2010 Américas Book Award

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Américas Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature

The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP).

The award winners and commended titles are selected for their 1) distinctive literary quality; 2) cultural contextualization; 3) exceptional integration of text, illustration and design; and 4) potential for classroom use. The winning books will be honored at a ceremony (fall 2010) during Hispanic Heritage Month at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

2010 Américas Award Winners 

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez. Knopf, 2009. 318 pgs. ISBN 978-0-375-85838-3.

What Can You Do with a Paleta? / ¿Qué puedes hacer con una paleta? By Carmen Tafolla, Illustrated by Magaly Morales. Tricycle Press, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-1- 58246-289-9.

Américas Award Honorable Mentions 

Gringolandia by Lyn Miller-Lachmann. Curbstone, 2009. 280 pgs. ISBN 978-1-
931896-49-8.

I Know the River Loves Me / Yo sé que el río me ama by Maya Christina González. Children's Book Press, 2009. 24 pgs. ISBN 978-0-89239-233-9.

My Papa Diego and Me: Memories of My Father and His Art / Mi papa Diego y yo: Recuerdos de mi padre y su arte by Guadalupe Rivera Marín and Diego Rivera. Children's Book Press, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-89239-228-5.

Américas Award Commended Titles 

Before Columbus: the Americas of 1491 by Charles C. Mann. Atheneum, 2009. 132
pgs. ISBN 978-1-4169-4900-8.

Book Fiesta! Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day / Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros by Pat Mora. Illustrated by Rafael López. HarperCollins/Rayo, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-0-06-128877-7.

Braids / Trencitas by Kathleen Contreras. Illustrated by Margaret Lindmark. Lectorum, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1-933032-27-6.

Confetti Girl by Diana López. Little, Brown, 2009. 198 pgs. ISBN 978-0-316-02955-1.

Diego: Bigger Than Life by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand. Illustrated by David Diaz. Marshall Cavendish, 2009. 64 pgs. ISBN 978-0-7614-5383-3.

The Fiesta Dress: A Quinceañera Tale by Caren McNelly McCormack. Illustrated by Martha Avilés. Marshall Cavendish, 2009. 40 pgs. ISBN 978-0-7614-5467-0.

Grandmother, Have the Angels Come? by Denise Vega. Illustrated by Erin Eitter Kono. Little, Brown, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-316-10663-4.

Jorge Luis Borges by Georgina Lázaro. Illustrated by Graciela Genovés. Lectorum, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1-933032-40-5.

Journey of Dreams by Marge Pellegrino. Frances Lincoln, 2009. 260 pgs. ISBN 978- 1-84780-061-9.

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009. 324 pgs. ISBN 978-0-545-05474-4.

Muchacho by Louanne Johnson. Knopf, 2009. 197 pgs. ISBN 978-0-375-86117-8.

My Abuelita by Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Harcourt, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-15-216330-3.

Pelé King of Soccer / Pelé el rey del fútbol by Monica Brown. Illustrated by Rudy Gutiérrez. Rayo, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-0-06-122779-0.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora. Illustrated by Magaly Morales. Clarion, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-618-84198-1.

René has Two Last Names / René tiene dos apellidos by René Colato Lainez. Illustrated by Fabiola Graullera Ramírez. Arte Público, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1- 55885-530-4.

Sonia Sotomayor: a judge grows in the Bronx / Sonia Sotomayor: la juez que creció en el Bronx by Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Edel Rodríguez. Atheneum, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-1-4424-0303-1.

Sopa de frijoles / Bean Soup by Jorge Argueta. Illustrated by Rafael Yockteng. Groundwood, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-0-88899-881-1.

Tan to Tamarind by Malathi Michelle Iyengar. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. Children's Book Press, 2009. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-89239-227-8.

Tropical Secrets: Holocaust Refugees in Cuba by Margarita Engle. Holt, 2009. 212 pgs. ISBN 978-0-8050-8936-0.

