Americas

Materials from the Americas

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.

Béisbol!

Presents profiles of fourteen Latino baseball players who, from 1900 through the 1960s, were pioneers of the sport in their home countries and the United States.

The Cucuy Stole My Cascarones/El Coco Me Rob Los Cascarones

Mighty Monster Mysteries! Roberto and his mother made thirty dozen confetti-filled eggs, or cascarones, for his birthday party. Roberto can’t wait to crack the hollowed, painted and confetti-stuffed eggs over his friends’ heads. But, when he goes to the kitchen to get the cascarones, they’re gone! The only clue they ever existed is a trail of confetti that leads to a shadow.

Angels Ride Bikes And Other Fall Poems: Los Angeles Andan Bicicletas

A bilingual collection of poems by a renowned Mexican-American poet revisits and celebrates his childhood memories of fall in the city and growing up in Los Angeles. By the creators of Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems. 10,000 first printing.

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.

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.

Poems to Dream Together / Poemas Para Sonar Juntos

A collection of poems in English and Spanish discusses imagination, dreams, family, and growing up in California and in Mexico.

Calling The Doves/El Canto De Las Palomas: El Canto De Las Palomas

In this bilingual autobiography, the Mexican American poet Juan Felipe Herrera describes his childhood in California as the son of migrant workers. The author recalls his childhood in the mountains and valleys of California with his farmworker parents who inspired him with poetry and song. A rich, personal narrative about growing up as a migrant farmworker. Herrera relates how he learned to love the land from his father, and poetry from his mother. He uses lyrical passages to portray everyday life, e.g., the ritual of breakfast: The sky was my blue spoon – the wavy clay of the land was my plate. The colored-pencil and acrylic illustrations are bright and at times fanciful. Simmon’s artwork brings to life Herrera’s words, which are printed in both English and Spanish.

Pepita Talks Twice / Pepita Habla Dos Veces

Pepita, a little girl who can converse in Spanish and English, decides not to “speak twice” until unanticipated problems cause her to think twice about her decision.