2010's Best Holiday Gifts: Línea Descubriendo

Here come the holidays and like most of you, I have been scouring the web for the perfect gifts for my children. This year, we are avoiding frivolous and mindless toys in favor of those that are beneficial to our kid's overall development. I am focusing on educational products that improve literacy, creativity, and/or other valuable skills.

At the top of my recommendation list is Línea Descubriendo by Witty Planet. This exceptional line of products for children was created in Argentina and has been embrace by many Latin American countries for its educational properties. And now, for the first time, it is available in the United States. (Yay!)

I had a chance to review some of their products, including one of their DVDs - Descubriendo mi Cuerpo - last month and they were an INSTANT hit with my children. The DVD, especially, quickly became my children's current favorite, and they have been singing and dancing to the songs ever since. The video is divided up into segments about the different body parts and how to care for them. The original songs are full of information about each topic along with images of real children preparing to take a bath, playing in the bubbles, brushing their hair, etc. The songs are separated by short skits involving the cast of puppets from Línea Descubriendo, including its host, Bubba (pronounced BOO-bah). This adorable monkey had my kids in stitches a number of times with his silly antics and facial expressions.

The DVD is more than just a video, though, and includes interactive games, which both of my kids really enjoy. I was really happy with this product, and the way that it supplemented my kid's Spanish curriculum perfectly.

A lot of thought has gone into this line of products - and it shows. Developed by professionals in childhood development, Línea Descubriendo invites children to learn through play, song, and dance. Their goal is to stimulate a child’s curiosity, interest in learning, and communication skills. The entire line was developed by keeping in mind children's visual preferences and pedagogical requirements for early childhood. Even the puppets were developed by Roberto Docampo, Director of the Puppetry School at the San Martin Theater, in Argentina.

You can see a sample of Descubriendo mi Cuerpo here.

If you are a fan of the Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby lines, and are trying to raise your children bilingually, then you will absolutely LOVE Línea Descubriendo. But though it is similar to these American products, that is only on the surface. As you explore the products you will discover a much richer Spanish-only line with songs that are original pieces, specific to the topic, with additional information about each subject.

If you'd like to examine the line a little more thoroughly, take a look at their adorable, interactive site, El Mundo de Bubba, for additional games, art, and much, much more. You won't be disappointed.

To go ahead and order your own Línea Descubriendo products, visit Witty Planet. Their website is available in both English and Spanish. Don't forget to type in the promo code LATINBABY for an additional 10% off your purchase!


Disclosure: I was compensated for this review. However, the opinions expressed in this post are sincere and true. Mi Cielito Lindo will not endorse products that it does not approve of or that we feel will not interest our readers.

Shopping for Navidad: Culturally-Inspired Gifts

Tostobueno® offers its “Trio” that makes three plantain chips at once. And if you want to make plantain cups to stuff with any filling you can imagine, just flip it over and place the slice in a deep flat bottom mold for three perfect cups every time. This Old Fashioned Plantain Smasher™ will help you get away from boring party food and serve an exotic dish that’s eaten in Latin America and throughout the Caribbean every day. Tostobueno® is the Ultimate Tostonera® because it takes an old fashioned idea and puts a new age spin on it. For more information, visit http://www.tostobueno.com/.

Gregorio Ties is a unique company who specializes in cultural designs on high-quality products. Their stunning handmade 100% silk ties, feature designs that tell a distinct story of Latino culture. Their new collections for Fall 2009 include Guadalupe, Lotería and Duality. This year, they launched their new silk scarf collection for women. "What motivates our Virgin of Guadalupe design is her message of love and compassion, her promise to help and protect all mankind." To learn more about the design, please visit http://www.gregorioties.com/.

Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say) are so cute and reminicent of Latin childhood's that they'll have you singing "Pio, Pio, Pio'' with your little ones.The t-shirts, onesies and hats are 100% cotton, American-made and most are packaged in a wooden keepsake box. It's the perfect new baby gift all year round. Pick up your LPD products at http://www.lospollitosdicen.biz/.

The 2009 Latino Family Holiday Gift Guide has Arrived!

The 2009 Latino Family Holiday Guide features an affordable and creative variety of gift items that promote Spanish language and Hispanic Heritage and, with many products less than $20, are designed to fit everyone's budget. The guide includes everything from CDs to ornaments to T-shirts by innovative artists and entrepreneurs from all over the country.

Sponsored by Texas-based Latin Baby, which specializes in baby products with a Hispanic theme, the new gift guide highlights fun items that range from the traditional and cultural to the hot and hip -- all affordably priced for today’s on-line shoppers and categorized in four groups: La Familia, Los Niños, Los Amigos, and Under $20.

