By Aracelli Astorga
LatinaLista

Papi’s Gift, by Karen Stanton and illustrated by René King Moreno, tells the story of Graciela, a young girl who lives in a small, Latin American village with her mother and two brothers.

Because it has not rained in a very long time, Graciela’s father has reluctantly left the family to find work in faraway California. Graciela’s Papi phones the family once a week; the phone calls are a mixed blessing: the family is happy to hear from their father, but is left with sadness because Papi does not know when he can return.

During one particular Sunday phone call, Graciela receives some delightful news: Papi has sent her a package for her seventh birthday. It is all Graciela can think about! Every day, she eagerly awaits the delivery; every night, she dreams of the possibilities the package might hold.

Graciela’s birthday comes and goes, and unfortunately, the package never arrives. Graciela is angry, disappointed, and hurt. With time, however, Graciela realizes that it is she who must give Papi a gift.

Papi’s Gift is a heartwarming story. Although the book alludes to the subject of migrant workers, Stanton has clearly captured the true subject of the book: the emotions (sadness, loneliness, hope) involved when a parent must leave loved ones behind for the betterment of the family.

Moreno’s illustrations, meant to look as if drawn by colored pencil, beautifully depict the simplicity of Graciela’s world: her family, her home, her village. Papi’s Gift leaves the reader with an appreciation of a parent’s sacrifice.

Aracelli Astorga is a school librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.

By Pam Burrell
LatinaLista

“As I crouched only a few feet from him, Kingo crouched in front of the camera, feeding on vegetation, seemingly undisturbed. I looked at him and then turned to Andy’s lens and said, ‘Clearly, the silverback is the dominant member of the group.’ I was about to add, ‘But females still exert power,’ when I felt tension brewing behind me. I turned back to see an angry-looking, canine-baring, 400-pound silverback coming straight at me. I guess he disagreed.”

And so shares Mireya Mayor – anthropologist, scientist, explorer, National Geographic correspondent and television host, mother, wife, former NFL cheerleader and now author of Pink Boots and a Machete: My Journey From NFL Cheerleader to National Geographic Explorer

Mayor was raised in Miami, Florida by three strong Cuban women. Her mother (Mami who left Cuba seeking political asylum when she was twenty years old with nothing but the clothes on her back), her Aunt Ica and her Grandmother (Mima).

They made frilly dresses for Mayor to wear, gave her ballet lessons and expected her to be a nurse or a school teacher. But even at the age of four the passion to explore and navigate the waters of the jungle was evident when she would rearrange her dining room chairs into a makeshift canoe while warning her mother to watch out for swarming crocodiles.

Mayor did not take the typical scientist route. In high school, she was a very good student, but admits to being not very good in science and math. Focusing on what her ballet lessons had taught her, she joined her school’s cheerleading squad. High school involved theatre/acting and singing.

After graduation she continued to act, in between mostly dead-in secretarial jobs realizing that the only way out was college. It was during this time that a friend challenged her to audition for the NFL as a professional cheerleader. It is also during this same time that Mayor’s passion for animals and exploring the wild was rekindled.

It wasn’t long before cheerleading took a backseat to studying rare species of animals — the start of her true passion.

Through Mayor’s descriptive yet easy-going language, the reader becomes an explorer. With her words, we are transported into the world of monkeys, gorillas, giraffes, elephants, leopards, sharks, snakes, leeches, and huge spiders.

There were times I felt as if I were reading a travel book and other times a page-turning thriller.

The strength of Mayor’s story/memoir is that she is an incredible role model for women and young girls. She proves to be smart, strong, tenacious and one tough woman in pink boots while defying death, disease and disaster.

With a dry sense of humor she does not always take herself seriously, but always takes her work seriously. She remains true to herself and is not afraid to challenge a system that so blatantly has brought too many of the earth’s species to extinction.

This is an empowering story that should inspire all women and young girls to never give up on their dreams or their desire to live a life they love.

Pam Burrell is a reference librarian in Laredo, Texas and is a member of the Review ‘N Receive program.

