Peanuts, blueberries, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and more-here is a luscious collection of haiku celebrating foods native to the Americas. Brimming with imagination and fun, these poems capture the tasty essence of foods that have delighted, united, and enriched our lives for centuries.
Americas
Materials from the Americas
Rin, Rin, Rin / Do, Re, Mi
Written in both Spanish and English, a young child asks his parents to “sing to me, say letters to me, rhyme with me, count with me, read with me.” Like Read To Your Bunny, Rin, Rin, Rin/Do, Re, Mi is a book that has two purposes–as a fun picture book and as advice for parents who want to give their children a foundation in literacy. This book features lyrics and music by Jose-Luis Orozco, a beloved performer among Latino communities, as well as wonderful artwork by Caldecott artist David Diaz.
The Secret Stars
In New Mexico on a rainy, icy Night of the Three Kings, Sila and Pepe worry that the kings will not be able to use the stars to navigate, so their grandmother takes them on a magical journey to see the secret stars all around them.
The Big Spanish Heritage Activity Book
This comprehensive activity book for children offers action-packed fun highlighting the contributions of the Hispanic Colonial settlers in the multi-cultural environment of the American Southwest. There are eight sections: The Age of Discovery, The New World, Colonial Life, The Camino Real, The Native Americans, Hispanic Art, Hispanic Architecture, and Hispanic Crafts. Projects are presented in a variety of formats such as illustrations to complete, word searches, matching names and ideas, picture construction, puzzles, and more. This entertaining activity book, richly illustrated by the author, provides a wonderful introduction into the romance and excitement of the Hispanic settlement of America.
A Christmas Surprise For Chabelita
Young Chabelita must stay with her grandparents while her mother lives in a distant town. When Chabelita recites her mother’s favorite poem at her school’s Christmas pageant, she receives a special Christmas surprise. Argentina Palacios is a noted folklorist and Latin American storyteller.
Simon Bolivar (Hispanic Heritage)
Illustrates the exciting story of the military genius and political seer who led much of Central and South America in their successful fight for freedom from Spain.
Baseball on Mars/Beisbol en Marte
Roberto’s dad speaks in Spanish when he gets upset, and boy, is he unhappy today! His lucky chair, the one he sits in to watch his beloved New York Yankees play, is missing. And he needs it for the afternoon game against the Red Sox! Roberto is excited, too. He’s about to take off to Mars on his home-made rocket ship, and his dad’s lucky chair makes a perfect pilot’s seat. When his father finds that the missing chair has become part of the rocket ship in the backyard, he grudgingly tells Roberto he can use it, for now. But it needs to be returned before game time. Roberto’s dad is skeptical about the rocket ship. ”You might have a problem getting off the ground” he says. ”You’re forgetting one little thing; you don’t have an engine!” Soon, he finds himself invited along as co-pilot. And during the exciting flight to Mars, Roberto helps his father rediscover his imagination as they experience an amazing blastoff, wayward asteroids, and even weightlessness. When they finally land, Roberto surprises his father with two baseball gloves and a ball. “Today’s baseball game is on Mars,” he tells his dad. After spending the day playing catch, father and son realize that they speak the same language on the Red Planet. And his dad doesn’t even mind that he missed the Yankees’ game! Children ages 4-8 will want to embark on their own mission to Mars after reading this story that combines vibrant illustrations with a touching story about a father and son’s afternoon adventure.
Prizefighter En Mi Casa
Following a car accident that left her with epilepsy, twelve-year-old Chula–with a little help from a visiting fearsome Mexican boxer–tries to deal with the repercussions her new condition has on her family, neighborhood, and school.
The Throwaway Piece
Jewel is shuttled from one foster home to another. But Jewel wasn’t always a “State Kid.” Her mother Angela’s constant search for happiness through a steady stream of unsavory boyfriends leads to the state’s intervention in Jewel’s life. Listening to her new foster mother’s list of “nos”—no drugs, no lying, no stealing, no skipping school, no boys in or out of the house, no being late—Jewel realizes that her mother said “yes” a lot. Probably too much. She remembers saving Angela’s life when one of many boyfriends beat her, trying to hide another boyfriend’s attempts to rape her when she was fourteen, and being sent to a foster home to please the latest boyfriend. But still, Jewel worries about her mother and knows that she will once again pick up the pieces when the latest jerk leaves. Bit by bit Jewel’s life begins to change for the better after her latest move to a new foster home and school. Although most people can’t see past her tough “State Kid” façade—spray-painted hair, heavy make-up, ripped clothing and unlaced shoes—her English teacher realizes there’s more to her then meets the eye. He convinces Jewel to tutor a fellow student who needs help with math, and gradually she learns how to make friends. In the process, she touches the lives of many people around her, including her social worker, teachers who believe in her, her new-found, tentative friends, and even their parents. But when she’s forced to choose between her life-long job—taking care of her mother”—and doing what’s right for herself, old habits and loyalties are hard to break. Jewel is sure that this time, she can save her mom. But will she be able to save herself?
Messed Up
Fifteen-year-old RD is repeating the eighth grade, planning to have an easy year, but after his grandmother walks out her boyfriend is no longer able to care for him, which leaves RD to fend for himself while avoiding being caught.