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National Education Association's Bilingual Booklist
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When I Was Puerto Rican
by Esmeralda SantiagoOne of "The Best Memoirs of a Generation" (Oprah's Book Club): a young woman's journey from the mango groves and barrios of Puerto Rico to Brooklyn, and eventually on to Harvard In a childhood full of tropical beauty and domestic strife, poverty and tenderness, Esmeralda Santiago learned the proper way to eat a guava, the sound of tree frogs, the taste of morcilla, and the formula for ushering a dead baby's soul to heaven. But when her mother, Mami, a force of nature, takes off to New York with her seven, soon to be eleven children, Esmeralda, the oldest, must learn new rules, a new language, and eventually a new identity. In the first of her three acclaimed memoirs, Esmeralda brilliantly recreates her tremendous journey from the idyllic landscape and tumultuous family life of her earliest years, to translating for her mother at the welfare office, and to high honors at Harvard.
The Tortilla Factory
by Gary PaulsenIn clear and eloquent language, Gary Paulsen pays tribute to a cycle of life--from seed to plant to tortilla. Workers till the black soil, operate the clanking machinery of the factory, and drive the trucks that deliver the tortillas back into the hands that will plant the yellow seeds. With Ruth Wright Paulsen’s expressive paintings, The Tortilla Factory brings forth the poetry and beauty of a simple way of life. “This title is beautiful to look at, and will also fit nicely into units on food, regional culture, art, and many other topics.”--School Library Journal
Too Many Tamales
by Gary SotoAs she helped her mother prepare the tamales for Christmas dinner, Maria slipped her mother's diamond ring onto her finger for just a moment. But suddenly, the ring was gone, and there were 24 tamales that just might contain the missing ring. "A warm family story that combines glowing art with a well-written text to tell of a girl's dilemma."--School Library Journal, starred review.
Tomás and the Library Lady
by Pat MoraTomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields.
At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart.
"There are more stories in the library," Papa Grand tells him. The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him.
Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible.
Raul Colón's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.
[This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts for K-1 at http://www.corestandards.org.]
The Desert Is My Mother / El Desierto Es Mi Madre
by Pat MoraThis beautifully written and illustrated book will inspire children with its artistry, imagination, and spirit. A young girl embarks on a poetic journey through the desert, discovering the many gifts that nature offers. Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.
Taking Sides
by Gary SotoFourteen-year-old Lincoln Mendoza, an aspiring basketball player, must come to terms with his divided loyalties when he moves from the Hispanic inner city to a white suburban neighborhood.
Silent Dancing
by Judith Ortiz CoferSilent Dancing is about a young girl as she struggles through life, constantly being moved from the U.S. to Puerto Rico, and back again.
The Secret of Two Brothers
by Irene Beltrán Hernández21-year-old Beaver tries to create a decent life for himself and his brother following his mother's death and his own stint in prison. The story explores maintaining a family against difficult odds and trying to live an honorable life.
Rain of Gold
by Victor Edmundo VillaseñorThe book follows two people and their families different journeys through the hard times of the Mexican Revolution and into U.S. and the different lives waiting for them. They meet new challenges and learn to adjust there.
Platero y yo / Platero and I
by Juan Ramón Jiménez and Myra Cohn Livingston and Joseph F. DomínguezIn English and Spanish, this book presents a picture of life in the town of Moguer, in Andalusia, Spain, as seen through the eyes of a wandering poet and his faithful donkey.
Paco and the Witch
by Felix PitreA young boy is trapped by a crafty witch who will not free him unless he can guess her name. A Puerto Rican folk tale, with a glossary to help young readers understand the Spanish words.
Pacific Crossing
by Gary SotoFourteen-year-old Mexican American Lincoln Mendoza spends a summer with a host family in Japan, encountering new experiences and making new friends.
Next Year in Cuba
by Gustavo Pérez FirmatThis is a personal account of a young Cuban's departure from his native country and his assimilation of American culture and values, including marriage to an American, raising an American family, teaching at an American university .
Margaret and Margarita
by Lynn ReiserWords can be a bridge, or a barrier. In this bilingual book the adults immediately respond to the differences. Their words make a barrier. The children recognize similarities. Playing with words. They make a bridge of language and friendship for themselves and their parents. Las palabras pueden ser un puente, o una barrera. En este libro bilingüe los adultos responden inmediatamente a las diferencias. Sus palabras hacen una barrera. Los niños reconocen semejanzas. El jugar con palabras. Hacen un puente de lengua y de la amistad para sí mismos y sus padres.
Los Perros Magicos de Los Volcanes / Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes
by Manlio Argueta and Stacey RossWhen the magic dogs who live on the volcanoes of El Salvador and protect the villagers from harm are pursued by wicked lead soldiers, they are aided by two ancient volcanoes. In Spanish and English.
El Loro en el Horno
by Analia Bermejo and Victor MartinezManny Hernandez es un joven de 14 anos que debe enfrentarse a ese momento crucial en su vida.
Winner of the Pura Belpre Medal
Local News
by Gary SotoA collection of thirteen short stories about the everyday lives of Mexican American young people in California's Central Valley.
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly
by Juan Felipe HerreraA collection of poems in Spanish and English about childhood, place, and identity.
Journey of the Sparrows
by Fran Leeper BussMaria and her brother and sister, Salvadoran refugees, are smuggled into the United States in crates and try to eke out a living in Chicago with the help of a sympathetic family.
Hello, Amigos!
by Tricia Brown"Extends a warm invitation to share (Frankie Valdez's birthday and) to sample his culture's traditional festivities".--Booklist.
Hairs / Pelitos
by Sandra CisnerosIn English and Spanish, a child describes how each person in the family has hair that looks and acts different, Papas like a broom, Kikis like fur, and Mamas with the smell of warm bread.
Going Home
by Nicholasa MohrFeeling like an outsider when she visits her relatives in Puerto Rico for the first time, eleven-year-old Felita finds herself having to come to terms with the heritage she always took for granted.
The Forty-Third War
by Louise MoeriTwelve-year-old Uno is conscripted into the army of a revolutionary force in a Central American country that is fighting for its freedom.