Artist and author Maya Chistina Gonzalez paid a visit to a Head Start in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago as part of a media event organized by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Maya read her latest book, I Know the River Loves Me, to a group of children at the Head Start Center in the Nickerson Gardens Projects in Watts, Los Angeles. "As a child, unions were a natural part of life to me," Maya writes on her blog. "I grew up with talk of Cesar Chavez, as well as shop talk about the electric union my father belonged to. So I was honored to be included in supporting the union that supports some of my favorite and most respected fellows: educators." You can read more about Maya's visit on her blog.

This video was produced by the AFT and includes remarks by AFT's President, Randi Weingarten about the importance of early childhood education. Copies of Maya's book as well as Animal Poems of the Iguazú (which she also illustrated) were given away at the event.
 

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 12:25pm

Thanks to all the little helpers who came out to San Jose this weekend for a reading with Angela Domínguez, illustrator of Let Me Help! / ¡Quiero ayudar! As you can see from the photos below, these tiny tots enjoyed listening to the story of Perico, the little parrot who desperatley wants to help his family prepare for a celebration, but is constantly being shooed away for being too small. I think Perico and Angela taught these kids a very important lesson... that even the littlest helpers can save the day!

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 1:02pm

Here is our very first review of From North to South / Del Norte al Sur, our new release for the fall about a boy whose mother gets sent back to Mexico for not having the proper papers. Look for the review in the August 1st issue of Kirkus Reviews.

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH/DEL NORTE AL SUR
Author: Colato Laínez, René
Illustrator: Cepeda, Joe

Review Date: August 1, 2010
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Pages: 32
Price (Hardback): $17.95
Publication Date: September 1, 2010
ISBN (Hardback): 978-0-89239-231-5
Category: Picture Books

After his mother is deported by U.S. immigration officials, José and his father go to visit her at Centro Madres Assunta in Tijuana, where she will stay with other women and children until she gets her papers and can return. Frankly a plea for sympathy for families torn apart by immigration rules, this tender story is gently told in Spanish and English texts, together or on opposing pages. Young José recalls his day: the border traffic jam, the joy of seeing his mother, gardening and a seed game with other children in the shelter missing their parents and a final bedtime story told in the car’s backseat. The author, a Salvadoran immigrant, teaches in a bilingual school where his students often experience family separations. Cepeda’s oil paintings, full-bleed single- and double-page spreads, use bright colors and a variety of perspectives to reinforce the joyfulness of the day. A road map of the area between San Diego and Tijuana serves as endpapers. The child’s perspective makes this a particularly moving glimpse of an increasingly common experience. (Picture book. 5-9)
 

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Friday, July 30, 2010 11:27am

For children, being creative and exploring new things is a vital part of learning and growing. Children's Book Press illustrator Stephen Von Mason (Brother Anansi and the Cattle Ranch, Just Like Me, Honoring Our Ancestors) gave his 5th and 6th grade students at the Making Waves Academy in Richmond, CA the opportunity to write, illustrate, and bind their own books recently. The children started by writing a story planner, and ended up with a final book bound on rag paper with their own color illustrations.

Explaining the importance of persistence and dedication in completing a difficult project, Stephen says, "When they were finished many said, Wow...this was hard. They learned life lessons that projects like this are long and arduous and it takes hard work and focus to finish a job and come out on top." 

Stephen's students also were inspired by Children's Book Press titles. He says, "Many, many students read CBP when they were younger... Mr. Sugar Came to Town, Brother Anansi, Invisible Hunters, Family Pictures, and more...CBP inspired them a great deal."

Teachers and Children's Book Press donated books to be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in each class. You can see the winning covers below. 

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Monday, June 28, 2010 12:46pm

 Recently, we were thrilled to see Quinito, Day & Night highlighted in an issue of Teaching Young Children, a magazine designed especially for preschool teachers and published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The feature focuses on books that celebrate summer activities, like playing outdoors, swimming, and taking trips to visit relatives. It also offers some great tips on sharing stories like Quinito, Day & Night with preschool aged kids. Enjoy the feature below—and the warm summer weather!

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:46am

All illustrators and authors create in different ways. Maya Christina Gonzalez provides insight into her creative process in an article featured recently in the REFORMA newsletter.* In this wonderful article, Maya discusses the second book that she wrote and illustrated, I Know the River Loves Me.

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 2:58pm

My Papa Diego and Me and I Know the River Loves Me received honorable mentions for the Américas Award. This award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction that authentically and engagingly portray Latin American, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States.

Sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Program, Américas Award winners are selected for their distinctive literary quality, cultural contextualization, exceptional integration of text, illustration and design, and for potential classroom use.

 The full commended list can be found at: http://www4.uwm.edu/clacs/aa/pdf/aa10final.pdf

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 12:35pm

Lately, it seems as if immigration is all over the news. Yet despite all the debate going on, the experience of children who are caught up in this issue is often overlooked.
 
That is, until now. The recent incident at a Washington DC-area school, in which a second grader told First Lady Michelle Obama that her mother was here illegally, has sparked quite a buzz among the talking heads in the media.

Author René Colato Laínez knows about this issue all too well. His new book with Children’s Book Press, From North to South / Del Norte al Sur, deals with the experience of family separation due to a parent's precarious immigration status. The book will be released in September of 2010.

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Monday, May 24, 2010 9:59am

Carmen Lomas Garza, author and artist of bestselling books like Family Pictures and Magic Windows, will be in Houston this Thursday to unveil four magnificent metal cutout murals. Details after the jump.

"Dancers/Baile" ©2009 Carmen Lomas Garza

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Tuesday, May 18, 2010 1:25pm

Children's Book Press turns 35 this year and we're planning big things for the fall. Not one but two events to celebrate our books, our many wonderful authors and artists, and, of course, YOU, our community of supporters. So save the dates, mark your calendars, and check back often as we unfold more exciting details about these programs.

Submitted by Childrens Book Press on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 1:44pm