Multicultural Literature for Latino Bilingual Children

Their Words, Their Worlds

By (author) Ellen Riojas Clark, Belinda Bustos Flores, Howard L. Smith, Daniel Alejandro González

Not available to order

Publication date:

25 November 2015

Length of book:

350 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781475814934

While there are volumes that fall into the category of children’s literature, there appears to be relatively few that explore the needs of bilingual learners and the linguistic and sociocultural context of Latino children’s literature. This volume makes a needed contribution by addressing the social, cultural, academic, and linguistic needs of Latino bilingual learners who are still underserved through current school practices. We aim to conceptualize different forms of social knowledge so that they can serve as cultural resources for learning, acquiring knowledge, and transforming self and identity. This volume presents a balance of theory, research, and practice that speak to authentic multicultural Latino literature and helps ensure its availability for all students. The intended outcome of this volume then is to create a heightened awareness of the cultural and linguistic capital held by the Latino community, to increase Latino students’ social capital through the design of critical pedagogical practices, and for the formulation of a new perspective, that of Latino multicultural literature for children.

Foreword: Literature in the Lives of Latino Children
Alma Flora Ada

Preface: Derrumbando Fronteras/Breaking Boundaries
Ellen Riojas Clark and Belinda Bustos Flores

Acknowledgments

Part I. Framing the Discussions: Theory and Rationale
Chapter 1: Multicultural Latino Children’s Literature: A Tool to Enrich the Lives and the Learning of Latino Bilingual Learners
Ellen Riojas Clark and Belinda Bustos Flores
Chapter 2: Exploring the Traditions of Latino Children's Literature: Beyond Tokenism to Transformation
Howard L. Smith, Belinda Bustos Flores, and Daniel A. González

Part II. Multicultural Children’s Literature Representing Latino’s Realities
Chapter 3: Beyond Calaveras and Quinceañeras: Fostering Bilingual Latino Students’ Identity Development with Culturally Relevant Literature
Jamie Campbell Naidoo and Ruth E. Quiroa
Chapter 4: Cruzando Fronteras: Negotiating the Stories of Latino Immigrant and Transnational Children
Patricia Sánchez and Maité Landa
Chapter 5: Using Children’s Literature to Understand Values, Traditions, and Beliefs
within Latino Family Systems
Mari Riojas-Cortez and Raquel Cataldo
Chapter 6: Culturally Relevant Literature for Latino Children in the Early Childhood Classroom
Ysaaca Axelrod and Cristina Gillanders

Part III. Multicultural Literature in the Content Areas: Language Arts, Social Studies,
Science, and Mathematics
Chapter 7: Embracing the Complexity of Language: Bringing all Forms of Knowledge into the Language Arts through Latino Children’s Literature
Christina Passos DeNicolo
Chapter 8: En el Aquel Entonces y Hoy en Día: Using Latino Children’s Literature to Situate Social Studies Education
Mary Esther Huerta and Carmen Tafolla
Chapter 9: Dichos y Adivinanzas: Literary Resources that Enhance Science Learning and
Teaching in the Bilingual Classroom
María Guadalupe Arreguín-Anderson and José Escalante Ruiz
Chapter 10: Tiempo y Cultura: Exploring Latino Stories through Mathematics
Carlos LopezLeiva and Yoo Kyung Sung

Part IV: Multiple Modes of Multicultural Children’s Literature
Chapter 11: Cultural Multiliteracies Integrating Technology in Latino Children’s Literature
Lucila Ek, Sonia Sánchez, and Myria Jimena Guerra
Chapter 12: Latino Children’s Literature in Picturebook Format
Miriam Martinez, Nancy L. Roser, Angie Zapata, and Erin Greeter
Chapter 13: Técnica Con Safos: Visual Iconography in Latino Picture Books As Tools for
Cultural Affirmation
Lettycia Terrones
Chapter 14: Latino Children’s Literature and Literacy Practices as Social Imagination: Becoming a Culturally Efficacious Educator
Belinda Bustos Flores, Ellen Riojas Clark, and Howard L. Smith

Part V: Fuentes de Recursos
Chapter 15: Realizing and Capitalizing on Our Cultural Literary Heritage: The Big Brown Elephant in the Room
Oralia Garza de Cortés

Postscript: Personal Foundations, Present Realities, and Future Productions
Daniel Alejandro González

Una Fuente de Recursos: Resources for Teachers and Children
1.List of Suggested Latino Children’s Books Latino
Daniel Alejandro González and Amanda A. Hernandez

2.Recommended Books in Spanish for Children
Oralia Garza de Cortés

3.PROFESSIONAL MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES
Daniel Alejandro González and Amanda A. Hernandez

Index
About the Contributors

Given the growing Latino/a presence in our schools and nation, Multicultural Literature for Latino Bilingual Children could not have come at a better time. This treasure trove of insights, resources, and references fills an enormous gap in the field. Written by experts in bilingual education and children’s literature, this book provides teachers, librarians, families, and others with a valuable resource for making Latino/a children visible in our schools and society. It’s about time!