The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has designated May 2008 as the fifth annual “Latino Books Month.” During the month-long celebration, booksellers, librarians, and others in the book industry will encourage people in their communities to read books by and for Latinos, in both English and Spanish.
The AAP Task Force on Publishing Latino Voices for America (PLVA) has created a Latino Books Month Resource Kit, which will include:
- Latino Books Summer Reading List with recommended books for adults and children, in English and Spanish
- A Publishing Latino Voices Brochure, which includes a sampling of titles by and for Latinos published by AAP member publishing companies.
- Get Caught Reading/¡Ajá, leyendo! posters featuring celebrities including Gloria Estefan, Maya and Miguel, Jorge Ramos, Dora the Explorer, Jenna Bush, Mauricio Islas, and others.
- A “how-to” sheet on starting a Spanish-language reading group within a community.
- Contact information for booking Latino authors for author appearances.
The resource kits are currently available to booksellers, librarians, educators, and others who wish to promote a love of reading among Latinos in their communities. Those interested in a Latino Books Month resource kit should email Katie Ly at the Association of American Publishers kly@publishers.org or visit the AAP Booth at BookExpo America, Thursday, May 29 – Sunday, June 1 (Booth #4129). (AAP press release, April 15, 2008)
If you are looking for some professional resources that work especially well for English language learners or just want to celebrate Latino Books Month by integrating some Spanish into your class, check out Flip for Comprehension, winner of the Learning Magazine 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award for the Classroom, and its Spanish translation, Dar la Vuelta a la Comprensión, both by Emily Cayuso. You can also view our list of other ELL-friendly titles by clicking here.