Bilingual

Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems On Growing Up Hispanic In The United States (Edge Books)

Growing up Latino in America means speaking two languages, living two lives, learning the rules of two cultures. Cool Salsa celebrates the tones, rhythms, sounds, and experiences of that double life. Here are poems about families and parties, insults and sad memories, hot dogs and mangos, the sweet syllables of Spanish and the snag-toothed traps of English. Here is the glory, and pain, of being Latino American.Latino Americans hail from Cuba and California, Mexico and Michigan, Nicaragua and New York, and editor Lori M. Carlson has made sure to capture all of those accents. With poets such as Sandra Cisneros, Martiacute;n Espada, Gary Soto, and Ed Vega, and a very personal introduction by Oscar Hijuelos, this collection encompasses the voices of Latino America. By selecting poems about the experiences of teenagers, Carlson has given a focus to that rich diversity; by presenting the poems both in their original language and in translation, she has made them available to us all.As you move from memories of red wagons, to dreams of orange trees, to fights with street gangs, you feel Cool Salsa’s musical and emotional cross rhythms. Here is a world of exciting poetry for you, y tuacute; tambieacute;n.

Canto Familiar

Twenty-five poems about the pleasures and woes that Mexican American children experience growing up. Simple poems, many involving Mexican Americans, celebrate experiences at school, home, and in the street. A companion to Neighborhood Odes, (1992). Touching, vibrant, and humorous, this lively collection of poems accompanied by beautiful illustrations celebrates childhood and the Mexican American experience. Invoking ordinary domestic and community incidents, it’ a fine introduction not only to poetry but to Chicano culture. Nelson debuts with scenes–homey, comfortable, bright–that make the book even more accessible.

Rubber Shoes / Los Zapatos De Goma: A Lesson in Gratitude / Una Leccin De Gratitud

This book is a bilingual picture book about a little girl who tries to destroy the ugly shoes her mother bought for her on sale. After many failed attempts, she finally learns a valuable lesson in gratitude.

Pink Fire Trucks / Los camiones de bomberos de color rosado

Spirited Gladys Elizabeth is at it again! It is career day at school and Gladys Elizabeth boldly announces that she is going to be a firegirl. After a classmate tells her that girls cannot fight fires.

I Am Rene, The Boy/ Soy Rene, El Nino

When René learns that in the United States his name is also a girl’s name, he does some research and relates the name’s meaning and letters to his homeland of El Salvador and the things that make him special.

Let’s Salsa / Bailemos Salsa

Estella can’t help but giggle when she sees her neighbors, Dona Rosa and Dona Maria, shaking their hips while dancing and sweating at an exercise class at the community recreation center. A few days later, when her mother complains about gaining weight, Estella encourages her to join the class.

Let’s Salsa / Bailemos Salsa has been discussed in My Take/Your Take for September 2020.

Green Corn Tamales / Tamales De Elote

GREEN CORN TAMLAES – TAMALES DE ELOTE narrates the experience of one small girl growing up in an Hispanic-American family which gathers every year at grandmother’s ranch to make wonderful green corn tamales

Cada Niño/Every Child

In “Cada Nino / Every Child, “acclaimed singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa presents eleven bilingual songs especially for children. Some are playful toe-tappers like “The Barnyard Dance / El Baile Vegetal” where all the peas and greens and cabbage and beans shimmy in the pale moonlight; some are ballads, telling stories about the Mexican Revolution; while some are lullabies, sweet and dreamy, or celebrations of a grandmother’s love. But all of the songs will teach children about the rich mixture of Latino and American culture and tradition that is spreading out from the border across the United States. Every song is presented in both Spanish and English. Lyrics, music and guitar chords will help kids, parents and teachers to sing and play these wonderful songs themselves. Tish Hinojosa grew up in San Antonio in a house full of music. Moving with equal grace through folk, country, pop and Hispanic idioms, Tish’s music is known for dissolving the boundaries between cultures, languages and musical genres. Her CD “Cado Nino /Every Child “garnered a Parent’s Choice Gold Award and an award from the National Association of Parenting Publications. Hinojosa’s music has been widely praised in the national press and she has appeared on “Austin City Limits, Good Morning America, ” and at the White House for former President and Mrs. Clinton. Tish lives in Austin, Texas. Lucia Angela Perez illustrated her first book, “Little Gold Star/ Estrellita de Oro, “with her mother, Gloria Osuna Perez. The book and the poignant story of this mother and daughter was featured on National Public Radio. “Little Gold Star “was chosen by Nick Jr. Magazine as one of the 30 best books of the year 2000. “Cada Nino / Every Child “is Lucia Angela Perez’ second book. Lucia lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dale, Dale, Dale/Hit It, Hit It, Hit It: Una fiesta de números/A Fiesta of Numbers

“In this bilingual counting picture book, a young boy counts to fourteen in anticipation of his birthday party: one piñata filled with candy; two hours until the party; three tables set for all of the guests, etc.”

My Very Own Room/Mi Propio Cuartito

With the help of her family, a resourceful Mexican-American girl with two parents, five little brothers, and visiting relatives realizes her dream of having a space of her own to read and to think. Based on the author’s own childhood.