A Kid's Guide to Latino History: More than 50 Activities

by Valerie Petrillo

Overview

A Kid’s Guide to Latino History features more than 50 hands-on activities, games, and crafts that explore the diversity of Latino culture and teach children about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped Hispanic American history.

 

Kids can:

*     Fill Mexican cascarones for Easter

*     Learn to dance the merengue from the Dominican Republic

*     Write a short story using “magical realism” from Columbia

*     Build Afro-Cuban Bongos

*     Create a vejigante mask from Puerto Rico

*     Make Guatemalan worry dolls

*     Play Loteria, or Mexican bingo, and learn a little Spanish

*     And much more

 

Did you know that the first immigrants to live in America were not the English settlers in Jamestown or the Pilgrims in Plymouth, but the Spanish? They built the first permanent American settlement in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565. The long and colorful history of Latinos in America comes alive through learning about the missions and early settlements in Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, and California; exploring the Santa Fe Trail; discovering how the Mexican-American War resulted in the Southwest becoming part of the United States; and seeing how recent immigrants from Central and South America bring their heritage to cities like New York and Chicago.

 

            Latinos have transformed American culture and kids will be inspired by Latino authors, artists, athletes, activists, and others who have made significant contributions to American history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781556527715
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	08/01/2009
Series:	A Kid's Guide Series
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	264,390
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	7 - 9 Years

About the Author

Valerie Petrillo is the author of A Kid's Guide to Asian American History and Sailors, Whalers, Fantastic Sea Voyages: An Activity Guide to North American Sailing Life.

Editorial Reviews

"Big, lively overview . . . chatty, informative text, presented in readable, spacious layouts."  —Booklist

"Full of creative projects to capture your child's interest and pride in their own heritage."  —mommymaestra.com

From the Publisher

Big, lively overview . . . chatty . . . informative text . . . presented in readable, spacious layouts.

Booklist

Gr 3–7—History and hands-on activities introduce children to the Latino cultures that are shaping our society. The book addresses a broad historical scope, from pre-Columbian culture in the Americas to present-day debates about undocumented immigration to the United States. Petrillo does not shy away from the thorny aspects of this debate, and she gives both sides their due. Her simple, direct prose clearly explains events and issues in language elementary-school students can understand. Interesting informational sidebars are included; for example, "Sea to Shining Sea" explains how Spanish words such as barbacoa (barbecue) and rodeo entered American English. The more than 50 activities, games, and crafts help to bring Latin American cultures to life. Children can learn how to dance the merengue, celebrate Christmas Mexican-style by making farolitos (lanterns), and more. The book focuses on the most dominant Latino groups in the United States; Mexican Americans, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Dominican Americans all get their own chapters. But Petrillo does an outstanding job of illustrating the rich variety within Latino cultures by describing how Central and South Americans contribute to United States culture and economy. An excellent resource for enriching children's understanding of these cultures.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY

School Library Journal

This well-documented resource, designed to support the social-science curricula in elementary- and middle-school classrooms, offers clear instructions on how to make 54 hands-on activities that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Latino culture in the United States. Each chapter includes historical background, illustrations, maps and critical-thinking questions. Information is presented in chronological order, beginning with the Pre-Columbian civilizations and the Spanish conquest followed by the Spanish colonies in North America, Mexican independence and life in the Mexican Southwest. Individual chapters highlight the major Latino immigrant waves: Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, Central Americans, Dominican Americans and South Americans. The last chapter, "Latinos: Past, Present and Future," discusses immigration issues. This guide will not only assist teachers and students but youth services librarians committed to presenting programs that reflect the history and achievements of the ethnic groups that make up the 15 percent of the U.S. population. (timeline, introduction, bibliographies, Latino museums, suggested reading list for kids, Latino movies and videos, websites, teacher's guide, history standards and learning objectives) (Nonfiction. 7 & up)

Kirkus Reviews