

Los zapaticos de rosa!"

My almost-Pilar is 5 and she loves the stage, insisting regularly that we sit and watch her dance or sing. This is why I am thinking that it is time she memorize Los Zapaticos de Rosa.

We have the copy above, the one illustrated by Lulu Delacre. It was a gift from my mom, who likes to read the book to Maria. The pictures are watercolor loveliness and the message is kind and timeless: Share your riches.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Los Zapaticos de Rosa, please click here. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC’s on-line store. We have both new and gently used copies available.

Reach Out and Read Launches Spanish-language Website

This past week, one of our favorite literacy organizations, Reach Out and Read, unveiled the Spanish-language version of its national website. The new website, which will serve as a clearinghouse for literacy and school readiness resources for Spanish-speaking families, is a cornerstone of Reach Out and Read’s nationwide outreach efforts targeting the Latino community.


Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based initiative that prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school. It serves more than one million Latino children and families nationwide, and 86% of Reach Out and Read Programs serve families for whom Spanish is their first language. In 2007, Reach Out and Read developed the Leyendo Juntos (Reading Together) initiative to assist participating doctors in effectively encouraging Latino families to read with their children. Materials and public awareness campaigns created by the initiative have been very popular with medical providers and Spanish-speaking families alike.

While Reach Out and Read has 14 published research studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of the program, its impact on Spanish-speaking families has been found to be even more significant. In fact, one study found that Spanish-speaking parents served by Reach Out and Read were up to 10 times more likely to read to their children every day than those not served by the program. Those children are more likely to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed.

“This new website will be an invaluable resource to Spanish-speaking families everywhere,” said Mariana Glusman, Chair of the Leyendo Juntos National Advisory Committee for Reach Out and Read. “Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do to prepare their children for kindergarten. This website highlights why reading aloud is so important and provides families with reading tips, recommended book lists, and a guide to developmental milestones for their children. The website even includes information on how Spanish-speaking families can support or volunteer for Reach Out and Read in their communities.”

Reach Out and Read has committed to reaching out to Latino families everywhere, whether or not they are currently served by the program. The new website, which includes reading tips, lists of doctor-recommended children’s books, developmental milestones of early literacy, and information about the importance of reading aloud, is a key component of this initiative. In addition, Reach Out and Read is developing a Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign specifically targeted to Spanish-speaking families through Spanish-language radio stations, billboards, and the Internet.

Check out Reach Out and Read’s new Spanish language website today!

Five Blogs All Biligual/Spanish-speaking Families Should Know

Here are five informative, educational, and/or creative blogs that you should know about:

• Bookjoy - Author Pat Mora's blog, Bookjoy, is her way of sharing the numerous ways that children and books are celebrated around the country.

• Los Bloguitos - This Spanish-only site is such a creative resource for young children. On it, authors and illustrators share short stories, poems, videos and more for Spanish-speaking children to enjoy.

• Montessori Spanish - Gigi is a homeschooling mom raising bilingual children. Her blog is a wealth of information related to home education and bilingual schooling.

.• Spanglish Baby - We get tired just thinking about our hard working amigas over at Spanglish Baby. But their exceptional and informative site is so worth subscribing to. This is a treasure trove for parents raising bilingual children.

• Wanna Jugar with Migo - This site is so much fun and full of great ideas and links. Tati and Ginny share some excellent resources and also host the occasional giveaway.

Celebrate Día with Children's Book Press

Children's Book Press is one of the leading independent publishers of multicultural and bilingual children's books. This 35-year-old non-profit organization has brought us an incredible number of books reflecting the Latino culture, including favorites such as Family Pictures by Carmen Lomas Garza; My Colors, My World by Maya Christina Gonzalez;  My Diary From Here to There by Amada Irma Pérez, A Movie in My Pillow by Jorge Argueta; The Storyteller's Candle by Lucía González; The Woman Who Outshone the Sun by Rosalma Zubizarreta, Harriet Rohmer, David Schecter; and many, many more.

In honor of Día, CBP is offering some great deals and discounts on some of their titles and book sets. Libraries, school and organizations should take advantage of the 40% off all book titles and 20% off classroom and library sets. And parents, don't forget to check out their Bargain Book Bin for 40% off of books with slight imperfections such as bent corners or missing jackets.