• "Feliz Navidad" infant creepers by Latin Baby
• Silk ties and scarves with Latino motifs by Gregorio Ties
• Art prints by Lunita Company
• Culturally inspired T-shirts by Chichi & Flaco

So, whether it’s a Spanish saying expressed on American-made T-shirts in a lively design from Hecho Latino, or an old fashioned, but eco-friendly plaintain smasher from Tostobueno®, or a beautiful Our Lady of Guadalupe glass ornament from CasaQ, shoppers will find exactly the right thing for their holiday gift-giving.

"This year's Latino Family Holiday Guide represents the best of the best in gifts that capture the spirit of living Latino in the United States, and the celebration of Latino culture,'' said Monica Olivera Hazelton, owner of Latin Baby and the gift guide's creator. "Shoppers will find everything from stocking stuffers to useful, everyday items, to gifts that could become long-time, family treasures."

Because demand for Spanish and bilingual products continues to accelerate, the guide places special emphasis kid-friendly items by companies such as: Ingenio Toys, the first bilingual educational toys and games brand in the USA; Los Pollitos Dicen (The Little Chicks Say), which offers unique and colorful onesies; LatinBabyBookClub, which specializes in a variety of children’s books designed to encourage reading; and Piomu, which carries eco-friendly toys. And the guide also features CDs and DVDs from companies such as Bilingual Fun, Boca Beth and Sing A Lingo to help children grow up bilingual.

The Latino Family Gift Guide will run through January in order to celebrate the Day of the Magi (El Dia de Los Reyes Magos) on January 6 – the traditional day for exchanging gifts in many Spanish-speaking countries. New product listings may be added through January, so be sure to check back often.

Día de los Muertos Activities & Lesson Plans for Children

Día de los Muertos is just a few days away. So for all of you mamis and papis out there looking for a few good ideas on how to educate your children about the holiday, here are a few of my favorite sites that are full of videos, activities, arts and crafts for children.

Once again, AZCentral.com takes first place. They have put together a most excellent site on Day of the Dead, which includes articles, videos and slideshows on everything from José Guadalupe Posada to Día de los Muertos flashcards. They also have one of the most comprehensive downloadable education packages for students on the internet. It is filled with great activities for children that teachers or parents can use to celebrate the holiday, and includes word finds, mix and match puzzles, coloring pages, a papel picado template, etc.

Teachers will especially love MrDonn’s site. He has several lesson plans on it, but you should especially check out the free presentations in Power Point format!

And don’t forget Yuyi Morales’ site related to her book series featuring Señor Calavera. In addition to a downloadable lesson plan, the site also has several arts and craft projects for los niños, including how to make a mask, puppet and animation. So don’t skip SrCalavera.com!

Día de los Muertos is Around the Corner!

Last year I spent the month of October celebrating Día de los Muertos on Mi Cielito Lindo. This year, I'm at it again. I hope you enjoy the activities and products I've found to help you celebrate our holiday!

To begin, let's just catch up on what exactly it is we are celebrating....

A blending of ancient Aztec and Spanish Catholic beliefs, Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in conjunction with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. It is basically a time during which we remember our family members and other loved ones who have passed away.

Despite its Mexican roots, the holiday is now celebrated throughout the world in various forms, but most especially in Spanish-speaking countries. Individuals celebrate the day in a variety of ways. Some visit the cemetery to clean and decorate graves. The decorations may consist of flowers – especially orange marigolds – and other "ofrendas" (offerings) such as toys, drinks, candies and trinkets.

These ofrendas are laid out in homes as well, where small altars are often erected for the occasion. The altars are not to worship, but rather a tribute or way to remember and honor the deceased’s memory. They are generally decorated with items such as the loved one’s photograph, candles, favorite foods and drinks, memorabilia, a Christian cross, images of la Virgen, etc. Skeletons placed upon the altar are intended to be silly and humorous, not scary or lacking in respect. In fact, it is believed that the dead consider it disrespectful to be greeted at the altar by a grieving friend/family.

Several children's books have been written with Día de los Muertos as the topic. In fact, the Latin Baby Book Club's Libro del Mes is Calavera Abecedario by Jeanette Winter (shown above.) It is a lively story based on a real artistic family in Mexico. To check out their review of this book, click here.

Other fabulous Día de los Muertos related children's books include Yuyi Morales' Just a Minute: An Trickster Tale and Counting Book and it's companion book, Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book; Luis San Vicente's Festival of Bones/El Festival de las Calaveras; and Tony Johnston's Day of the Dead.

