Separate is Never Equal

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This picture book follows the true story of Sylvia Mendez family and their fight to get the schools in their area desegregated. When Sylvia and her family moved to a new area for her father to run a farm and her aunt takes her up to the school to register the children in the family, they are informed that there is a Spanish school. After hearing this Sylvia's father is outraged and tries to find a way for her to attend the other school with all of the other children. He goes to many different people, hearing the same answer from everyone. By the end of the story, with help from other cultures and their groups, Sylvia and her family win two lawsuits, bringing in the law that everyone can attend the same school, no matter their race or skin color.

This book shows how, even during World War II, Hispanic people were still being segregated in the United States. The reasoning that the Hispanic students were not allowed to attend the school with the other students are unfounded, but show the example of how Hispanic people were treated in this time. At the end of the book the author includes pictures and a short description regarding the real Sylvia Mendez.

Even though it is a great deal longer, Echo is a great companion story for this book. Within Echo, one of the three stories is about Ivy, a young girl who is going through the exact same issue as Sylvia Mendez. When reading Echo, this story would be a great one to bring in more detail about this specific issue and time period.

This book was reviewed by Booklist, an excerpt of the review follows:

Grades 2-5. Pura Belpré Award–winning Tonatiuh (Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote, 2013) makes excellent use of picture-book storytelling to bring attention to the 1947 California ruling against public-school segregation. The concise, informative text, with occasional and always translated Spanish lines, discusses how being banned from enrolling in an Orange County grade school because of her skin tone and Mexican surname inspired Sylvia Mendez’ family to fight for integrated schools. Soon they were joined by many others, including the NAACP and the Japanese American Citizens League, which led to their hard-won victory. Tonatiuh’s multimedia artwork showcases period detail, such as the children’s clothing and the differences between the school facilities, in his unique folk art style. An endnote essay recapping the events, photos of Sylvia and her schools, and a glossary and resource list for further research complete this thorough exploration of an event that is rarely taught. This would be a useful complement to other books about the fight for desegregation, such as Deborah Wiles’ Freedom Summer (2001) or Andrea Davis Pinkney’s Sit-In (2010).

Citation: 

Tonatiuh, D. (2014). SEPARATE IS NEVER EQUAL. New York, NY: Abrams.

Under the Mesquite

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Lupita shoulders a lot of responsibility in her family since she is the oldest of her siblings. One day the unthinkable happens, Lupita finds out that her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. As a young girl who feels like she is responsible for her family she things that she needs to figure out what to do while she is trying to find her main purpose in her own life. Many students will identify with the situation of this strong main character.

Resources

McCall, G. (2012). Under the mesquite. New York, NY: Lee and Low Books.

Under the mesquite. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Under-Mesquite-Guadalupe-Garcia-McCall/dp/1600604293/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449291131&sr=1-1&keywords=under+the+mesquite

Nino Wrestles the World

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Talented author Yuyi Morales brings the story of young Nino. Nino wants to become a lucha libre. As he is playing with his toys, duty calls! When villains appear he must protect his family. Nino fights his way through many different dastardly opponents until, his sisters awaken from their naps. This charming tale shows the beautiful imagination of a young boy and how fun playtime can be with that imagination. Readers will also learn about Hispanic heritage through this very cute story.

Resources

Morales, Y. (2015). Nino wrestles the world. New York, NY: Square Fish.

Nino wrestles the world. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ni%C3%B1o-Wrestles-World-Yuyi-Morales/dp/1250062705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449290298&sr=1-1&keywords=nino+wrestles+the+world+by+yuyi+morales

Viva Frida

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Frida Kahlo was a wonderful artist and an inspirational one. She created wonderful works of art and her success can be inspirational to many girls. In this beautiful story author Yuyi Morales gives tribute to this wonderful artist in an amazing way. This story is illustrated in almost a claymation style, with doll like characters telling the story of Frida Kahlo. While many of the pages contain simple sentences or phrases and imaginative pictures the author’s message definitely comes across beautifully.

Resources

Morales, Y. (2014). Viva frida. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Viva frida. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Frida-Morales-Yuyi-ebook/dp/B00MLNBJ22/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449289566&sr=1-1&keywords=viva+frida

I Lived on Butterfly HillI

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Readers follow the story of a young girl who lives in Chile as her whole world is torn apart by war and turmoil. Young Celeste does not quite understand what is going on as strange things begin to happen around her home. Readers follow along as she begins to discover exactly what is happening to her home and her country. Soon Celeste is no longer able to live in Chile and she must move to Maine in the United States. Readers will see how she copes with moving to a new country and as she has to learn to live in a new place.

