The Latino Holiday Book

The Latino Holiday Book

by Valerie Menard

This book is not a new release, however, it is just as valuable a resource today as it was when it first came out in 2000. The Latino Holiday Book is more appropriate for older children and adults who are looking to explore their heritage more thoroughly.

Inside the pages of this book you will find the special holidays and traditions celebrated by Hispanic Americans. From Día de los Reyes to the Feast of San Juan Bautista to Día de los Muertos, Menard gives a detailed account of each celebration. She describes not only the origins and social history, but also how the holiday is celebrated today. Scattered thoughout the book are recipes, activities, and fun facts to accentuate the text. Menard also discusses in great length weddings, birthdays, and quinceañeras.

This book is a great resource for the Latino family home library. Parents can quickly reference its pages for ideas on celebrating any given holiday, or simply to find conversation starters!

In addition, Menard includes a directory of Latino Organizations in the United States (organized by state) in the back of the book, as well as a bibliography for additional reading.

To purchase your own copy of The Latino Holiday Gift Guide, click here. We have both new and gently used copies availabe in the store.

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People

By Monica Brown. Illustrated by Julie Paschkis.

    •    Pub. Date: March 2011
    •    Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 

    •    Format: Hardcover , 32pp
    •    ISBN-13: 9780805091984

Once there was a little boy named Neftalí who loved wild things wildly and quiet things quietly. From the moment he could talk, he surrounded himself with words. Neftalí discovered the magic between the pages of books. When he was sixteen, he began publishing his poems as Pablo Neruda.

Pablo wrote poems about the things he loved—things made by his friends in the café, things found at the marketplace, and things he saw in nature. He wrote about the people of Chile and their stories of struggle. Because above all things and above all words, Pablo Neruda loved people.

Biblioburro: a true story from colombia

Biblioburro: a true story from colombia

by Jeanette Winter

What a treasure this little book is! Biblioburro is based on the true story of Luis Soriano, a bibliophile and school teacher, whose desire to share the beauty of words with others takes him on a selfless mission throughout the isolated villages of northern Colombia. In 2000, Luis began carrying books to the people in remote areas of his country. His initial collection of 70 books has grown to over 4,800!

Winter tells the joyful story of how Luis began his work and some of his experiences as the mobile "librarian" who delivers books with the help of his burros, Alfa and Beto. 

Winter's folk-like artwork is - as usual - a visual treat for children, and captures the tropical setting beautifully. My own children enjoyed drawing scenes and characters from this book after reading it.

You can read more about Luis's fascinating story in this 2008 New York Time's article. I think you might love him by the end. (And be sure to take a look at the slideshow!)

To purchase your own copy of Biblioburro, please click here. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC's online bookstore.

Bilingual Books to Celebrate Mother's Day

Floating on Mama's Song

by Laura Lacamara

Mama Goose

by Alma Flor Ada

Tortillitas para Mamá and Other Nursery Rhymes

(Bilingual Edition in Spanish and English)

by Margot C. Griego, Betsy L. Bucks, Sharon S. Gilbert and Laurel H. Kimball

Quiero a mi Mama Porque (I Love my Mommy Because)

(Spanish and English Edition)

by Laurel Porter-Gaylord and Ashley Wolff

I'm Just Like My Mom/Me parezco tanto a mi mama

by Jorge Ramos and Akemi Gutierrez

¿Cómo es tu mamá? (Ojitos Pajaritos)
By Álvarez Rosanela

May's Libro del Mes: Salsa Stories by Lulu Delacre

Salsa Stories

Illustrated by Lulu Delacre

The LBBC’s recommendation for January’s Libro del Mes, is Lulu Delacre’s Salsa Stories.

We’ve had several requests for reviews of more books geared towards older children. And while we plan to continue to share with you new picture books for younger kids, we are planning to add a section for those of you with older children. It has been a delight to watch the Latino children’s literature market expand over the last few years, but there continues to be a need for more Latino children’s books and authors.

We are pleased that our Libro del Mes reflects the diversity within the Latino culture.

Salsa Stories is a collection of stories held together by one main character, Carmen Teresa, who receives the gift of a journal one New Year’s Eve night. To help her fill the pages, family and friends from all over Latin America each share a story from their childhood. Each story centers around either a typical food dish or a holiday celebrated in their respective country: Holy Week in Guatemala; tortillas from Cuba; the Night of San Juan in Puerto Rico; alfajores in Buenos Aires; the procession for the Lord of Miracles in Peru; and so on.

And the best part of this book may be that Delacre has included a chapter in the back with recipes from the stories! Yum!

While this is not a children’s picture book, Delacre has included illustrations in the form of linocuts, a type of relief printing which is created using similar techniques and tools to those used in the woodcut process. This style gives the book a very folkloric feel and allows older children to enjoy the illustrations without feeling baby-ish.

Salsa Stories is written in English with embedded Spanish text. Delacre does, however, include a glossary in the back of the book.

Parents and teachers: this book is perfect if you are discussing diversity within the Latino culture. It provides seven stories, reflecting different stories from six Spanish-speaking regions: Peru, Puerto Rico, Buenos Aires, Cuba, Mexico, and Guatemala. Other topics include extended family, food and culture, holidays, Latin America, and more. This book is best suited for children ages 7 – 12.

Last year we were lucky to share with you our interview with Lulu Delacre - she is a talented and fascinating author and illustrator. You can also visit her website to learn more about the linocut process and for an additional student activity related to Salsa Stories.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Salsa Stories, 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.