Celebrating Our Cuentos: Choosing and Using Latinx Literature in Elementary Classrooms

Dr. Julia López-Robertson makes a case for infusing our classrooms with literature by a range of Latinx authors and illustrators- voices that reflect our students' experiences and provide a window into the cultures of people from Spanish-speaking countries and communities. She shows how to identify quality literature by checking for bias, stereotypes, and cultural and linguistic authenticity. From there, she explores how to put the literature to work in whole-class lessons, read-alouds, small group discussions, and writing projects to nurture engaged readers. Foreword by Sonia Nieto.

Endorsements
“A splendid resource that readers will turn to time and again for ideas, inspiration, and support.” – SONIA NIETO, Professor Emerita, College of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"A comprehensive guidebook on how to incorporate authentic, high-quality literature into our teaching. I am delighted to see this contribution to the field of children's literature." – ALMA FLOR ADA, Professor Emerita, University of San Francisco; recipient of the Pura Belpré Award and the Christopher Award for her children's books

"No other book addresses in such detail how to select Latinx literature, which provides mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors for all children." – PATRICIA EDWARDS, Professor of Language and Literacy, Michigan Sate University

"This must-have resource fills a tremendous need for practical ideas, framed by a commitment to cultural diversity and social justice." – KATHY G. SHORT, Professor, LRC/Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies, The University of Arizona
 

Julia López-Robertson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Instruction and Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina. She is committed to working with children, families, and teachers to develop awareness about emergent bilinguals and their families and the transformation of teacher education to support equitable teaching for all children. Her work has been published in Language Arts, The Bilingual Research Journal, and other publications.