The New York Public Library Amazing Hispanic American History: A Book of Answers for Kids - Softcover

The New York Public Library; Ochoa, George

Softcover

ISBN 10: 047119204X ISBN 13: 9780471192046

Publisher: Wiley, 1998

Synopsis

Search for the "Fountain of Youth" with Ponce de Leon, witness the dramatic events leading up to the Spanish American War, and explore the dozens of different nations from which Hispanic Americans hail. Discover Hispanic holidays, foods, and dances, and find answers to all your questions about Hispanic American history. . . .

Why do some people call themselves Hispanic, while others call themselves Latino? See page 11.

Where in the Americas did the Spanish first settle? See page 20.

Which Spanish explorer discovered the Mississippi River? See page 39.

Who were the desperadoes? See page 62.

What is the Day of the Dead? See page 78.

Who was Che Guevara? See page 106.

Who was the first Puerto Rican to break into professional golf? See page 175.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY's bestselling reference books include The New York Public Library Desk Reference, The New York Public Library Book of Answers, and The New York Public Library Student's Desk Reference. GEORGE OCHOA is the author of The Fall of Mexico City for young adults, Wilson's Chronology of the Arts, and the coauthor of The Book of Answers: The New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Enlightening Questions.

Also in this series:
* The New York Public Library Amazing African American History
* The New York Public Library Amazing Women in American History
* The New York Public Library Incredible Earth
* The New York Public Library Amazing Space

About this title

About the Author

George Ochoa (Dobbs Ferry, NY) is the author of The Fall of Mexico City for young adults, Wilson's Chronology of the Arts, and the coauthor of The Book of Answers: The New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Enlightening Questions.

From the Back Cover

Search for the "Fountain of Youth" with Ponce de Léon, witness the dramatic events leading up to the Spanish American War, and explore the dozens of different nations from which Hispanic Americans hail. Discover Hispanic holidays, foods, and dances, and find answers to all your questions about Hispanic American history. . . .

Why do some people call themselves Hispanic, while others call themselves Latino? See page 11.

Where in the Americas did the Spanish first settle? See page 20.

Which Spanish explorer discovered the Mississippi River? See page 39.

Who were the desperadoes? See page 62.

What is the Day of the Dead? See page 78.

Who was Che Guevara? See page 106.

Who was the first Puerto Rican to break into professional golf? See page 175.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY's bestselling reference books include The New York Public Library Desk Reference, The New York Public Library Book of Answers, and The New York Public Library Student's Desk Reference. GEORGE OCHOA is the author of The Fall of Mexico City for young adults, Wilson's Chronology of the Arts, and the coauthor of The Book of Answers: The New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Enlightening Questions.

Also in this series:

• The New York Public Library Amazing African American History
• The New York Public Library Amazing Women in American History
• The New York Public Library Incredible Earth
• The New York Public Library Amazing Space

Reviews

Grade 6 Up-For a pretty good reference book, this one has a major flaw. Because it's organized by geographic area rather than alphabetically, readers who don't know that Desi Arnaz came from Cuba won't find the entry on him. And on the flip side, if they already know that the singing-group Menudo was from Puerto Rico, they probably won't learn anything new about them here. Other than that, this is a handy ready-reference book filled with snippets of political and popular culture from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, South America, and Spain. For locating a few Hispanic-American fun facts, this slim volume could prove invaluable.
Herman Sutter, Saint Pius X High School, Houston, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Columbus to Selena, from lima beans to ``Loisada,'' Ochoa encompasses a diverse Hispanic American historical and cultural experience, using the question-and-answer format that is a series (Sue Heinemann's The New York Public Library Amazing Women in History, p. 112, etc.) standard, and which caters to short attention spans. It makes browsing easy, and allows Ochoa to focus more closely on selected topics with frequent sidebars. In a vital, knowledgeable sweep through the history and immigration patterns of several regions and countries, including Spain, he takes as his major theme their distinctive characters. Not intended for sustained research, this has two bibliographies, one with web sites, to give readers a jump start on their studies. (index, b&w photos, not seen, glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-11) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 047119204X
• ISBN 13: 9780471192046
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192