Inspiring Latinos You Should Know

As a Latina mom, it upsets me that history books rarely discuss Latinos who have had an impact on our society. In fact, when I set out to research this for my own children, I was surprised at how many I knew nothing about. I have talked a number of times on this blog about the crisis that young Latinos and Latinas are experiencing in this country. They are in desperate need of inspiration and guidance. They are bombarded daily by media images that insist that Latinas must be sexy and wanton, which conflicts with their family’s more conservative values. One of the major factors identified in the success of young Latinas is their relationship with their mother: Latinitas with mamís that listen – even if they don’t agree – are far more likely to succeed and grow up to be healthy and happy adults.

A recent study by researchers at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill has shown that "Latino adolescents in the U.S. who maintain ties to their culture of origin are more likely to develop healthy behaviors than their peers who do not. Latino adolescents with strong awareness of their family’s culture reported higher self esteem, fewer social problems and less hopelessness, aggression and substance abuse."

So the question is: How do we engender in our children a respect and pride for our culture? Wow. This could take a LONG time to discuss. I think that it is never too early to show our children the beauty of our Latino culture. Exposing them to the elements of our heritage includes the language, food, dance, music, and HISTORY. Which brings me to the point of this particular post: It is so important to give our children role models with whom they can relate. There are so many inspirational Latinos out there that I could start an entire blog simply featuring them. (Hmmmm….) But for now, I thought I would share with you some of the stories and on-line resources for learning more about significant figures in our cultures. Here are a few that I thought would be great to get you started on the track of exposing your children to positive Latino role models. Some are well known, while others are not. But either way, their stories are moving and inspiring.

Gabriela Mistral - The Chilean born poet who began teaching at the young age of 15 and subsequently traveled all over the world in an effort to improve schools. She was inspired by her travels and wrote many stories during this time. Gabriela Mistral is her nom de plume. She was actually born Lucila de María del Perpetuo Socorro Godoy Alcayaga – Whew! Mistral is a wonderful role model for young children because she was so passionate about learning and writing. She is noted for the many contributions she made to the education system of Latin America. Mistral finally received the recognition she so richly deserved in 1945 when she became the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. A prolific writer, she published more than 30 collections of poetry during her lifetime.
My Name is Gabriela/Me llamo Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral/la vida de Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown
Nobel Prize Biographies

Poet Seers: Gabriela Mistral

César Chávez –Mexican American farm worker and founder of the United Farm Workers. This civil rights activist fought for the rights of migrant workers, including better pay and safer working conditions. He is noted for his nonviolent outlook and protests including strikes, pickets, fasting and a 300+ mile march. Though he never earned more than 5,000 a year in his life, he is remembered by millions for his determination to bring recognition and dignity to farm workers.
For more information about César Chávez, check out these books & websites:
Cesar: Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can! by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull

The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers Movement by Susan Ferriss and Ricardo Sandoval
The Cesar E Chavez Foundation

Las Culturas: The Story of Cesar Chavez

Celia Cruz – Cuban "Queen of Salsa." Originally studied to become a literature teacher, only to interrupt her studies to pursue singing opportunities that eventually led to stardom. She has become beloved by generations all over the world for her operatic voice, flamboyant costumes and intimate relation to the music of Salsa.
For more information about Celia Cruz, check out these books & websites:

Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa by Veronica Chambers

My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz by Monica Brown

Celia: Mi Vida (Spanish Edition) by Celia Cruz and Ana Cristina Reymundo
Biggest Stars: Celia Cruz

Roberto Clemente – Puerto Rican baseball legend who transcended his reputation as a professional athlete to humanitarian and philanthropist. He is remembered for his efforts towards the recognition of his fellow Latino baseball players and for helping people in need across the United States and Central America. Clemente also held free baseball clinics for children in his homeland and created programs to help disadvantaged youth develop athletic skills and prevent illegal drug use. Clemente died in a plane crash while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
For more information about Roberto Clemente, check out these books & websites:
Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente
American Experience: Roberto Clemente

Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates by Jonah Winter

Latino Baby Shower Cake Toppers

Over the last couple of years, we have repeatedly received requests for cake toppers. After doing some research on-line, we were terribly disappointed to find that very few Latino-themed cake toppers were available for purchase. Most of the ones we found were of Dora and Diego or Maya and Miguel. Cute, but a little too casual and lacking in the beauty and elegance that this momentous occasion deserves.

So it is with greatest pleasure that I now announce that Latino baby shower cake toppers are now available at Latin Baby! These handmade ceramic figurines are a beautiful way to decorate your cake or as a centerpiece to your table. The perfect regalito for any mami-to-be, these figurines also make a wonderful keepsake for mamá to treasure.

To check out our complete line, visit the Latin Baby boutique here.