Giveaway: Toys that Encourage Literacy

We have two more toys that encourage literacy to giveaway to our readers. Ingenio Toys has donated their Animals Learning Puzzle and their Alphabet Learning Cards to help us promote literacy within our bilingual community. Two lucky winners will receive one of these great products, which are designed to challenge and educate young minds.

The Animal Learning Puzzle is loads of fun with both English and Spanish words describing the animals. Comprised of 38 pieces, it is a puzzle within a puzzle, so children can first match the animal pieces together before assembling the entire puzzle itself. It measures 14" x 20".

The bilingual Alphabet Learning Cards teach all 26 letters in the English alphabet and 27 Spanish letters. In addition to building vocabulary, the brightly colored illustrations also help children recognize letters and identify beginning sounds.

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment at the bottom of this post. The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 18th. The winners will be chosen using Random.org. and announced next Monday, April 19th.


And to increase your chances of winning, consider the following:

1.) Blog about this giveaway and include the link to your post,

2.) Tweet about Día and this giveaway and include a link to your tweet,

3.) Become follow us on Facebook,

4.) Subscribe to our feed through a reader or via e-mail.

Don't forget to let us know by posting a separate comment for each entry!
 
¡Buenas suerte!

This giveaway has now ended. Congratulations to #9 Tati & #3 Adriana! Please contact us with a mailing address at admin [at] latinbabyusa dot com

Latino Poetry for Children

In honor of National Poetry Month, here are a few LBBC recommendations for introducing your child or student to bilingual poetry. You may click on the title to read the review. Also, please check out our poetry section in our on-line bookshop to learn about many other wonderful poetry books.

Poemas con sol y son by Mabel Morvillo, Susana Garcia, and Vicky Ramos.


Tortillitas Para Mama and Other Nursery Rhymes is selected and translated by several authors and illustrated by Barbara Cooney.


The Tree is Older Than Your Are: A Bilingual Gathering of Poems & Stories from Mexico, ed. by Naomi Shihab Nye


Luna written by Antonio Rubio and illustrated by Óscar Villán.

Multicultural Book: Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué rico!

Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué rico!: Brotes de las Américas

by Pat Mora
illustrated by Rafael López

Celebrated Country: Various (North, Central & South America)

In honor of National Poetry Month, as well as our celebration of diversity and El día de los niños, we are happy to share with you a title that embodies all of these and more.

Mora's first book of haiku poetry introduces 14 types of food native to the Americas. From vanilla to arándano rojo to chocolate, readers will relish Mora's simple verse and López's rich illustrations. Together they create a beautiful work of literary art. REFORMA Newsletter's describes Lopez's work as a "visual feast" and indeed his use of color and and patterns add dimension and vitality to the book.

This book is available in English or Spanish. My favorite haiku? The papaya...

Pruebo perfume,

verde selva frondosa

¡Jugoso trópico!

In addition to the haikus, a brief history accompanies each food, which lends an additional educational element to the book. 

Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué rico! has won several awards including the Amérias Award for Children’s Literature, the Texas Bluebonnet Award and is an ALA Notable.

Parents and educators can click here for additional Yum! activities to supplement your curriculum.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué rico!, please click here. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC’s on-line store. We have both new and gently used copies available.

Celebrate Día Leyendo

When I was a child, my favorite place in the house was a corner where I always found a rocking chair. I rocked myself back and forth while I read a book. Soon the rocking chair became a magic flying carpet that took me to many different places. I met new friends. I lived great adventures. In many occasions, I was able to touch the stars. All the books I read transported me to the entire universe.

I always visited the public libraries and bookstores in El Salvador. Books inspired me! I also wanted to write about the wonderful world that I visited in my readings. I started to write my own stories, poems and adventures in my diary. Every time I read and revised my stories, I found new adventures to tell about. Now, I write children’s books and it is an honor to share my books with children around the world.

I invite you to travel with your family this Día del niño- Día de los libros and every single day. Take a book and you will find wonders. Books are full of adventures, friends and fantastic places. Read and reach for the stars.

My six tips to help our children to become better readers:
    1.    Read and enjoy your books in front of your children. In this way, your children will want to read a book and sit next to you.
    2.    Read a book to your children every night before going to bed.
    3.    Talk with your children about their favorite part of the book or about their favorite character.
    4.    Visit the library or favorite bookstore and help your children to select books.
    5.    Create art projects about the books. You can do posters, puppets and dioramas.
    6.    Write and illustrate your own family books. In this way, your children will feel like authors. Share these books with family members.

