Spanish Is the Language of My Family
What's This Book About
An intergenerational story of family ties, cultural pride, and spelling bee victory following a young boy who bonds with his beloved abuela over a love of Spanish. As a boy prepares for his school’s Spanish spelling bee, he asks his grandmother for help with some of the words he doesn’t know how to spell yet. When she studies with him, she tells him how different things were back when she was a girl, when she was only allowed to speak English in school. This only inspires him to study even harder and make his family proud. Based on stories author Michael Genhart heard from his mother as a child, Spanish is the Language of My Family is about the joy of sharing cultural heritage with our families, inspired by the generations of Latino people were punished for speaking Spanish and the many ways new generations are rejuvenating the language.. Michael Genhart’s text is as touching as it is poignant, and it’s paired with the striking artwork of multiple Pura Belpre Award-Winning Illustrator John Parra. Extensive material at the back of the book includes essays from the author about the history of Spanish suppression in U.S. schools and information about the Spanish alphabet. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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The Creatives Behind the Book
DR. MICHAEL GENHART is clinical psychologist specializing in working with children who have gay or lesbian parents; gay teens and coming out issues; same sex relationships; and LGBTQ parenting matters. He also visits and speaks at local elementary, middle, and high schools to engage students in conversations about LGBTQ issues.
John Parra is an award winning illustrator of many books for young readers, including Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown, named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book, and Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner, which won the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration. His other awards include the ALA Pura Belpré Honors, and the Christopher’s Award. Additionally his books have appeared on Bank Street’s and Smithsonian Magazine’s: Best Children’s Books of the Year lists. In 2015 John was invited by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to present a special event about his work and career in art and illustration. Today his work can be seen at the U.S. Post Office on six new Forever Stamps titled: Delicioso, with art images celebrating Latino food cuisine. John’s most recent book, Hey Wall: A Story of Art and Community, with author Susan Verde, was released this past Fall 2018.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780823450046
- Publication Date
- July 11, 2023
- Publisher
- Neal Porter Books
- Page Count
- 40
- Reading Age
- 4 - 7 years
- Lib. of Congress (LCCN)
- 2022033724
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