The Latin Baby Book Club is a Great Resource for Bilingual Families

In case you haven't heard, Mi Cielito Lindo's sister blog, the Latin Baby Book Club is celebrating its 1st anniversary by giving away fabulous prizes all week. You still have one chance left to enter to win one (or ALL!) of them. Prizes include an adult T-shirt by the wonderful company, MotherTongues; bilingual books for children; learning Spanish sets by Let's Play in Spanish; and even a $50.00 gift certificate to Latin Baby, our parent company!

The LBBC is a wonderful resource for all families that are trying to raise bilingual children. We review bilingual-bicultural books and music for children of all ages, and even a few for parents, too! Over ten talented bloggers have contributed reviews, author/illustrator interviews, information on local events, videos and more.

So head over there ASAP to enter for your chance to win!

Latin American Heritage Camp Provides Summer Activities for Adoptive Families

The end of the school year is fast approaching and summer is on many people's minds. Have you thought about how to keep tus niños busy over the next few months? Are they taking summer courses at the local zoo/museum/library? Are you planning any family vacations? What about summer camp?

For those of you with adopted children, maybe you'd be interested in the Latin American Heritage Camp in Colorado. The camp can be considered a wonderful opportunity for families with adopted Latino children to explore their culture/heritage while making some wonderful life-long friendships. One of the few camps of its kind in the country, it is designed specifically for families with children adopted from Central and South America, as well as those of Latino heritage adopted within the United States.

This year's camp theme is Viajando por Latinoamérica: "Traveling through Latin America."Children as young as 3 years old up through high school participate in workshops and activities that focus on countries thoughout Latin America. Activities include folk singing, L. A. handicrafts, cooking, soccer, learning the Mayan calendar and much, much more.

And don't forget the adults! Mamis and Papis get in on the action, too. A few of the workshops for parents include:

- Dealing with Prejudice and Racism with Astrid Dabbeni
- Latin American Dance with Mercedes Hammer
- Latin American crafts with Julie Morino
- Bullying and the Adopted Child with Kathryn Jens
- Latin American Cooking-offering 4 cooking classes this year

with Margie Rodriguez and Jesse Brugger

.

Young adult Latino adoptees are encouraged to become counselors and share their own adoption stories with each other and the younger campers. For many, this allows them to gain a greater understanding of their own culture and heritage. Serving as role models, the counselors are not required to be adopted, but must be 18 or older, enthusiastic, and of the same ethnic background as the children at the camp.

This sounds like such a great opportunity for adoptive familias! This year's camp will run June 25-28 at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch facility near Winter Park, CO. To learn more about the camp, visit their website here.

Las Posadas: Remembering Childhood Traditions

Sometimes it is very hard being so far away from familia. And the holidays are often the hardest. I think back about all the great times I had as a child during this time of year, and I wish so much that my own children could experience the same things.

For instance, the tradition of las posadas.

Growing up, this was one of my favorite holiday celebrations. More often than not, we participated in several each year before Christmas. Sometimes la posada was hosted by a community center or park, but most of the time a group of amigos took turns hosting it at their homes. I remember the pride each couple took in having one at their house. Rooms were meticulously cleaned, pictures of children and grandchildren were lovingly dusted, decorations were carefully arranged with special attention given to the tiny (and some not so tiny) nativity scenes. The homes were warm with love and laughter - especially the kitchens. ¡Ay! The aromas wafting from each one were a sensual delight - tamales, champurrado, chocolate caliente, buñuelos, and on and on...

I can remember usually being in the group that forms outside asking for shelter/lodging. Bundled up against the chilly nights with a tiny white candle in one hand and a piece of paper with song lyrics in the other, we would sing our little hearts out, steam from our breaths rising like the notes into the black, frosty sky above.

Occasionally I got lucky and was chosen to be one of the people who carry los peregrinos (the statues of Mary and Joseph) in the procession. Such an honor, but I always felt a little guilty because I never could memorize the words to the songs so I had to lipsync and hope nobody caught on.

The best part though, of course being when the "inn keepers" finally granted us permission to enter and everyone began joyfully singing,

"Entren, Santos Peregrinos,

reciban este rincón,

que aunque es pobre la morada,

os la doy de corazón."

If you'd like a good description on the history and current celebration of Las Posadas tradition, you can check out Wikipedia or Mexico Connect or even CinnamonHearts

For the complete song lyrics, click here (includes a link to a printable score.)

Now, if you are getting ready to host una posada, and are planning your menu for the night, why not check out these recipes for tamales de chocolate y canela (shown above) or cinnamon chocolate coffee, or maybe this one for warm apple empanadas. Mmmmm, delicioso!

Dia de los Muertos Preparations

Well, preparations for Dia de los Muertos has officially started, I think. Many of this month's features will focus on projects for children and products that celebrate the holiday. And as a quick review for many who are not familiar with the holiday, or have forgotten some of the elements, here is a brief description of the day.