The most important element in reading books to children is to expose them to wonderful stories, to culture and to open their own imagination. It is great when children can see themselves as heroes or the main characters in the story or when they ask you to read it “one more time”.

Books are full of adventures! Just open a book and you can fly, dream and reach for the stars".

René Colato Laínez

Giveaway: Two Read-Aloud Books that Celebrate Diversity

One great way to develop your child's literacy skills is by reading aloud story books on a daily basis. To help you create the best environment possible, consider these tips:

• DESIGNATE a specific reading area that is well-lit, comfortable and quiet. Avoid high-traffic rooms or those with a TV.

• SET UP a cozy chair, bed, or sofa that you can both cuddle up on comfortably.

• POSITION your baby so that (s)he can clearly see your face. For older children, be sure that they can see the book.

• CHOOSE books that are age/developmentally appropriate. Newborns do best with books that have simple illustrations, while toddlers prefer picture books that help them envision the story.

• ALLOW your child to choose the book and don't discourage books that you have already read once (or twice or many more times!) as repetition helps your child to recognize patterns, develop phonetic awareness and sequence - to name a few.

• READ WITH EMOTION and allow your voice to rise and fall. Use exaggerated facial expressions to convey emotion.

And finally, POINT to the words as you read so that you child will begin to learn letter sounds and combinations.

THE GIVEAWAY:

Kane/Miller Book Publishers carefully chooses books from around the world to which they believe all children can relate. They have a fantastic line of multicultural books, and what makes them so spectacular is that they also carry some of these books in Spanish.

A while back, Kane/Miller sent the LBBC several books to use for reviews and giveaways, which we have done over the last year or so. I am so happy to finally be able to offer these two books, which I was saving for a post on reading aloud to children.

The first is ¿Quieres jugar? by Deborah Niland.  This "Toddler Tale" was originally printed in Australia. It is a simple and adorable story of three animal friends as they play at the park. It begins...

"Éste es Perro Rojo.

¿Está zambulléndose?

¡No!

Está...." (You'll have to read it to find out)

The second book is one of my favorites because of its simplicity and repetition. ¿Quién se esconde? by Satoru Onishi was published first in Japan. In addition to the reasons stated above, I also like this book because it encourages interaction between the parent reading the book and the child. Each page asks a question such as "¿Quién está llorando?" or "¿Quién está al revés?" And though they are unnecessary, the author includes a page in the back with the answers, which is nice.

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling us why you have chosen to raise (or teach) a bilingual child. The deadline to enter is Friday, April 16th. The winners will be chosen using Random.org. and announced next Saturday, April 17th.

And to increase your chances of winning, consider the following:

1.) Blog about Día and this giveaway and include the link to your post,

2.) Tweet about Día and this giveaway and include a link to your tweet,

3.) Become a fan of the LBBC,

4.) Subscribe to our feed through a reader or via e-mail.

Don't forget to let us know by posting a separate comment for each entry!

This giveaway has now ended. Congratulations to #2 Marcela & #5 Tati! Please contact us with a mailing address at admin [at] latinbabyusa dot com

Ways to Celebrate Día: Visit the ALSC's Official Día Page on FB

The Association for Library Service to Children has set up the Official El día de los niños/El día de los libros Fan Page on Facebook.

On it you will find lots of ideas for celebrating the holiday, such as links to printing up your own Día bookmarks, sending a Día e-card, and even where to listen and learn the El Dia do los Ninos song.

You might also check out their link to the ALA website page, where you can click on a map to find out if there are any Día celebrations happening near you.

Sites that Promote Latino Literacy

Below are some of our favorite sites that promote Latino literacy in both English and Spanish. We encourage you all to browse through them and share them with family and friends….

Colorín Colorado: This comprehensive website is possibly the best source of information for Spanish-speaking families and English Language Learners. It includes activities, articles, author interviews, reading lists, guides and toolkits, and so much more. The LBBC is proud to be partnered with this fantastic resource for Latino families. Check out their new article on Literacy Development for Latino Students by Bobbi Ciriza Houtchens, who shares her tips for engaging reluctant readers. Available in English and Spanish.


Read To Your Baby: Created by the authors of Baby Read-Aloud Basics, Caroline Blakemore and Barbara Ramirez, this website has videos, book reviews, and tips for reading aloud to your baby. Be sure to check out their Resources page. And the best thing about this site is that it is available in English and Spanish.

