Niños: Poems for the Lost Children of Chile (Stories from Latin America (SLA)) - Hardcover

Ferrada, María José

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802855679 ISBN 13: 9780802855671

Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2021

Synopsis

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library (NYPL) Best Book for Kids
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Year
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Most Notable Book

“A book to be read and remembered: a tribute to children whose lives were lost to forces not of their own creation.” 
― Kirkus Reviews (STARRED review)

Moving poetry pays homage to thirty-four children lost during Augusto Pinochet’s violent dictatorial rule of Chile.

On September 11, 1973, a military coup plunged Chile into seventeen long years of dictatorial rule. Only the return of democracy could reveal the full horrors of Augusto Pinochet’s regime: 3,197 people dead or disappeared―including thirty-four children under the age of fourteen.

This poetry collection is a stirring memorial to those victims and the cost of extremism. Thirty-four poems―one for each child lost―consider the diverse hopes of these fragile young lives ― from Alicia to Jaime, Héctor to Paola, Soledad to Rafael, they were brave and creative, thoughtful and strong. In these pages, some children watch for the changing seasons. Some listen for new sounds on rainy afternoons. And some can’t wait for their next birthday.

Featuring gentle, emotive poems and soft, pastel-toned illustrations, Niños is an unforgettable tribute to the children of Pinochet’s Chile and all those threatened by political violence across the world.

Part of Eerdmans’ Stories from Latin America series. Translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel.

Other awards

Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choices
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Co-Winner (Grades 7-12)
Américas Award Honorable Mention

About this title

About the Author

Lawrence Schimel has written or translated over 300 books, including The Children of the Sun, Niños, 9 Kilometers, and the Batchelder Honor Book Different (all Eerdmans). His works have received many awards, including three PEN Translates Awards, two SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards, and two Américas Award Honors. Lawrence lives in Madrid, Spain. Follow him on Bluesky @lawrenceschimel.bksy.social.

Reviews

Gr 3 Up—On September 11, 1973, a military coup in Chile led to a 17-year dictatorship. A haunting introduction explains that 3,197 people were killed during this time and 34 were children under the age of 14. Ferrada and Valdez provide an homage to childhood and life that gives a voice to the deceased children. Each poem is titled with the name of a child who was killed during General Pinochet's regime, and every child's full name and age are listed in the back matter. Ferrada's language and choice of form—free verse translated from the original Spanish—flows well and captures the personalities of the featured children. Poems for the children who died very young are sweet and short. For example, five-month-old Raúl liked the sound of his mother calling him "little bird." The natural world is a common thread, enhancing the sense of wonder, curiosity, creativity, and inventiveness of childhood. The repetition of the theme also connects the experiences of these children to those around the world. The mixed-media art uses watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and colored pencils to create a soft and dreamlike palette. White space is incorporated well and allows the poems to shine. VERDICT A heartfelt volume emphasizing innocence in the face of continuing political violence, this #OwnVoices work is a must-purchase for poetry collections serving young patrons.—Rachel Zuffa, Case H.S., Racine, WI

Edition details

• Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802855679
• ISBN 13: 9780802855671
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Valdez María Elena
• Number of pages: 76