Resources

Agosin, M. (2014). I lived on butterfly hill. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

I lived on butterfly hill. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Lived-Butterfly-Hill-Marjorie-Agosin/dp/1416994025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449288804&sr=1-1&keywords=i+lived+on+butterfly+hill

Ole! Flamenco!

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Flamenco dancing is a generations old tradition in the Hispanic culture. This book follows the history of this amazing dance, telling where it originated and the story of how it became a big part of the culture. This book also tells the reader about flamenco classes and how people learn how to do this amazing dance. Readers will be amazed by the dedication the dancers have and readers will love the real pictures of this amazing part of the Hispanic culture.

Resources

Ancona, G. (2010). Ole! flamenco. New York, NY: Lee and Low Books Inc.

Ole! flamenco. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Ole-Flamenco-George-Ancona/dp/1600603610/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449288394&sr=1-1&keywords=ole+flamenco

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

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Every culture has their own trickster tales. This Hispanic trickster tale has its own unique piece, an alphabet tale. Alongside a trickster tale involving a very charming skeleton is a Spanish alphabet. Each of the tales seem to be running independently, but in fact they are intertwined. The alphabet following along with the trickster tale as it weaves its story. In this trickster tale reader follows a very charming skeleton as it tries to make it on time to a birthday party that he has been waiting for, he also needs to get a birthday present. Will it make it on time with a present? The reader will enjoy following along to find out.

Resources

Just in case. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Just-Case-Trickster-Spanish-Alphabet/dp/1596433299/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449287636&sr=1-1&keywords=just+in+case+a+trickster+tale+and+spanish+alphabet+book

Morales, Y. (2008). Just in case. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Barrio: Jose's Neighborhood

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Through real pictures and well written story the reader learns about the daily life in a real Hispanic neighborhood. The reader follows young Jose through events in his daily life. Jose is interviewed about his school life and how he feels about it. Readers get to see a mural being painted and learn about many of the murals in the neighborhood. The meaning and importance of the murals are also presented in easy to understand language. Through this story readers learn many different things about the neighborhood and the amazing things that go on within it.

Resources

Ancona, G. (1998). Barrio: Jose's neighborhood. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.

Barrio: Jose's neighborhood. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Barrio-Joss-Neighborhood-George-Ancona/dp/0152010483/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449286664&sr=1-1&keywords=barrio+jose%27s+neighborhood

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred

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This beautifully written and illustrated story follows a similar pace of The House that Jack Built. Each page brings a new idea to the story and builds as each page is turned. We follow the maiden as she collects milk, gets sugar, collects eggs, and more. By the end of this story the cazuela is done and all of the friends join in together to share. This story not only shows the reader the importance of helping and sharing, but also gives insight into some Hispanic traditions. At the end of the story is a glossary for the Spanish terms as well as recipes for the items mentioned within the book.

Resources

The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Cazuela-That-Farm-Maiden-Stirred/dp/1580892434/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449285846&sr=1-1&keywords=the+cazuela+that+the+farm+maiden+stirred

Vamos, S. R. (2011). The cazuela that the farm maiden stirred. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing.

Gracias Thanks

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This beautifully illustrated story brings readers the story of a young boy who is celebrating all of the things that he is thankful for. Through the story readers follow along as the main character shows his gratitude to everything in his life by saying “thanks” to everything that he is thankful for. From the ladybug that has landed on his finger to his grandmother who is always looking out for him. Children can relate to this young character and all of the wonderful things that he is thankful to have in his life.

Resources

Mora, p. (2009). Gracias thanks. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc.

Gracias thanks. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Gracias-~-Thanks-English-Spanish/dp/1600602584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449284989&sr=1-1&keywords=gracias+thanks

The Surrender Tree

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The story of Cuban history is a very interesting one. Author Margarita Engle tells this interesting story through poetry. As the beginning of the book lets the reader know, this author’s grandparents were a part of this struggle. Readers will enjoy learning about this not so well known part of history. These poems are very well written and are eye opening. These poems are all of their own style. The reader can definitely see the author’s pride in her people, pride in their story, and her style.

Resources

Engle, M. (2008). The surrender tree : Poems of cuba's struggle for freedom. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

The surrender tree: Poems of cuba's struggle for freedom. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Surrender-Tree-Poems-Struggle-Freedom/dp/0312608713/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1449284236&sr=1-1