Fortunately, there are several awards offered each year that recognize excellence in children’s and young adult books with Latina/o characters and themes.

For example, the Pura Belpré Awards recognize Latina/o writers and illustrators “whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”  This year’s Pura Belpré Award winners are, as usual, an excellent group.

The 2011 Author Award Winner is Pam Muñoz Ryan, for her book The Dreamer (Scholastic, 384 pages, grades 4-9).  The Dreamer reimagines the youth of the poet Pablo Neruda, who was born in Chile with the name Neftalí Reyes. The book explores Reyes’s self-discovery as a creative force and the development of his worldview and poetic voice.  This journey of discovery is impeded by Reyes’s domineering father, who wants Neftalí to become a successful businessman instead of an artist. Muñoz Ryan has been lauded for her “lyrical, minimalistic text” and poems in the style of Neruda.

One reviewer at Amazon.com summed up the book’s themes nicely:

Though written for children, it is a story readers of all ages will find much value in: a tale of perseverance and poetry, family and power, art and identity, written in Ryan’s sure and slightly unconventional hand. She asks her audience to ponder with Neftalí questions such as, “Where is the heaven of lost stories? Who spins the elaborate web that entraps the timid spirit? What wisdom does the eagle whisper to those who are learning to fly?” Peter Sis’s drawings that accompany the tale are airy and fantastical — a perfect illustration of Neftalí’s thoughts and experiences.

The 2011 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner is Eric Velasquez, for the book he wrote and illustrated, Grandma’s Gift (Walker Publishing Company, 40 pages, grades K-3). Set in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the book traces the details of young Eric’s day as he prepares for a traditional Puerto Rican Christmas celebration with his grandmother, then moves to a trip to the museum to view the work of Diego Velázquez as part of a homework assignment.  Seeing Eric’s fascination with the artwork, Eric’s grandmother gives him a special gift: a set of colored pencils and a sketchbook.< The committee issuing the illustration award noted the way Velasquez’s use of oil on watercolor paper allows for a warmth and depth of detail, and highlighted as well how he uses color and light to mirror the moods of the book’s characters.

The runners-up for the 2011 Pura Belpré prize include the following Author Honor Books:

¡Ole! Flamenco, written and illustrated by George Ancona, (Lee and Low Books, 48 pages, grades 3-5)

This book provides an excellent introduction to Flamenco’s highly expressive form of dancing, singing, and guitar playing. In this book students learn how to move their hands, arms, bodies, and feet to the traditional rhythms of the music. Each aspect of flamenco is explored in detail, as are the origins of the art form in India, North Africa, and the Arab world.  This photo essay also takes the reader to Santa Fe’s annual Spanish Market in July, where we see younger and older dancers perform in the town plaza.

The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cub , written by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt and Company, 160 pages, grades 6-12)

In the middle of the nineteenth century, women and girls in Cuba didn’t have the freedom to roam. Yet when Fredrika Bremer visits from Sweden in 1851 to learn about the people of this magical island, she is accompanied by Cecilia, a young slave who longs for her lost home in Africa. Soon Elena, the wealthy daughter of the house, sneaks out to join them. As the three women explore the lush countryside, they form a bond that breaks the barriers of language and culture.

90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis (Roaring Brook Press, 304 pages, grades 4-7)

When Julian’s parents make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two brothers away from Cuba to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan–which moved 14,000 children between 1960 and 1962–the boys are thrust into a new world where bullies run rampant and it’s not always clear how best to protect themselves.  The book was inspired by Flores-Glabis’s own experiences as a child in Operation Pedro Pan, and features well-developed characters and a fast-moving story.

The Pura Belpré committee also honored these runners-up with Illustrator Honor Books awards:

Fiesta Babies, illustrated Amy Cordova and written by Carmen Tafolla (Tricycle Press, 24 pages, grades preK-3)

Me, Frida, illustrated by David Diaz and written by Amy Novesky (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, grades K-3)

Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco with her husband, the famous artist Diego Rivera, who was painting murals for the Pacific Stock Exchange. It is the first time she has left her home in Mexico. And Frida wants to be a painter too. However, as Frida begins to explore San Francisco on her own, she discovers more than the beauty, diversity, and exuberance of America. She finds the inspiration she needs to become one of the most celebrated artists of all time.  Booklist described the book’s charcoal and acrylic paintings as “glowing with warm, vibrant colors” that combine to “create distinctive, statuesque people within imaginatively conceived landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors.”

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin, written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, grades K-3)

Don’t freak out, however, if the children in your life weren’t babbling in two languages before they could walk.  There are developmental changes in the brain around puberty that may make learning language a bit more difficult, but that doesn’t mean children and adults of all languages can’t become proficient in one more more foreign languages. Bilingualism hasn’t been shown to cause any long-term delay in the development of English-language skills, even for students enrolled in language immersion programs at school.