Cuentos y Más/Stories and More: Cuentos y Más is a one-of-a-kind program that promotes reading among children while having fun. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the program is a television show in a bilingual format. Episodes of their videos are available for download via their site. Try them out. Available in English and Spanish.


Cody’s Cuentos: A free, weekly Spanish language podcast, Cody’s Cuentos presents a well-told tale in Spanish from a professional storyteller who is a native Spanish speaker. Bilingual families can download and enjoy classic tales by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault, and many others. Various stories are included to accommodate beginning, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Transcripts are also available. A bilingual site.

Reading is Fundamental: Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. It is the oldest and largest children's and family nonprofit literacy organization in this country. This is an awesome website with a lot of information and fun activities for families and educators.

¡Leamos en familia! is their Spanish site. It contains many interactives and downloads to encourage literacy among Latino families. The thing we love best about this site? Their Monthly Activity Calendars, which are available in English or Spanish.

Scholastic en Español: A division of Scholastic Inc., this site is full of products, programs, activities, clubs, books, magazines, and other tools for parents and educators. Available in Spanish.

The Scholastic Summer Challenge: Read for the World Record

On April 30th, 2010, the Scholastic Summer Challenge will begin it’s Read for the World Record. Last year, schools all over the world logged an incredible 35,846,094 minutes of reading. This year, they are hoping to set a new record.

This summer-long global literacy campaign is designed to motivate all children to read more so that they maintain and improve their academic skills.

According to Scholastic, “kids who read four or more books during the summer avoid learning losses when they return to school.” At the Scholastic Summer Challenge website, parents will find age-appropriate book lists, curriculum ideas and book talks, expert literacy advice, summer kits and free downloadables, special offers, and resources for Spanish-language speakers.

Between now and May 1st, kids can sign up for the RWR Trial Runs, which will allow them to improve their reading skills now, practice logging reading minutes, check out how the competition is doing, and be well prepared to take on the official Read for the World Record challenge on May 1, 2010.

The LBBC supports the Scholastic Summer Challenge and will be providing our readers with more information and support as it becomes available.

Celebrate Latino Children’s Literature, Literacy, and Libraries with Día and the National Celebration of Latino Children’s Literature

“Hooray! Today is our day. ¡El día de los niños! Let’s have fun today reading our favorite books. Toon! Toon!/¡Viva! Hoy es nuestro día. ¡El día de los niños! Nos vamos a diverter, con nuestros libros favorites. ¡Tun! ¡Tun!” (Book Fiesta, by Pat Mora and illustrated by Rafael López, 2009, p. 1-2). With these joyful words of encouragement children everywhere are invited to celebrate reading, cultural diversity, and above all fun with books. Día or El día de los niños/El día de los libros is a literacy celebration created by Pat Mora and REFORMA. Celebrated in public libraries and schools around the nation each year on April 30th, many Día celebrations feature Latino authors, illustrators, and Latino children’s books. Día is a wonderful opportunity to share the rich, diverse cultural heritage of Latinos with people from all cultures and allows Latinos to share cultural pride in their oral and written contributions.

While I think it is great to celebrate Latino children’s literature and literacy on Día, I suggest making every day a Día celebracíon. Librarians, teachers, educators, and parents can take the many fantastic Día literacy ideas found on Día websites and incorporate them into daily reading programs, storytimes, and individual book sharing activities. Latino book creators, such as Pat Mora and Yuyi Morales, provide craft activities and exciting suggestions on how to bring their books alive. For instance, Yuyi Morales has puppets, paper dolls, masks, and much more that encourage children to create their own book characters such as Señor Calavera from Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book and Nochecita from Nochecita/Little Night.

Allowing all children from all cultures to interact with the vibrant work of Latinos fosters intercultural connections and positive ethnic identity development. Non-Latino children learn about the rich contributions of the diverse Latino cultures via culturally accurate, authentic Latino children’s books. At the same time, Latino children have the fortunate opportunity to see reflections of their experiences, their families, and their cultures in the books they encounter in their classrooms, on library shelves, or in the hands of their familia. Such positive representations and affirmations of their heritage facilitate positive self-esteem and cultural pride among Latino children.