A blending of ancient Aztec and Spanish Catholic beliefs, Dia de los Muertos is a holiday that is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd in conjunction with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. It is basically a time during which we remember our family members and other loved ones who have passed away.

Despite its Mexican roots, the holiday is now celebrated throughout the world in various forms, but most especially in Spanish-speaking countries. Individuals celebrate the day in a variety of ways. Some visit the cemetery to clean and decorate graves. The decorations may consist of flowers – especially orange marigolds – and other "ofrendas" (offerings) such as toys, drinks, candies and trinkets.

These ofrendas are laid out in homes as well, where small altars are often erected for the occasion. The altars are not to worship, but rather a tribute or way to remember and honor the deceased’s memory. They are generally decorated with items such as the loved one’s photograph, candles, favorite foods and drinks, memorabilia, a Christian cross, images of la Virgen, etc. Skeletons placed upon the altar are intended to be silly and humorous, not scary or lacking in respect. In fact, it is believed that the dead consider it disrespectful to be greeted at the altar by a grieving friend/family.

Special dishes made up during the holiday include the now hugely popular sugar skulls as a way to honor the deads’ sweet spirit, and candied pumpkin, or "pan de muerto." The following recipe is from globalgourmet.com (an excellent recipe resource for mamis.)

Pan de Muerto
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
5 to 5-1/2 cups flour
2 packages dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon whole anise seed
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs

In a saucepan over medium flame, heat the butter, milk and water until very warm but not boiling. Meanwhile, measure out 1-1/2 cups flour and set the rest aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the 1-1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, anise seed and sugar. Beat in the warm liquid until well combined. Add the eggs and beat in another 1 cup of flour. Continue adding more flour until dough is soft but not sticky. Knead on lightly floured board for ten minutes until smooth and elastic.
Lightly grease a bowl and place dough in it, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1-1/2 hours. Punch the dough down and shape into loaves resembling skulls, skeletons or round loaves with "bones" placed ornamentally around the top. Let these loaves rise for 1 hour.
Bake in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and paint on glaze.

Glaze

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons grated orange zest

Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, then apply to bread with a pastry brush.
If desired, sprinkle on colored sugar while glaze is still damp.

Of course, handmade decorations are traditional to Dia de los Muertos. And there are hundreds of projects out there for families to make. The Crafty Chica herself, Kathy Cane Murillo gives us a great several great projects at AZCentral, such as reverse glass painting, paper flower assembly, a Dia de los Muertos pin, and even a recipe for making sugar skulls. Check it out here.

The Latin Baby Book Club’s Book of the Month/Libro del Mes choice is perfect for parents who are looking for a way to introduce the holiday to their chiquiticos and includes a few links to activities for their children. You can check out the book review here. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to sign up for the club’s first giveaway. The deadline is this Saturday!

Dichos de Mi Madre Makes an Hierloom Gift

A few months ago, Latin Baby received a lovely sample of a gift book by Victoria Killeen called Dichos de mi Madre. I thought it was beautiful and it brought to my mind some poignant memories of my 'buelita who was such a happy soul and always imparting her wisdom with a smile. And since we will be celebrating Grandparent’s Day this month, I decided to add the book to our "Gifts for Abuelita" section. This would be a wonderful heirloom gift that could be passed down in the family. In fact, I have decided that within the next couple of days, I will be adding a gift basket, too, (which will include this little book, an abuelita T-shirt and a mirror) for those of you looking for an extra-special gift for the abuelita in your life.

Here is an excerpt from a book review of Dichos de mi Madre that I did for the Latin Baby Book Club...

"Written completely in Spanish, the book is a collection of "sayings" or "dichos" that often are quoted to us by our mamás or our abuelitas. Some of the verses have English equivalents, such as "A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes" which translates to "Never look a gift horse in the mouth" and "El amor es ciego" which means "Love is blind."
But some are uniquely original to Latin America such as "Gallo que no canta algo tiene en la garganta" which is one I distinctly remember my great-grandmother saying. It means "a rooster that doesn’t sing has something in his throat" – HA! And even better, "Échate en la cama y verás quién the ama" meaning "Throw yourself on the bed and you’ll see who loves you" gasp – MAMÁ!
I also like "Hombre casado, ni frito ni asado," which means "don’t bother with a married man, not even if he’s fried nor grilled."
There are SO MANY dichos in this book it is hard to pick out so few. I have to say that Victoria did a great job collecting them all. She is to be commended for all the effort that I am sure it took to remember and write them all down. She dedicates the book to her mother and is donating all the proceeds to charity in honor of her beloved mother.
Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Victoria completed her studies here in the States, and graduated with degrees in interior design and art history. After getting married, she moved to Atlanta where she and her husband became very involved in the arts community. They are founding members of the High Museum and Victoria has been on the board for many years. Thanks to her husband’s job, she has had the opportunity to travel to almost 100 countries which has made Victoria very aware of in the importance of culture and traditions and the pride that people take in theirs. She wrote Dichos as a way to celebrate both our Latino culture and our mothers who have taught them to us.
If you would like your copy of this wonderful little book, click here. Remember that it makes a wonderful regalito!"

