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from a Latino author's point of view
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From: Margaret Medina <meg6000_at_aol.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:12:46 -0500
I'm a Latino children's book author working in picture book, middle grade and YA (Candlewick Press). Thank you for this frank and interesting conversation about Latino fiction. Very compelling points, especially regarding the political realities of Latino families in this country.
My own thoughts go heavily to bicultural children, that is, Latino readers who identify equally as Americans and as Latinos. These readers are often more fluent and literate in English than in Spanish -- and yet their family experience draws heavily from elsewhere. To my mind, the fiction that will have meaning to these children is the fiction that presents their culture's idiosyncracies matter-of-factly and that speaks to the universal qualities that bind us, regardless of the cultural origin. I do love colorful stories about our holidays and foods - por Dios, who doesn't love an empanada? - but we Latinos move through the US a lot like everybody else, looking for success, for happy families, for friends at schools, for a way to understand the sometimes sad things that happen to us as children. Angela Leeper's post regarding simple things like sleepovers is well taken. Additionally, I'd like to see Latino children's lit part displayed throughout the year and not only during Hispanic Heritage Month and Cinco
de Mayo. Many of you do this, but it never hurts to remind you. (Gracias Red Clover folks in VT as an example.)
Meg Medina www.megmedina.com www.girlsofsummerlist.wordpress.com http://megmedina.tumblr.com
Milagros: Girl From Away (Christy Ottaviano Books: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers) Tнa Isa Wants a Car (Candlewick Press) The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind (Candlewick Press; Walker Books pbk) Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (coming March 2013, Candlewick)
Received on Fri 08 Feb 2013 07:12:46 AM CST
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:12:46 -0500
I'm a Latino children's book author working in picture book, middle grade and YA (Candlewick Press). Thank you for this frank and interesting conversation about Latino fiction. Very compelling points, especially regarding the political realities of Latino families in this country.
My own thoughts go heavily to bicultural children, that is, Latino readers who identify equally as Americans and as Latinos. These readers are often more fluent and literate in English than in Spanish -- and yet their family experience draws heavily from elsewhere. To my mind, the fiction that will have meaning to these children is the fiction that presents their culture's idiosyncracies matter-of-factly and that speaks to the universal qualities that bind us, regardless of the cultural origin. I do love colorful stories about our holidays and foods - por Dios, who doesn't love an empanada? - but we Latinos move through the US a lot like everybody else, looking for success, for happy families, for friends at schools, for a way to understand the sometimes sad things that happen to us as children. Angela Leeper's post regarding simple things like sleepovers is well taken. Additionally, I'd like to see Latino children's lit part displayed throughout the year and not only during Hispanic Heritage Month and Cinco
de Mayo. Many of you do this, but it never hurts to remind you. (Gracias Red Clover folks in VT as an example.)
Meg Medina www.megmedina.com www.girlsofsummerlist.wordpress.com http://megmedina.tumblr.com
Milagros: Girl From Away (Christy Ottaviano Books: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers) Tнa Isa Wants a Car (Candlewick Press) The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind (Candlewick Press; Walker Books pbk) Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (coming March 2013, Candlewick)
Received on Fri 08 Feb 2013 07:12:46 AM CST