Perhaps parents don’t know where to find positive books about Latinos to share with their bebés. Fortunately, there are numerous resources available that suggest recommended books and literacy activities. These include blogs such as this one as well as resources such as:

1. Reading is Fundamental’s Latino Outreach Initiative’s Recommended Books: http://www.rif.org/kids/leer/en/cuarto/libros_recomendados_english.htm

2. Latino Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards Websites:

Pura Belpré Award - http://www.ala.org/alsc/belpre

Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award - http://www.education.txstate.edu/departments/Tomas-Rivera-Book-Award-Project-Link.html

Américas Award - http://www4.uwm.edu/clacs/aa/index.cfm

3. ¡Colorín Colorado! : http://www.colorincolorado.org/

4. Lee y serás (Read & You Will Be): http://www.leeyseras.net/site/main.html

5. Barahona Center for Study of Books in Spanish for Children & Adolescents: http://www.csusm.edu/csb/english/center.htm


In addition to these resources, there are numerous helpful tools for librarians and educators interested in planning storytimes and literacy programs with Latino children’s literature. Some of these include:

1. ¡Imagínense Libros!: http://imaginenselibros.blogspot.com/

2. WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach Program: http://www.webjunction.org/spanish

3. ¡Es divertido hablar dos idiomas! : http://www.bilingualchildrensprogramming.blogspot.com/

4. Chiles: Children and Libraries en Español: http://www.chil-es.org/home/

5. REFORMA’s Children’s & Young Adult Services Page : http://www.reforma.org/CYASC.htm

Another fantastic and unique opportunity for learning more about Latino children’s literature, literacy, and libraries is the Connecting Cultures & Celebrating Cuentos: National Latino Children’s Literature Conference which is held each spring at the University of Alabama. Scheduled for April 23-24, 2010, this conference brings together award-winning nationally recognized Latino book creators, up-and-coming Latino book artists, teachers, librarians, college students, researchers, and child-care providers to network, celebrate Latino literary achievements, and explore the many ways to bring Latino children’s literature into the lives of all children. Each year the conference also offers a FREE community program to families and their children in celebration of Día. This program provides a rare opportunity for children, particularly Latino children, to meet successful Latino children’s book authors and illustrators. These book creators provide positive role models for Latino children and reinforce cultural pride. Each child leaves the event with a tummy full of food and an autographed book in hand. Starting this year, the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference will be held every year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies. Our outstanding Latino author/artist line-up for April 23 and 24 includes Monica Brown, Oralia Garza de Cortés, Rafael López, Carmen Tafolla, Jennifer Cervantes, Christina Diaz Gonzalez, and Guadalupe Garcia McCall. Registration for the conference is still open and more information is available on the conference website http://www.latinochildlitconf.org/ or by contacting the conference chair at jcnaidoo@slis.ua.edu.

Come on! ¡Viva! Hoy es nuestro día. Make time to check out the above recommended resources for book and literacy activities celebrating Latino cultures. Participate in Día celebracíons at libraries throughout the month of April and don’t forget to make everyday a Día day filled with Latino children’s literature and literacy. While you’re at it, come celebrate with us at the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference this month. Hope to see YOU there!

-------------------------------------------

Dr. Jamie Naidoo, an Endowed Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies and co-founder of the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference, teaches and researches in the areas of early childhood literacy, multicultural and international children’s literature, and diversity in librarianship. A former children’s librarian and school library media specialist, he currently specializes in public library services and programs to diverse populations of children and intercultural perspectives in children’s and young adult literature. Jamie has served on various book award committees including the Américas, Pura Belpré, and Caldecott committees.

Multicultural Book & Giveaway: A Gift of Gracias

This month we will be highlighting several books that reflect the diversity within the Latino culture and represent some of the different Spanish-speaking countries. While Spanish-speaking people are sometimes all lumped together under the generic term “Latino,” we are, in fact, a diverse group with our own cultures and traditions.

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia
by Julia Alvarez
illustrated by Beatriz Vidal

Celebrated Country: The Dominican Republic



A beautiful story based on the legend of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia,..

After their olive crop fails, Maria fears that her family will have to abandon their farm on the new island colony. Then, one night she dreams of a mysterious and beautiful lady shrouded by trees with branches hung with hundreds of little suns. They are oranges like the ones Maria's parents once ate in their homeland, Valencia, Spain. That very day, Maria and her family plant the seeds that soon yield a magnificent orange grove and save the farm. But who was the mysterious lady who appeared in her dream and will Maria ever find her again to say gracias?

Alvarez was recently awarded the Pura Belpré Award for her book, Return to Sender. She is a master storyteller full of imagination and strength. Beatriz Vidal's illustrations are infused with color and beautiful detail.