The Frijolitos Book Series has Arrived!

From the LBBC Blog-

"Prior to having children, I used to spend every weekend in a bookstore. And the proof is here in my new house. Our library is filled with boxes of books patiently awaiting the construction of built-in bookshelves. However, since my journey into mamihood began, my genre tastes have shifted from a little bit of everything (nature, mystery, crafting, fiction…) to mostly children’s literature.
The arrival of a new book in the mail never fails to lift my spirits and fill me with excitement. And I’ll even admit right here that I am a bad critic because there are very few books that I have read that I haven’t liked. And, hey, I’ll even admit that with the birth of mis niños, it is like having the chance to relive my favorite part of childhood – the books!

But let me tell you, amigas, this week my excitement was fully justified, when I received my first order of books from Frijolitos Inc. Dedicated to creating educational toys that celebrate the traditions, folklore and culture of Latin America, their first two books do not disappoint. Filled with culturally relevant illustrations and themes, both books present the text in both English and Spanish.

Picadillo the Armadillo/Picadillo el Armadillo is the first book in the series and follows the mischievous antics of Picadillo when he is found and taken in by an excited young girl named Lilia. He is accompanied by Albondiga, the Mariachi dog, who at first tries to keep Picadillo out of trouble, but finally winds up joining in on all the naughty fun. The ending is warm and sweet and teaches a good life lesson about not judging a book by its cover.

But my favorite book is the second one in the series, Tuguita Tere: A Home for My Books/Un Hogar Para Mis Libros. The book centers around (surprise!) Tuguita Tere as she celebrates her 5th birthday and eagerly applies for her very own library card. Tuguita is an imaginative bibliophile, always dreaming up adventures based on the books that she reads. I really like how the book references historical figures (ie, Frida and Sor Juana Inés to name a few) – this would be a great way to introduce your children to other historical children’s books, too.

The back of Tuguita’s book even includes a history of the piñata (Did you know it was originally an Italian game? I didn’t!) and a nice little section with tips about reading to your child. Both books even include lesson plans for teachers and parents in the back.

So if you’d like to pick up your very own copy of one (or both!) of these fun books, click here.

And be sure to visit the Frijolitos web site to learn more about their whimsical characters!"

Life "On the Pampas" Captures el Corazón

Not too long ago, a friend gave me a copy of "On the Pampas" by María Cristina Brusca. Instantly, it became my daughter's favorite and I must have read it five dozen times by now - at least once a day, sometimes twice. Normally, I would get tired of a new "favorite" after a few nights in a row and try to suggest a new one that we haven't read, but this sweet classic has definitely caught my heart.

I don't know of any little girls (or boys, for that matter) that don't like a good story about horses and life on the ranch. I certainly devoured books on this topic when I was a child. And since their infancy, I have seen this burgeoning love and affection for all things equine consume my children.

But for me, "Pampas" has sky-rocketed to the top of our favorite book list because it not only tells a great story about a girl's summer vacation on the family ranch - it tells about una niña's summer adventure on an Argentine estancia. So much of this story brings back childhood memories of times when I visited my father's familia in Spain and enjoyed the innocence, joy and passion of la vida española. I wish that every child could be able to experience the adventure of living in the country and discover the passion for living that the Hispanic culture embodies.

Unfortunately, Amazon only seems to have 9 used copies left, but if I were you, I would boogie on over there and get one. You can find them here.

You will not regret the purchase after you read this wonderful book with your child. Both of mine are totally enthralled from beginning to end. And the illustrations are excellent, as well. I had a hard time picking one out from the book, so I wound up using my two favorites (not in sequential order.)

It is also an excellent tool for teaching your children about the differences and similarities of another culture. After reading the book, take a moment to show your children where Argentina is and, if they are old enough, have them write a report about the country. Better yet, how about a little family vacation? I'm free this July, so just give me a call when you're ready...

And to compliment the book, I am including a recipe of Carbonada (mentioned in the book) which is a typical Argentine stew of meat and vegetables. It is fairly simple and straightforward, so you might even have the kids give you a hand putting it together....

