Once Upon a Cuento is an anthology of short stories by contemporary Latinx authors. The stories, written for young people, grade five and up, explore heritage and history, identity, language, and relationships from the perspective of Mexican-American, Cuban-American, Dominican-American, and Puerto Rican writers. The stories are grouped by theme—heritage, holidays, and contemporary culture; family life; friends and other relationships; and dealing with differences. A general introduction and list of works by the thirteen contributors offer further avenues for research and discussion.
Set in the Pilsen barrio of Chicago, this children's picture book gives a heartwarming message of hope. The heroine, América, is a primary school student who is unhappy in school until a poet visits the class and inspires the students to express themselves creatively-in Spanish or English. América Is Her Name emphasizes the power of individual creativity in overcoming a difficult environment and establishing self-worth and identity through the young girl América's desire and determination to be a writer. This story deals realistically with the problems in urban neighborhoods and has an upbeat theme: you can succeed in spite of the odds against you. Carlos Vázquez's inspired four-color illustrations give a vivid sense of the barrio, as well as the beauty and strength of the young girl América.
Una niña de nueve años, América Soliz, vive con su familia en el Barrio Pilsen de Chicago. Echa de menos su hogar en México y se siente descontenta en la escuela, donde experimenta el prejuicio contra los inmigrantes mexicanos. América se siente en la fila de atrás del salón de clase y se la pasa soñando con su aldea en Oaxaca hasta que un día un poeta, el Sr. Aponte, visita la clase. "Todos llevamos le poesía por dentro," le dice el Sr. Aponte a la clase e inspira a América a escribir. "Escriban en español o en inglés," exhorta él. América escribe cuentos y poemas, aun cuando su padre dice que es una manera poco práctica de utilizar el tiempo. Tanto el tío como la madre de América disfrutan los cuentos de la chica, y ésta descubre para sí lo que el Sr. Aponte ha dicho en clase. "Cuando se usan las...