By Sarah Dahlen
LatinaLista

Picture a city in the United States with a thriving, vibrant Latino community. Is Allentown, Pennsylvania what comes to mind?

If not, it may be time to read Edgar Sandoval’s book, The New Face of Small-Town America: Snapshots of Latino Life in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

As is clear from the title, this collection of short essays documents more than the lives of Latinos in one small city, but rather captures the spirit of a more widespread demographic trend: increasing numbers of Latinos living in parts of the country where they have not historically resided.

Many of these new Latino residents have relocated to Allentown and the surrounding area from Puerto Rico, others from New York, and they have not always been welcomed to their new home with open arms.

Several of the essays in this volume describe cultural misunderstandings and outright hostility. In fact, Sandoval was hired by a local newspaper to report on and reach out to the Latino community, who felt that they were misrepresented by negative media coverage; his resulting articles compose this volume.

Despite tensions, the book paints an overall picture of a community that has come a long way in accommodating, accepting, and even embracing its new Latino neighbors, who constitute a quarter of its population.

Business owners, including those who are themselves immigrants from Asian countries, have sought out the Latino market, recognizing its purchasing power. Spanish-speakers in Allentown can watch the news, listen to the radio, read library books, and get health care services in their native language.

A quick and enjoyable read, this book makes significant strides toward its stated intent of promoting understanding of universal human experiences and, in particular, the desires that drive relocation: wanting to belong, prosper, and provide a good life for one’s children.

Sarah Dahlen is an university librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.

By Elizabeth Lopez
LatinaLista

What can be more exciting than a surprise? How about a surprise that happens right in the middle of a celebration?

In the delightful Memorial Day Surprise by Theresa Martin Golding and published by Boyds Mills Press, this is exactly what awaits a young boy named Marco during the town’s Memorial Day parade.

Right before leaving for the parade, Mama promises Marco that a surprise is in store for him and tells him they must hurry to get there. Marco and his Mama even skip their usual visit to his grandfather’s house in order to get to the parade on time.

The parade includes everything a child would be excited about: balloons, a marching band, floats, candy and even firefighters too! Full of anticipation, Marco tries his best to guess what Mama’s surprise can be.

As the group of proud veterans marches closer to Marco, he not only discovers the surprise Mama promised, but also the personal connection that he has to the Memorial Day holiday.

Using watercolor and crayon, Alexandra Artigas creates bright two-page spreads throughout the book that are sure to draw children into the parade right along with Marco. As the story builds, the illustrations will also bring joy and smiles to the faces of children.

The theme of the story offers a perfect opportunity to teach children about the veterans honored during Memorial Day. This book makes for a wonderful preschool or family storytime selection for librarians and children will be at the edge of their seats trying to figure out what Marco’s surprise will be. Recommended for ages 4-8.
Elizabeth López is Outreach Librarian for Latino Services in Hillsboro, Oregon. She is a member of the Review ‘N Receive program.

By Sarah Dahlen
LatinaLista
Ciudad Juarez has become an unfortunate symbol of all that is wrong at the U.S./Mexico border: violence, poverty, exploitation, lawlessness. With an average homicide rate of 200 people per month in recent years, this reputation is not entirely undeserved. But Juarez and the rest of the Paso del Norte Region, which includes El Paso, Texas and adjacent areas of New Mexico, is more than the sum of its statistics.

A new collection of articles, Cities and Citizenship at the U.S.-Mexico Border, aims to explore various aspects of this bi-national, tri-state area. Edited by Kathleen Staudt, César Fuentes, and Julia Monárrez Fragoso, this academic volume embodies the interdisciplinary approach necessitated by studies of the border.

The authors, scholars from Mexico and the U.S., come from a wide range of disciplines, including economics, women’s studies, education, political science, and urban planning. Their various approaches are united by the recognition that globalization in this export-processing center has created a regional dynamic worthy of exploration.

At least, that is what several of the book’s contributors achieve. Others present information that is connected to the book’s themes only by coincidence of location and lacks meaningful contextualization.

The result, for the reader, is a greater understanding of the Paso del Norte area, but not necessarily of its uniqueness among border regions.