Remember, too, that bilingualism has benefits beyond the second language.  Children who are learning a second language, or acquiring two languages simultaneously, may also exhibit earlier reading, better problem-solving skills, and higher scores on both the verbal and mathematical sections of the SAT than monolingual students.  Bilingualism also opens the doors to a broader spectrum of careers.

Why this gift matters

As you can see from the benefits discussed above, children benefit tremendously—in both the short and long term—from learning a second language.  By setting a child on the path to bilingualism, or encouraging a child who is already on that path, you are enabling the development of crucial intellectual and social skills.

Here, then, are some gifts that assist, in a variety of ways and at different life stages, in the acquisition of a second language.  I’m focusing on Spanish here, since it’s one of the most popular second languages in the United States, but of course you should consider the child’s heritage, geographical region, and aspirations before selecting a gift.

At the time I’m writing this post, these books cost less than $8 each in paperback, so a gift of two or more books may be well within your reach—and how delightfully these books work in dialogue with one another!

Bilingual poetry

According to Francisco Alarcón, a poet and professor at the University of California, Davis, who also conducts poetry workshops for children, poetry can be an incredibly useful tool in introducing children to other cultures and in helping them to develop language skills:

Poetry is an effective tool in teaching a language to children because with very few words it conveys a great deal of meaning. Alarcón says poetry is direct, easy to understand and open to multiple interpretations, which makes children active participants. Through his own teaching at children’s poetry workshops, Alarcón says he sees youngsters feel comfortable in interpreting poetry and expressing feelings that the poetry provokes.

Here’s a terrific interview with Alarcón about bilingualism and his work:

Here is a series of Alarcón’s books of bilingual poetry for children, each book based on a season of the year.  Each poem appears in Spanish and English.

Laughing Tomatoes

Alarcon’s books of poetry are fabulous for kindergarteners through fifth graders, as they’re enjoyable as works of literature and folk art (the illustrations are vibrant) and because they are terrific tools for exploring how to express the same ideas in different languages.  The poems are simple but meaningful and fun.  They also can—and will—inspire children to write poems and illustrate them.

From the Bellybutton of the Moon

Alarcón continues his series on the seasons with this playful book.  The School Library Journal declared that in this book, “Alarcon exhibits a tremendous talent for imbuing quotidian objects and concepts with dignity and jubilation. For example, in ‘Island,’ he writes that ‘every island / dreams / of being / a continent,’ and in ‘Ode to My Shoes,’ he describes a little boy’s sneakers that ‘…fall asleep / and dream / of walking….’”  Again Alarcon and illustrator Mara Christina Gonzalez have produced a terrific book for children age 5 through 10—though I’ll definitely be sharing this one with my 4-year-old as well!

Angels Ride Bikes

In the U.S., when we think of autumn, many of us summon images of rural rolling hills and valleys emblazoned with orange and yellow leaves.  Alarcón offers a different, but similarly compelling, vision of an urban autumn in Los Angeles, the City of Angels.  For example, consider these lines about the city, seen from the sky on a clear fall night: “it looks like / a constellation / of stars / fallen / to the ground.”  Whimsical and wonderful for the kindergarten through fifth-grade set.

Iguanas in the Snow

This book’s title came about because, as one poem illustrates, children frolicking in the snow reminded Alarcón of iguanas playing in Mexico.  Again readers are treated to playful poetry and images that leap from map collages to lizards to redwood seedlings.  Children and adults will enjoy the playfulness of the lyrics and illustrations.

Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English by Alma Flor Ada

Gathering the Sun is a beautifully illustrated book of exceptionally strong poetry that, through poems in Spanish and English, teaches children about the experiences of Latino agricultural workers.  The book works through the alphabet (A is for Arboles, B is for betabel, C is for César Chávez) examining trees, plants, fruits, vegetables, people, and feelings.  The poems were originally written in Spanish, and the English translations feel a bit rigid to adults, but this book’s intended audience—preschoolers through fifth graders—likely will not notice this stiffness.  Highly recommended, in part because these illustrations are not to be missed!

What are your favorite books of poetry for children?

Why this gift matters

Food is a huge issue around the world, whether it be because of hunger, increasing costs to grow and transport food, a push to grow food locally, or discussions about the safety of genetically modified foods. These gifts can open the door to conversations and learning about a number of food issues. In addition, they also offer opportunities to discuss, and in some cases taste the cuisine of, cultures from around the world. Whether children are tactile, kinesthetic, visual, olfactory, or gustatory learners, these gifts are sure to delight.

Please note: When you click the links below and make a purchase from Powells.com within 90 days, or Amazon.com within 24 hours, you’re supporting the quality posts and multicultural educational resources made available through The Multicultural Toybox, as a portion of every sale supports this site. Thanks!