Carbonada Criolla

from globalgourmet.com

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 pounds stewing beef, in 1-inch chunks

4 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 green pepper, coarsely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon oregano, crushed

salt and pepper to taste

2 cups chicken stock

1 cup white wine

3 baking potatoes, 1 inch dice

3 sweet potatoes, 1 inch dice

2 ears corn, cut into 1 inch widths

2 zucchini or yellow squash, in 1/2 inch dice

2 peaches in 1/2 inch dice

2 pears in 1/2 inch dice

Heat oil in heavy pot. Brown beef in batches. Remove from pan and set aside. Cook tomatoes, pepper, onion and garlic until soft. Add seasonings, stock and wine. Bring to boil scraping up browned bits, then return beef to pot with potatoes and sweet potatoes. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in corn and squash. Simmer 10 more minutes, until vegetables are almost fully tender, then add fruits and cook only 5 minutes more.

Yummy.

La Casa Azúl Now On-Line!

For all you mamás in East Harlem who may not have heard, La Casa Azúl Bookstore has officially launched its on-line bookstore. If you are having trouble waiting for the actual bookstore to open, you can now buy many great books on-line! For those of you not in El Barrio, La Casa Azúl is an independent bookstore and café (owned by fellow Comadre, Ms. Aurora Anaya- Cerda) that features the work of contemporary Latino authors and carries a number of new and used books in English and Spanish.
It is also the host of El Barrio Book Club, which meets once a month in local restaurants. You can find updates about the current book they are reading at their on-line store, so even if you live in Chicago or Los Angeles (and find it difficult to make the meetings - wink!) you can still find some great literature by keeping tabs on the Book Club’s selections.
The store even sells music from the US, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. The on-line store is a sneak peak of the actual storefront that is due to open soon. So if you are looking to support a Latina-owned business that promotes cultural awareness and supports community education, check out La Casa Azúl Bookstore’s new on-line website by clicking here.

Do You Have Bookjoy?

This month has flown by so fast! Is tomorrow really Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros? Do you have any special plans to celebrate? I have been thinking on this for the whole month and wondering what kinds of activities to do with my kids. They love story time and we already go to the library each week, so I have been thinking about what kinds of extra special activities we can do. I have a few ideas, and I will let you know later this week how we celebrated the day.

For those of you wondering what you can do with your children, why not head to your local library? Some held their events this past weekend, but I believe many libraries and bookstores have special events and activities planned for the 30th as well. Here is one link where you can check for celebrations near you.

I also was delighted to stumble upon Pat Mora's new blog, called Bookjoy! (click on the picture above to go to her site.) She has just started it and I think it will grow into a wonderful resource for parents, teachers, librarians and more. If you have a moment, please stop by and take a look and leave her a little message telling her what you think of her new blog. Her most recent post mentioned that she was leaving to attend an ALA Día event in one of the U.S. Senate chambers - How exciting!

And don't forget that Latin Baby's book sale ends tomorrow (Wednesday) night - so pick up some fantastico bilingual children's books now while the books are cheap! To see our entire line, click here.

Alma Flor Ada - Preserving our Childhood Culture

For some reason, the days are flying by much too quickly for me lately. I think I have too much on my plate and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for me to get it all done. My kids have been especially demanding lately and I am running all day long. I am smart enough to realize that this happens in spurts, so hopefully everything will settle soon. Until then, I hope you will pardon the lack of blogging!

Right, so that said, on to the topic of the day...

I am pleased to focus on my next favorite children's book author, Alma Flor Ada. We have carried her books in the past, and hopefully, I will do so again in the next month or two. I feel she is one of the best authors out there who is trying hard to preserve our Latino childhood traditions. She has several books that focus specifically on folktales and nursery rhymes, including Mamá Goose A Latino Nursery Treasury (my FAVORITE!) and ¡Pío Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes. Both come with English adaptations that are not literal translations, but do capture the essence of the rhymes very well.

All in all, Ms. Ada has been one of the biggest contributors to bilingual education. She has written over 200 books and is a master at retelling traditional folktales. Originally from Cuba, her first children's book (which was originally written for her daughter) became required reading for thousands of Peruvian school children, where she lived and taught as a high school teacher for many years.

Ms Ada has done a lot of traveling. She is an avid collector of folktales and nursery rhymes from all Spanish-speaking countries, and she is quick to retell these tales in books for children. She has more awards than I could possibly list here, but two that stand out are the Pura Belpré and the Christopher Award.

And, again, here is another author whose love of words and tradition was inspired by their grandmother (it never ceases to amaze me the influence that abuelitas have over thier grandchildren!) Ms Ada was taught to read before the age of three by her grandmother who would write the names of plants and flowers in the dirt with a stick.

If you would like to learn more about Alma Flor, or to see a complete list(!) of her books, you can visit her web site here.

