Book Descriptions
for Cool Salsa by Lori Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
"Life / to understand me / you have to know Spanish / feel it in the blood of your soul. / If I speak another language / and use different words / for feelings that will always stay the same / I don't know / if I'll continue being / the same person." ("Learning English" by Luis Alberto Ambroggio.) In sections titled "School Days," "Home and Homeland," "Memories," "Hard Times," "Time to Party" and "A Promising Future," poems of 29 Latin American writers are presented in both English and Spanish. A collection rich with language and memories, events and emotions grounded in Latino experience. (Age 12 and older)
CCBC Choices 1994. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 1994. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
"Poetry with a distinct flavor: a skillfully mixed appetizer."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Here are the sights, sounds, and smells of Latino culture in America in thirty-six vibrant, moving, angry, beautiful and varied voices, including Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros, Luis J. Rodríguez, Gary Soto, and Martín Espada.
Presented in both English and Spanish, each poem helps us to discover the stories behind the mangoes and memories, prejudice and fear, love and life--how it was and is to grow up Hispanic in America....
"The subtle but singing lyrics frequently have a colloquial tone that will speak to many young readers."
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred)
"Excellent enrichment...Whether discussing the immigrant's frustration at not being able to speak English...the familiar adolescent desire to belong, or celebrating the simple joys of life, these fine poems are incisive and photographic in their depiction of a moment."
--School Library Journal (starred)
--Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Here are the sights, sounds, and smells of Latino culture in America in thirty-six vibrant, moving, angry, beautiful and varied voices, including Alicia Gaspar de Alba, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros, Luis J. Rodríguez, Gary Soto, and Martín Espada.
Presented in both English and Spanish, each poem helps us to discover the stories behind the mangoes and memories, prejudice and fear, love and life--how it was and is to grow up Hispanic in America....
"The subtle but singing lyrics frequently have a colloquial tone that will speak to many young readers."
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred)
"Excellent enrichment...Whether discussing the immigrant's frustration at not being able to speak English...the familiar adolescent desire to belong, or celebrating the simple joys of life, these fine poems are incisive and photographic in their depiction of a moment."
--School Library Journal (starred)
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.