THE GIVEAWAY:

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling us what is your favorite bilingual or bicultural children's book. The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 11th. The winner will be announced next Monday, April 12th.


And to increase your chances of winning, consider the following:

1.) Blog about Día and this giveaway and include the link to your post,

2.) Tweet about Día and this giveaway and include a link to your tweet,

3.) Become a fan of the LBBC,

4.) Subscribe to our feed through a reader or via e-mail.


Don't forget to let us know by posting a separate comment for each entry!


This giveaway has now ended. Congratulations to Sselora!  Please contact us with a mailing address at admin [at] latinbabyusa dot com

“Succeeding begins with reading.”- Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program

As both a parent and children’s book author, I smile when I think about Día. I find the formal title beautiful: “El día de los niños/El día de los libros, Children's Day/Book Day.” Remembering the blessings of a child, every day is truly children’s day and how lovely to recognize a combined children’s book day.


Reading to and with my son is one of the favorite rituals and simple joys we share each day. From the beginning of his life, words have enveloped him. While he was in my belly, I read to him. When I read silently to myself, I imagined that the words that swirled around my brain flowed from my blood stream into his, our lives connected. After he was born, when he was only a few days old, it didn’t matter to me if I read a children’s book or The New Yorker magazine to him. I just wanted him to hear my voice articulating words over and over again.

Now my son is five and we read together each day. I look forward to the moments when we read and together become immersed in a story. My active, playful son winds down, enticed by hearing about a lion that was a late bloomer; a princess who defeated a fire-breathing dragon; a groundhog attending weather school; a man who photographed snowflakes; a cat in a hat; a library lion; a farm maiden stirring a cazuela, and so much more. The characters and topics are endless and each story usually prompts questions and/or discussion. Reading contributes to the development of my son’s imagination and I think that life is so much richer with the use of imagination. Reading is an opportunity for us to bond over words and emotions evoked. Occasionally, in relation to a story, my son reveals information about his school day. I listen carefully, grateful that hearing a story resulted in this sharing.

And, where do we read? The answer is everywhere. I read to my son during meals. While he soaks in the bath, I sit on a stool next to him and read books. Sometimes we cozy up in a chair in his room that I have deemed “the reading chair.” We read together before he is about to go to sleep. We read on airplanes and on the occasional bus trip. I wear a backpack when we’re out for an excursion and I like to keep three staples in it at all times – a book, crayons, and paper.

Books in our home come from both libraries and stores. We go to the library almost every week and it is not an exaggeration to say that we typically have anywhere from five to fifteen different library books scattered throughout our home. At the age of four and a half, my son was as overjoyed about obtaining his own library card as he was about receiving a new Thomas the Tank Engine train for his birthday. In fact, his excitement about the library card lasted far longer. It is attached to a small, bungee cord he likes to wear around his wrist, and he has proudly shown it to every one of his teachers as well as to anyone who visits our home.

When we discover a book we love, we write the title down as a reminder to purchase it. We celebrate with books as gifts for most, if not all holidays. In our home, our son knows that Santa Claus, Cupid (for Valentine’s Day), the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy all accept written requests for books (from children who have behaved well). That is not to imply that chocolate, jelly beans, or money are excluded from the latter-mentioned holidays, but books are included, too.

Birthdays are occasions for books as well. Each year on my son’s birthday, I have given him a book. The books I’ve selected are not necessarily age-appropriate, yet they are books I want him to have for his personal collection. Last birthday, he received “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The year before that, I purchased “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” so that he would have it in hardback. On his fifth birthday, he received an illustrated version of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition.” I inscribe each book with a note and the specific birthday that the book commemorates, and then store the book in our son’s bookcase.

Even when my son enjoys reading on his own, I will continue to look for books to read and share with him. I want to continue that experience as long as I can. My mother read books to me and also made up stories that she told me. My memories of her sharing stories with me is something I cherish, and more than that, it sparked my imagination and I began to dream about writing stories of my own.

While I find reading to my son to be pleasurable, I know that reading to him each day also produces a tangible gift – that of literacy. A literacy quote that always strikes me is from Page Ahead Children’s Literacy Program:

“Literacy can make the difference between the poverty of one generation and the promise of the next.”

“Being read to as a youngster is the foremost predictor of academic success in childhood. If a child can read at grade level by 3rd grade, she will continue to read at grade level throughout her academic career. A child who succeeds in school will remain there, earning a chance at a better job and a better life in the years ahead. A child who lacks early exposure to reading often suffers from low self-esteem, struggles academically, and is at higher risk for substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and delinquency. Succeeding begins with reading.”

