Bilingual Storytelling with René Colato Laínez

Bilingual author René Colato Laínez arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador with few possessions, but many dreams for his future. During this program he will talk about his successful journey from his childhood as an immigrant lost in a strange new world, to his life as a teacher and a published author. His presentation is full of music, dreams, and roots, in English and Spanish—and is of course full of stories. Learn his three rules to success: never give up, study hard, and believe in yourself.

Colato Laínez is the Salvadoran award-winning author of I Am René, the Boy; Waiting for Papá; and many other books that feature Latin American children learning about cultural identity. His picture books have been finalists for the Tejas Star Book Award, given special recognition by the Paterson Prize, and earned the International Latino Book Award. He was named as one of the “Top Ten New Latino Authors to Watch (and Read)” by latinostories.com.

When: Friday, December 21, 2012, 11 AM

Time Detail: 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Dec. 21 - 23

Categories: Gallery Talks &Tours, Kids & Families, Webcasts & Webinars

Venue: Washington DC: American Indian Museum

Event Location: ImagiNATIONS Activity Center, 3rd Level

Webcast: nmai.si.edu…

Cost: Free

I Know the River Loves Me/ Yo sé que el río me ama

The following excerpt is from our sister site, MommyMaestra.com.

I Know the River Loves Me/ Yo sé que el río me ama

by Maya Christina Gonzalez

Written and illustrated by award-winning artist, Maya Christina Gonzalez, I Know the River Loves Me/Yo sé que el río me ama embodies the need that children everywhere have to see their own faces reflected in the world around them. 

I had the pleasure of hearing Ms. Gonzalez talk at a conference several years ago, where she shared bits of her childhood and discussed how she never saw her own face in literature or Disney movies. Now as an adult, she has dedicated her time to creating pieces that show the beauty in diversity, and that reflect the faces of the audience for which they are written and illustrated.

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A Night Time Story/Cuento de noche

The following excerpt is from our sister site, MommyMaestra.com.

A Night Time Story/Cuento de noche

by Roberto Aliaga

illustrated by Sonja Wimmer

The perfect bedtime tale, A Night Time Story is a beautifully illustrated work about how every evening, the Night comes to tuck a little child in before bed. In her hands, she carries dozens of stories and picks new and exciting ones to tell each time, allowing the child to drift off to sleep and dream. From sweet stories at the fairground to mysterious stories in the desert, this little child can enjoy an endless number of dreams and make them his or her own.   Sonja Wimmer's illustrations are soft and whimsical, great for inspiring dreams in your own children. I love that the main character is drawn in such a way that it could be either a boy or a girl depending on who is reading the story.

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The Pumpkin Moon Empanadas

The following excerpt is from our sister site, MommyMaestra.com.

The Pumpkin Moon Empanadas

written by Clementina Llanes
illustrated by Sarah D. Thomas

I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled when my friend, Clementina, who has the most delicious and amusing blog, told me that she has published her first children's book. Of course, I (politely) demanded a copy, eager to see Clementina's wonderful gift for storytelling channelled into a format specifically for children.

And I was not disappointed. The Pumpkin Moon Empanadas is a lovely tale about young Paloma, whose hard-working Papi loves her so much that he promises to bring her the moon. And then one day, he does! So Paloma and her Mamá get to work making the most delicious empanadas out of it that anyone has ever tasted...

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Adelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story

The following excerpt is from our sister site, MommyMaestra.com.

Adelita

by Tomie dePaola

Adelita is not an especially old tale. One of my favorite children's book authors/illustrators, Tomie dePaola, wrote it in back in 2004. But I absolutely love the cultural spin on the traditional tale. Adelita, as I'm sure you can guess, is our Latina Cinderella and the heroine of our book. The story begins with the (short-lived!) love story of Adelita's parents, Adela y Francisco. But her mother dies shortly after she is born and Adelita is raised by her beloved papá and his trusted family maid, Experanza. Adelita, of course, grows up to be a beautiful young woman. But her happy childhood takes a turn for the worst when her father marries the selfish Señora Micaela de la Fortuna (who happens to have two ugly, vain daughters of her own).

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