As I mentioned, I hope to have a few of her books back in our store by summer, but in the mean time, if you'd like to purchase any of her books, you can do so through Del Sol Books - just click here.

José-Luis Orozco's Music Passes on la Cultura

I hope to highlight several of my favorite authors of bilingual children's books over the next couple of weeks. Some of them I carry in my store, and others I do not...yet! There are so many that I love, but still too few in publication. And as I have written about before here and here, I feel that one of the best and easiest ways of preserving our culture is through music.

Deserving special recognition in this category, is José-Luis Orozco, of whom I am sure all of you have already heard - and, perhaps, you may even have a few of his books or CDs? I think his most popular book may be De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children. I actually sell this one and a few others by Señor Orozco in my boutique (hey, they're on sale, People - get over there!) All of his books are beautifully and richly illustrated, but the heart of each work centers around the lively finger rhymes and folksongs that Mr. Orozco has collected from all over Latin America and Spain.

Born in Mexico city, his wonder and love of music was developed at an early age, thanks to his abuelita. At only 8 years old, he joined the Mexico City Boy's Choir and traveled throughout Central and South America and across the sea to the Caribbean and Europe. His Master's degree is in Multicultural Education and his books are used by thousands of teachers across America. I can't even begin to list all of the awards that Sr. Orozco has received, but I can assure you they are all well deserved.

His works are a gift to children, who will be engaged by the rhythm of the words and music. And your niños will greatly benefit from the interaction with you. Each book comes with lyrics in both English and Spanish, as well as simple arrangements for piano and guitar.

Some of his other books and CDs include, Diez Deditos and Other Play Rhymes and Action Songs, Fiestas A Year of Latin American Songs and Celebrations, Navidad y Pancho Claus, and Arrullos: Lullabies in Spanish, but he has SO many more.

If you'd like to visit José-Luis Orozco's official web site, click here. And don't forget to check out his show schedule to see if he will be performing anywhere near you!

Dresses Carried by CWDKids Reflecting Latino Patterns

You cannot imagine how excited I was to see that C W D Kids has this beautiful little dress for sale right now! Called the Fiesta Dress by Flapdoodles, it is so pretty with the colorful smocking around the front and back. But my favorite part is the delicate embroidery along the hem. Maybe I should buy one for my daughter this year and bigger sizes for each year after that? Hmmm.

They also have a Mayan inspired dress set that is equally gorgeous with smocking along the shoulders and waist and more intricate embroidery above the hem. It is a tunic style dress in shades of lime, pink and orange (unfortunately not on sale, but worth every penny!)

And they have a fun watermelon collection by Young Colors, of which my favorite is the Watermelon Tiered Dress. The pinks and greens go together nicely, while the ruffled skirt and drawstring neck give it a peasant-dress feeling.

To view these and more, click here.

A Wonderful Discovery and New Favorite...

Okay, Amigas...I am pretty excited about this next artist and her products. I stumbled upon the CATbox Art Studio by accident while I was surfing etsy, and woohoo!

Cathy Ashworth is the artist behind the studio. Based out of LA, she produces a lot of Latino art and takes most of her inspiration from Dia de los Muertos and Frida Kahlo. She creates art on everything from mirrors to necklaces, greeting cards, calendars and more. I was especially excited about the little pocket mirrors that come with their own velvet pouch, like the ones shown here. Don't you think they would be a great gift for Mother's Day?

Frida is such a tragic figure, but somehow Cathy (aka Cat) infuses her with so much warmth - which is not a term I typically use to describe Frida. That signature monobrow (which I have occasionally found to be unnatural and even ugly in some artwork) is transformed into something so beautiful. As you can see from the collage, Cathy does paint non-Frida subjects, as well. And all together, I have a very difficult time choosing a favorite. I tried sending my mother some links to the pieces that I liked "best" and wound up sending her an email filled with so many links that she might as well have just gone to the web site itself and just looked at everything.

I think what really draws me to Cathy's artwork is the way she uses color. Her pieces are bold and rich and sassy. I'll chalk it up to the Latina in me, but I just can't get enough color. You know that scene in Fools Rush In where Matthew Perry arrives home to discover that Salma Hayek's family painted their house every color in the rainbow? That's me. Or it would be, except that my husband and I are still renting a house in town. Hmmm. Maybe my husband knows me too well.

At anyrate, if you would like to check out Cathy's wonderful website (and I know you do,) you can do so here. You can also purchase some of her products at her etsy boutique.

I would also highly recommend you visit her blog, Chaos in a CATbox. It features many of her most recently finished artwork and has some great links.

(Please keep in mind that all of Cathy's artwork is officially registered with the Copyright Office in DC.)