As parents, we are in a unique position to promote and support literacy. Read with your child; you’ll be giving them and yourself a wonderful gift – the knowledge that they can succeed.

----------------------------------------

Samantha R. Vamos is the author of two bilingual children’s picture books, Before You Were Here, Mi Amor (Viking, 2009, illustrated by Santiago Cohen) and the forthcoming The Cazuela That The Farm Maiden Stirred (Charlesbridge, February 2011, illustrated by Rafael López). Before You Were Here, Mi Amor was a Latin Baby Book Club Libro del Mes in April 2009 and Parents magazine (May 2009) selected it as one of six books nominated “Best for Babies.” Over seventy Spanish words are woven into the English text. A podcast of the book may be heard here.

Latinos Comprise Largest Share of "Below Basic" Literacy Rates

On the heels of the President's address of the dismal dropout rates, the nation is supposed to be observing [today] Read Across America Day 2010.

For those students who have dropped out of school or who are struggling academically, poor reading skills are a big part of their problem.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fifty-five percent of the people characterized as "Below Basic" in Prose Literacy, meaning that they have only simple and concrete literacy skills, did not graduate from high school.

The largest ethnic group to comprise the Below Basic population are Latinos. A big factor is language. Forty-four percent of the Below Basic population spoke no English before starting school but that isn't always a recipe for low literacy rates.

Many Latinos spoke/speak only Spanish at home with parents and relatives and English at school with their teachers and didn't suffer from it. In fact, they are the lucky ones who are truly bilingual and find their services much in demand in a down economy.

No, it's something else that is contributing to today's poor literacy rates among Latinos and it goes back to learning how to read, or more precisely how it felt when learning to read.

Anyone who remembers First and Second Grade reading classes remembers being divided into groups according to ability. But everybody knew who was in the high, middle or "slow" group.

As we got older, it got worse when we had to read in front of the whole class and a stumble over a word always provoked a sneer from someone. Some chose to ignore the sneers and plowed on -- they overcame and became good readers.

Some disliked the sneers so badly, they gave up and they became the students who more than likely dropped out of school, unless they had some great athletic talent that somehow hid their deficiency in reading.

Learning to read is more than just sounding out written words.

Reading is about feeling proud when it's accomplished and shame and frustration when it's not.

When enough frustration and shame are involved, reading is not fun. It is something to dread and avoid.

When a student is 15-years-old and can barely read a third grade level book, the shame and embarrassment becomes immense and it's much more desirable to face a truancy court than to lose one's pride before their peers.

To raise literacy rates among those groups considered high-risk for dropping out of school, a program needs to be in place that gets back to the basics of knowing how to instill a love of reading in children.

Yet, at the same time, teachers have to be astute enough to recognize when a student is really having a problem reading, and not jump to the automatic assumption that the child is lazy.

Schools have all kinds of phonetic programs to teach children how to sound out words but hardly anyone teaches children how to read those words with emotion. A teacher has to be an actor/actress when reading to students because they have to make those words come alive.

For young and early elementary school children, that's an easy way to start instilling a love of reading to students and bring students who are shy or unsure of their reading abilities out of their shells.

As children get older, comprehension is really key in developing complex literacy skills. Earning extra credit is always desirable for students as well. Combine the two and let students do reading exercises for extra credit, like reading short stories and answering specific questions about the story, but have the exercise timed.

It's human nature to be competitive and the students compete with themselves to earn their extra credit, at the same time not realizing just how much they're honing their comprehension skills.

By the time these students reach high school, they should be at grade level in their reading skills. However, some students are not. It's important that these students not feel inadequate or embarrassed because they're not where they should be.

For these students, a very special curriculum needs to be developed that takes these students back to the exercises of early elementary but tailored to their current needs.

Before these students can read, they need to want to read. Before they can succeed, they have to achieve it. Before they feel pride, they have to have confidence.

If they're to stay in school, they need to be able to read.

--------------------------------------------

Gracias to Marisa Treviño for allowing us to post this article, which originally ran last month on her informative blog, Latina Lista.

Latina Lista strives to be the premier news site for English-speaking Latinas/os and those interested in the Latino culture and viewpoint. Yet, more importantly, it aims to inspire more Latinas/os to use their own voices in expressing their thoughts and opinions on issues ranging from local to national and international matters.