Despite its faults, this volume makes clear that the fates of these border towns are inextricably connected. Thus, the impunity of those who have murdered women in Juarez leads to a climate in which violence against women is normalized on both sides of the border.

And while economic polarization between rich and poor is particularly pronounced in Mexico, it has carried over into the formation of colonias, unincorporated communities without services or infrastructure, on the U.S. side as well.

For those with an interest in border studies, this book is recommended.

Sarah Dahlen is an university librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.

By Martha Rico
LatinaLista
In the Latino culture, El Dia de los Muertos holds a special significance for families who have loved ones who have died. In Uncle Monarch and the Day of the Dead, by Judy Goldman and illustrated by Rene King Moreno, the story takes a new twist featuring a special bond between an uncle and his niece and their combined love for Monarch butterflies.

Tío Urbano and Lupita have a strong connection; they both enjoy marveling at the sight of Monarch butterflies. They believe that the return of the Monarch signifies that Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is fast approaching.

Tío Urbano teaches Lupita that the Monarchs are the souls of dead ones who have come back to visit. Over the following days, Lupita and her family prepare to celebrate El Día de los Muertos by setting up an arch of flowers and an altar, making special decorations and preparing traditional foods.

Meanwhile, Tío Urbano is not feeling so well and decides to take it easy and supervise the preparations. Several days later, Tio Urbano passes way. Lupita is comforted when she sees the Monarch butterflies flying overhead.

E Día de los Muertos is spent festively, with Tío Urbano on everyone’s mind. Lupita is the only one to be visited by one last Monarch. Believing it is the soul of her beloved uncle, she smiles and whispers one last message to him.

This captivating story is sure to open up a discussion on death and dying. Readers will be quick to tell of a time when a loved one passed away and how they remember their loved one today.

The book also lends itself as an introduction to a lesson or project on Day of the Dead (the tradition is explained on the last page of the book). Spanish words, with a handy glossary at the end of the story, are interspersed throughout the book.

The illustrations are done in colored pencil and compliment the story well. They seem to evoke a sense of peacefulness to the message of the story. Incorporating this tale into a full lesson on Day of the Dead might include pairing this story with others on the same subject such as, Calavera Abecedario by Jeanette Winters or Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life and Death by Amanda Doering.

Martha C. Rico is a school librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.

By Pam Burrell
LatinaLista

Woodburn, Oregon’s population is 51 percent Hispanic and 49 percent Anglo. It has the highest concentration of taquerias in the state and on Saturday afternoons the parks are crowded with Hispanic men’s soccer league games which culminate every August with an intense men’s league tournament called Fiesta Mexicana.

In The Boys from Little Mexico: A Season Chasing the American Dream, journalist Steve Wilson takes us with him as he tags along with the Woodburn High Bulldogs’ all Hispanic soccer team during their season of 2005.

I found the author’s writing electric when he gave a play-by-play analysis of the team’s soccer games. I felt as if I was right there in the stands with the boys’ families and friends experiencing triumph when they won and frustration when they lost.

But, this story is about much more than winning or losing on the soccer field.

It s about a team of young Latinos who consistently work and strive to succeed on and off the field despite the many obstacles they face as teenage Hispanic males in the United States.

Its true strength comes from Wilson’s ability to get the boys to talk about their hopes and their dreams, the past they left behind in their native country of Mexico, and their desire for a successful future whether as a professional soccer player and/or as the first person in their family to graduate from college.

Wilson tells us that, “”Seen on the street, Woodburn’s players are more likely to be identified as gangbangers, thieves, or slick Lotharios than athletes, loving sons, or good students.”

However, throughout this book the actions and the words of these good sons and brothers consistently dispel the stereotypical images of young Hispanic teenagers, and for that alone this is a must-read and a worthy title to be a part of anyone’s library.
Pam Burrell is a reference librarian in Laredo, Texas and is a member of the Review ‘N Receive program.

By Elizabeth Lopez

LatinaLista
My Shoes and I by René Colato Laínez, and published by Boyds Mills Press, is an inspiring story about a boy named Mario and the journey he makes with his father across three borders to the United States from El Salvador.

