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For the rest of the week, I will be sharing my picks for Latino, Asian, and African heritage children. I do want to say, though, that if you adopt a child from one heritage you should still own books from the others. Our children need to know we value all races and cultures. And for those of you who aren't adopting, you should own plenty of multicultural books for your children, too.
Here are my favorite picture books for Latino children.
This is from the Indestructibles Series. It's set in Bolivia and the illustrations are beautiful . . . which is important because there isn't any text. Perfect for babies and toddlers because they can chew it; you can wash it — it's indestructible!
Diez Deditos: Ten Little Fingers & Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs from Latin America
This is an illustrated book of traditional Latin American songs. A great way to spend time moving and dancing with your young child (ages 2-6). The accompanying CD is superb– lively and cheerful–a must if you aren't a native Spanish speaker.
The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred
Artwork is fun and fantastic! This is a tale similar to The House That Jack Built — only it's not as annoying. It also sneaks in some Spanish vocabulary (with a pronunciation guide in the back). The first time you say the word, it's in English. "This is the pot that the farm maiden stirred." The second time you say the word, it's in Spanish! The story is not as repetitive as good old Jack . . . or There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly. Promise. The other great thing about this book is that it comes complete with a recipe for Arroz con Leche. Yum.
If you have Latino children in your home, you simply must learn more about Monica Brown. She is a wonderful author, and I {heart} all of her books that we have read.
Waiting for the Biblioburro is set in Colombia. Yippee! It's a sweet tale of real-life Luis Soriano who travels by donkey through the mountains and valleys to bring children in rural Colombia books.
Ana loves stories. She often makes them up to help her little brother fall asleep. But in her small village there are only a few books and she has read them all. One morning, Ana wakes up to the clip-clop of hooves, and there before her, is the most wonderful sight: a traveling library resting on the backs of two burros–all the books a little girl could dream of, with enough stories to encourage her to create one of her own. –from amazon.com
Other Books by Monica Brown
Monica Brown has written multiple books featuring important people from the Latino culture. When Latino children read these books, they are given role models and reasons to be proud of their Latin American roots.
My favorite Brown book is My Name is Gabriela, a biography about the woman from Chile who was the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. One of the most delightful children's biography books I have ever read.
We also own Tito Puente, Mambo King. It's another fun biography capturing the details of Puente's life and the energy that is music!
Other biography books by Monica Brown include:
Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People (born in Chile)
My Name is Celia (Cuban born salsa singer)
Pele, King of Soccer (born in Brazil)
My Name is Gabito (writer born in Colombia)
This book doesn't tell you the setting, but the author, Leyla Torres, was born in Colombia. Therefore, I choose Colombia as the setting of this book. It's logical.
Maria Lili spends every Saturday preparing chicken sancocho with her grandparents, Mama Ana and Papa Angelino. Unfortunately, this Saturday they have only a dozen eggs and none of the necessary ingredients. Fortunately, Mama Ana has an idea. She sets off for the market with Maria Lili and they begin to trade with each vendor: eggs for plantains, plantains for cassava, cassava for corn, and so on until they have all the ingredients they need. The story concludes with a tantalizing recipe for this popular South American stew. –from School Library Journal
I was delightfully surprised by this sweet story set in Mexico. The theme of redemption runs long and strong throughout the tale.
One night Rosalinda is awakened by a noise inthe family's garden. She is astonished to see a man creeping away with a sack of fruit from her beloved lemon tree. Rosalinda seeks out La Anciana for advice. The wise old woman offers an inventive way to help the tree and the man driven to steal her lemons. — Chicago Tribune
Travel Peru to Cusco to celebrate the Inti Raymi festival. My favorite part of this book comes after the story: 9 pages of information about Peru, the Andes, and the Incans. Fun and educational.
Guided by her grandmother, Abuela weaves wonderful tapestries and takes them to market to sell. This story is set in Guatemala and captures the beauty of the people and places.
If you have adopted from Guatemala, you may also want to consider Guataemala ABCs by Marcie Aboff.
This funny book by Gary Soto is set in Mexico. The old man has a bit of a problem listening to his wife. When she tells him to take a pig (el puerco) to roast at a party, he thinks she says the door (la puerta)! The door comes in handy throughout the tale and is sure to produce grins and giggles. Spanish words are scattered throughout the text.
Diego and his family are migrant farmers who move from state to state picking fruits and vegetables. Each day brings a new experience–a different place, a different crop, and different people to meet. But no matter where Diego goes, his radio goes with him–it helps him to learn about the places he's going and to keep in touch with the people he meets along the way. -from amazon.com
In this book, Arthur Dorros portrays migrant families as amazingly hard working, and it instills a real respect and sense of pride for the people who pick crops so we can enjoy them.
This story also provides a starting point for learning about racial stereotypes. Someone may ask your children if they are migrant worker's children. Others will accuse them of being illegal immigrants. This book is a great way to introduce these hard-must-discuss issues.
I also think it's interesting to see how Diego retains a connection to his culture through his radio. It is a subtle reminder that we need to find ways to keep our children connected.
More Books
I've listed my favorites above, but the following good books feature Latino characters, too, and have been read again and again in our home:
On the Pampas by Maria Cristina Brusca
South American cowboy life on the Argentina pampas.
Alejandro's Gift by Richard E. Albert
A lonely man living in the Southwest shows kindness to the desert animals.
The Gold Coin by Alma Flor Ada
A circular story of a thief who may not be what he thinks he is.
The Gullywasher by Joyce Rossi
A series of tall tales told to Felicia by her Abuelito. Set in the Southwest. Funny and fun.
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting
A young Mexican-American boy helps his grandfather find work as a gardener. A story of honesty and industry.
Picture Books for Adoptive Families is part of iHomeschool Network's Summer Hopscotch. Check out the other series here!
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