Purpose:
This cultural text set seeks to provide 2nd through 6th grade students with a variety of literature that they can be proud of because it represents the Latino heritage and its contributions to art and literature. Perhaps most importantly for my fearful students though, this cultural text set is anchored by a text that celebrates the depth of courage immigrants face as they struggle to claim a life for themselves and their families.
Anchor Text:
Somos Como Las Nubes: We are like the clouds by Jorge Argueta. This bilingual book is actually a collection of poems that acknowledge the experiences of the children and youth who have left their homes in Central America, often alone, and traveled north to the United States. The author shares a note that explains that he, too, was an immigrant child, having fled his home during the war in El Salvador in the 1980s. In the voices of the poet, the children’s hopes, dreams and fears are recognized. The poems celebrate the courage of these young people, share their fears of the gangs, the vigilantes, and the unknown, and exult in the triumph of those who make their way into the arms of loved ones in the United States. While the content is complex, the poems are written in clear and concise vocabulary that even students as young as 2nd grade will be able to understand. Furthermore, the bilingual format respectfully shares the message with English Learners, often incorporating terms that are specific to their countries of origin, a technique which further honors their heritage.
Somos Como Las Nubes: We are like the clouds by Jorge Argueta. This bilingual book is actually a collection of poems that acknowledge the experiences of the children and youth who have left their homes in Central America, often alone, and traveled north to the United States. The author shares a note that explains that he, too, was an immigrant child, having fled his home during the war in El Salvador in the 1980s. In the voices of the poet, the children’s hopes, dreams and fears are recognized. The poems celebrate the courage of these young people, share their fears of the gangs, the vigilantes, and the unknown, and exult in the triumph of those who make their way into the arms of loved ones in the United States. While the content is complex, the poems are written in clear and concise vocabulary that even students as young as 2nd grade will be able to understand. Furthermore, the bilingual format respectfully shares the message with English Learners, often incorporating terms that are specific to their countries of origin, a technique which further honors their heritage.
La Fiesta de Las Tortillas: The Fiesta of the Tortillas by Jorge Argueta. Many of our students of Latino descent can relate to Kiko, the narrator of this story. Like him, they live with extended family in one dwelling. Like him, the preparation of tortillas is a daily event in their kitchens. Like him, everyone in the household is responsible for some element of meal. Kiko’s story incorporates those qualities that are well-defined in the multigenerational family setting. Since this is told from the viewpoint of a child, the language is accessible to students as young as kindergarten. The use of terms like comadore, comal, and hornilla bring the students’ culture directly into the library and the moment of reading. In fact, there is a beautiful glossary that allows the reader to fully access the cultural elements of this story. This book lends itself to pleasure reading, but it could also be used to discuss the elements of family and tradition.
Grandma’s Chocolate: El Chocolate de Abuelita by Mara Price. Anyone who has ever tasted Mexican hot chocolate, that rich hot drink made from blocks of dark, rich imported chocolate will appreciate this book. Young and old readers alike will enjoy learning about the history of the Aztecs and Mayans while connecting with the narrator’s sense of wonder at the gifts her visiting grandmother brings to the U.S. One of those gifts, the chunks of chocolate, are turned into a delicious shared beverage. The tender moments between the granddaughter and grandmother evoke emotions with which many of us who live far from relatives can deeply empathize. Our immigrant students will see themselves reflected in the simple act of enjoying a hot chocolate with grandmother. The story is content rich in regard to historical facts and terminology, but it is written with low complexity of language so that even our younger students can engage with the story. This would be a terrific book to use as an introduction to a unit on either the Aztecs or the Mayans.
Growing up with tamales: Los tamales de Ana by Gwendolyn Zepeda. Gwendolyn Zepeda presents a thrilling look at the stages of responsibility that a young Latino girl, Ana, progresses through from early childhood until her adult years. The chores and obligations at each age center around the making of tamales, which is a cultural tradition in Ana’s home. With each turn of the page, the young reader is able to make connections to his or her own experiences. This book would be a wonderful addition to a library storytime for all grades, K - 6, that is followed by a tamale making activity in the makerspace. The text is not complex, clearly written as being told from a young girl’s perspective. The beautiful illustrations, filled with gold, yellow and orange, call to mind the paintings of famed Mexican artist, Diego Rivera.
Ramon remembers: A story about living in a new place from MisCositasTV. This short video, found at youtu.be/CZ1P9AvUXeA, combines audio narration with vibrantly colored images to tell Ramon’s story. Ramon is a young boy who has immigrated to the US from Colombia. When the story begins, Ramon is pictured as homesick and sad while thinking about the home and friends he left behind. However, over the course of his story, Ramon learns that his new home can be a place of joy and that he can experience friendships and adventures just like he had in Colombia. The language employed in the narration is low in complexity, making the message accessible to English Learners as young as kindergarten. However, the message is valid for all elementary aged students. I believe this video could be applied during an ELD lesson on community, friendship, or belonging.
!Del corazon!: Latino Voices in American Art is a website hosted by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This website (https://2.americanart.si.edu/education/corazon/) features 12 pieces of artwork from prominent Latino-American artists. The site, while mostly being useful as an educational tool for older students, is accessible by young students, older students and adults. By presenting information bilingually, the Smithsonian reaches multiple age groups and education levels. The site not only showcases the works of Latino artists, it also presents the artists biographies to the viewer. There are a variety of ways to expose students to the information contained in the site. Lesson plans ranging from grades 4 - 12 are available for six of the pieces, each teaching the idea of cultural awareness and respect and Latino history. The lesson plans are standards-based and support social science and art education frameworks. The site can also be employed as an additional resource for highlighting the cultural contributions of Latino-Americans.
Hispanic Heritage at a Glance by Britannica School. The encyclopedia article (http://school.eb.com/levels/middle/article/Hispanic-heritage-at-a-glance/628199) provides a brief introduction that defines the breadth of backgrounds that make up the Hispanic or Latino cultures. It then offers a plethora of links to articles celebrating the achievements of Hispanic Americans in activism, the arts, business, government and military, literature and journalism, science and sports. Due to the complex language and some concept topics like the ones discussed in the links about scientists, these articles are most appropriate for research projects in grades four and older, although teachers of second and third grade could scaffold the information found within in order to make it accessible to younger students as well.