What parent wouldn’t appreciate their child receiving a book of easy-to-prepare recipes that kids love? The recipes in Deanna Cook’s terrific book The Kids Multicultural Cookbook are inspired by conversations Cook had with children from around the world. Representing 41 countries, the tasty dishes in this book are fun and easy to make (for kids as well as adults), and the ingredients have been adapted so that in most cases you can find the ingredients at your local grocery store.

The Healthy Hedonist Holidays: A Year of Multi-Cultural, Vegetarian-Friendly Holiday Feasts is a delightful book. Kids will love cooking these dishes with their parents–and the parents will love that they have a handbook of healthy holiday meals and treats. Holidays represented include Chinese New Year, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving, Eid al Fitr, Passover, Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and the 4th of July. This is a great opportunity for children to learn about—and more importantly taste!—cuisines from around the world, including foods from Greek, Ethiopian, Italian, Turkish, Moroccan, and Chinese traditions. Recipes feature fish, poultry, and vegetarian entrées.

This multicultural foods play set offers opportunities for tactile and visual learners to “prepare” and discuss food from around the world. By talking about these foods with your children, you’ll increase their vocabulary and cultural knowledge while they enjoy imaginary play.

This play cookware set, especially when combined with the multicultural foods set or this matching set of fruits and vegetables, will spark young children’s imaginations. Talk to them about the taste of each food–and offer samplings of the real thing–and talk as well about food preparation and recipes from around the world. Ask them where their food came from and how it grows. The learning opportunities are nearly endless.

Prefer to shop at Amazon? Here are the product links not already included above:

Buy The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook (Kids Can!) at Amazon.com

Buy The Healthy Hedonist Holidays: A Year of Multi-Cultural, Vegetarian-Friendly Holiday Feasts at Amazon.com

First up: Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee’s book Please, Puppy, Please. I was suckered into buying this book because of the illustrations by the ultra-talented Kadir Nelson. Rich, detailed, and evocative, the illustrations depict two young children who grow increasingly frustrated with the antics of their puppy. (Check out this wonderful photo of the Lees presenting the book to kids at a reading.)

The book has received much praise elsewhere for its depictions of the children and the puppy, but what most interested me was the archtypically suburban setting for the action. In popular culture and in children’s programming such as Sesame Street (as well as in everyday life), African Americans are so frequently associated with urban settings that I found refreshing the African American children’s frolicking through their decidedly middle-class suburb, with its large yards, generous blue sky, trimmed green lawns, telephone poles and lines, fenced backyards, well-maintained homes, and meticulous border gardens planted with calla lilies.

Less engaging is the text, which consists largely of variations on “Please, Puppy, Puppy, please!” That gets old quickly, even with varying intonation. Still, the illustrations make up, in my opinion, for the lack of interesting text.

Everywhere Babies is one of my absolute favorite children’s books. Each page features a new set of actions or a new stage of development for babies; the book covers the first year of an infant’s life. My favorite page spread features a sidewalk scene in which more than 30 people—including babies—interact. The page features friendships and families of all kinds, including what could be interpreted as gay and straight couples, as well as multiracial families. The illustrations, by Marla Frazee, who illustrated one of my other favorite children’s books, Woody Guthrie’s New Baby Train, are lovely, and in the case of this page spread accompany the lyrical text, “Everyday, everywhere, babies are carried–in backpacks, in front packs, in slings, and in strollers / in car seats, and bike seats, and on Daddy’s shoulders.” Everywhere Babies is a must-have for any multicultural, queer-friendly home library.

Red or Blue, I Like You! features red monster Elmo and his new friend Angela, a blue monster. Before reading the book, I was worried it was going to be heavy-handed, with a didactic message about how although we look different on the outside, we’re all the same inside. But no–the book transcends that cliché, focusing in on how we shouldn’t make assumptions about the habits and tastes of people from other cultures, nor should we fear unfamiliar cultures, but rather meet people (or monsters) quite literally where they live. But the book also offers parents plenty of opportunities to have conversations with their children about their own neighborhoods. For example, when Elmo visits Angela’s house in hwe homogeneous neighborhood, he asks, “How come all the monsters in your neighborhood are blue? Where are all the different-colored monsters we have on Sesame Street?” Angela shrugs and says she doesn’t know. Once inside Angela’s house, her brother and his blue friends ask Elmo if he wants to watch the TV show Supermonster with them. When Elmo says he’d rather play with Angela’s train set (go Train Girl!), her brother replies, “I thought all red monsters loved that show!” Both young monsters learn that they enjoy each other’s cuisine, as well as like the same activities.

Elmo is clearly made uneasy by the homogeneity of Angela’s neighborhood, so it’s no surprise that Angela is taken aback by the incredible diversity of Sesame Street’s denizens. But she soon learns to welcome this diversity, joining her new friends in welcoming a mixed-monster (red mom, blue dad) family to Sesame Street. Overall, the book presents a nice tale that offers plenty of points for discussion of perceived cultural differences and neighborhood diversity.

What are your favorite multicultural (or otherwise diversity-themed) books for young ones?