Shortly before their trip, Mario receives a pair of shoes from his mother as a Christmas gift; they prove to be his source of strength. During their trip, Mario encounters both physical and emotional challenges that include dangerous situations.

In one memorable scene, Mario keeps his determination by telling himself, “Uno, dos, tres, my shoes and I are almost there. We have made it all the way from El Salvador to here. We can finish. Yes, we can.” All the while safeguarding and protecting his beloved shoes.

Colato Laínez successfully portrays the fear, excitement, pain, and sadness that are all often felt by immigrant children on their way to the U.S. from Central and South America.

Fabricio Vanden Broeck uses oil pastels on wood to create rich earthy illustrations that beautifully portray Mario’s emotions. By using wood, Vanden Broeck is also able to create lines that effectively add a sense of movement and action to the storyline as Mario and his father travel through the changing landscape.

The story provides children an opportunity to learn about the value of hope and perseverance through difficult circumstances while at the same time validating the experiences of immigrant children.

This book is a great choice for elementary school teachers on the subject of immigration. Colato Laínez does an excellent job of portraying a difficult situation in a tender but powerful manner. Recommended for children ages 7-9.
Elizabeth López is Outreach Librarian for Latino Services in Hillsboro, Oregon. She is a member of the Review ‘N Receive program.

By Sarah Dahlen

LatinaLista
Writing poetry is an intimate endeavor. Reading it can feel equally intimate when a poem is well written and resonates with its reader. Many poetry fans may never pick up Mariposas: A Modern Anthology of Queer Latino Poetry for fear that its themes would not resonate with them.

These readers would miss many expressive and effective poems about race, politics, injustice, self-realization, family, poverty, and pride. Gay themes are present throughout the book, and while the descriptions of sex may be too graphic for some readers’ tastes, love is the more pervasive motif, and one that is easily related to by readers of any sexual orientation.

Like many anthologies, however, Mariposas is uneven. The 17 poets whose work appears in this volume, edited by Emanuel Xavier, range from college students to college professors, medical doctors to activists.

Aside from two Argentineans, all live in the United States and are Latino, though this term is used here in its male-only sense, with no queer Latinas represented. While it is admirable that Xavier gives voice to this underrepresented demographic, he would have done better to be more selective, as several contributors have not yet hit their poetic stride.

It is well worth sorting through the chaff to arrive at stunning lines such as these from Brandon Lacy Campos’ poem about Hurricane Katrina, Las Tormentas: “poor people in motion/because 1,000,000 is an army/a liberation brigade/that says we will not go back to the ghettos/we will not go back to full time jobs/that pay for a part-time life/we will not go back because that has been washed away/and the wave is moving forward.”

Other highlights include the works of the editor, who in Writer’s Block talks about the disillusionment and ambivalence felt after being gay-bashed by fellow Latinos. If only for gems such as these, Mariposas merits the reader’s consideration.

By Lisa Lopez
LatinaLista

The book “My Name is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River” by Jane Medina is a vivid portrait of a young boy’s personal experience in a new country. Through bilingual poetic prose, the author manages to capture the constant struggles a Mexican family endures while crossing over the Rio Grande to the United States.

Hardships such as making new acquaintances, learning a new language, adapting to new customs, and retaining old values to survive are all poetically presented in this captivating collection of short poems.

As it is written from Jorge’s point of view, the book presents his perspective on hearing his name pronounced with an English accent and to his disappointment, English language acquisition presents a huge obstacle.

Jorge’s new educational experiences revolve around his time in the classroom where invisibility is desired so as to go on unnoticed in order to avoid being laughed at. A clear comparison between the Mexican and American educational systems is presented when Jorge realizes that he was smarter in his native tongue and land.

The poems express the heart-felt sorrow that Mexican-Americans endure in order to adapt and flourish in a land where acceptance is not easily acquired. The author’s poetry is sure to captivate readers of immigrant roots and for bilingual classrooms where educators may emphasize Jorge’s universal struggles to adapt in a new country.

This poetry collection is bound to be cherished by many!

Lisa Lopez is a school librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.