Add Salsa to Your Classroom with Young Adult Books about Latinos

Abstract

In the last several years there has been a publica tion explosion of young adult and children's books about Hispanic Americans. Previously overlooked, Latinos did not figure prominently in the children's book market. However, the books currently available from picture books through young adult novels are accurate and sensitive in their portrayal of one of America's largest minority popu lations. In the 1990 census, there were 22.3 million Hispanics in the United States, representing 9.6% of the total U.S. population. While the histories and traditions of Latinos in the United States are as diverse as their nation al origins, most have the Spanish language as a common bond. Trade books written for children do a commendable job of presenting the differences among Latinos. Children reading these books will see that people from such coun tries as Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela have distinct histories and traditions that make them unique. However, at the same time, students will also recognize that the Latino experience in the United States has some commonalties that bring Hispanic peo ples together. While the themes of these books are defi nitely Latino, their appeal is universal. Mexicans have been a vital force in shaping American culture for centuries. This was especially true following the close of the Mexican-American War in 1848 when boundaries changed and, suddenly, approximately 80,000 Mexicans found themselves living within the borders of the United States. Today many Mexicans continue to cross the border in search of better lives for themselves. After Puerto Ricans became United States citizens in 1917, they began migrating in earnest to the mainland. In the decades following World War II, tens of thousands came to America each year, most of them settling in large urban centers such as New York City and Chicago. After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, half a million Cubans fled to the United States, followed by another 125,000 in the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. More recently, many Hispanic peo ples from countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, such as El Salvador, Colombia, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, have come to the United States to escape political turmoil in their countries. Latinos bring something unique to this country through their signifi cant contributions to American culture in the performing arts, literature, government, science, and sports.