Victoria Goes to Brazil by Maria de Fatima Campos. Frances Lincoln, 2009. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-1-84507-927-7.

We Were Here by Matt de la Peña. Delacorte, 2009. 356 pgs. ISBN 978-0-385-73667- 1.

Feliz Navidad

Traditional Christmas songs from Latin America

Los peces en el río

Las posadas

Mi burrito sabanero

La Marimorena

Blanca Navidad

Great News From Revista Iguana

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION BY CHILDREN’S PUBLICATION RECOGNIZED (SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, DECEMBER 9. 2009)

The prestigious Multicultural Children’s Publication Award was recently presented to Iguana magazine for its "outstanding contribution to the field of multicultural education" by the National Association of Multicultural Education (NAME) at its 2009 President’s Banquet and Celebration.

NAME acknowledged the contribution Iguana makes to the Latino community by promoting the "reading, learning and enjoying" of Spanish language, multicultural stories. The association recognized founder, publisher and editor Christianne Meneses Jacobs for her work, through the magazine, to “instill in young children a pride for their native language.”

“This is a great honor for Iguana,” said Meneses Jacobs enthusiastically. “NAME is a well recognized educational association and their endorsement validates the work we do on behalf of Spanish speaking children in the United States.”

Iguana is the magazine for Spanish speaking children. It contains original short stories, poems, articles about science, technology, history, geography, biographies, comic strips, recipes, craft projects, word searches and many more. “The mission of Iguana magazine is to serve as a tool for Spanish language retention and Latino cultural preservation,” said Meneses Jacobs. “Iguana is unique in that it aims to instill in Latino children pride for their language and cultural heritage.”
Now in its fourth year, Iguana has also been honored as the recipient of the 2007 Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund Award and the 2008 Latino Future Small Business Award.

For further information about Iguana, visit the website www.IGUANAmagazine.com or contact via email at revista_infantil@yahoo.com or by mail:
Iguana c/o NicaGal, LLC.
P.O. Box 26432
Scottsdale, AZ 85255.

Iguana is a publication of NicaGal, LLC.

2009 Américas Award - Winners

I am so glad that we have many awards that celebrate and honor Latino literature. In the children's area, we have the amazing Américas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. To learn more about the award visit Américas Award website.


The Américas Award is given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. By combining both and linking the Americas, the award reaches beyond geographic borders, as well as multicultural-international boundaries, focusing instead upon cultural heritages within the hemisphere. The award is sponsored by the national Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP).

2009 Américas Award Winners

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales. Roaring Brook Press (A Neal Porter Book), 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1-59643-329-8

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle. Holt, 2008. 169 pgs. ISBN 978-0-8050-8674-4

Américas Award Honorable Mentions

The Best Gift of All: The Legend of La Vieja Belén / El Mejor Regalo del Mundo: La Leyenda de la Vieja Belén by Julia Alvarez. Illustrated by Ruddy Nuñez. Alfaguara/Santillana, 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1-60396-325-1

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos. Atheneum, 2008. 440 pgs. 978-1-4169-4804-9

The Storyteller's Candle / La velita de los cuentos by Lucía González. Illustrated by Lulu Delacre. Children's Book Press, 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-89239-222-3

Animal Poems of the Iguazú/Animalario del Iguazú by Francisco X. Alarcón. Illustrated by Maya Christina González. Children's Book Press, 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-89239-225-4

Arco Iris de Poesía: Poemas de las Américas y España selected by Sergio Andricaín. Illustrated by Olga Cuellar. Lectorum, 2008. 40pgs. ISBN 978-1-930332- 59-1

Baila, Nana, Baila / Dance, Nana, Dance: Cuban Folktales in English and Spanish retold by Joe Hayes. Illustrated by Mauricio Trenard Sayago. Cinco Puntos, 2008. 128 pgs. ISBN 978-1-933693-17-0

Cesar Chavez: Crusader for Social Change by Brenda Haugen. Compass Point, 2008. 112 pgs. 978-0-7565-3321-2

The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan. Dial / Penguin, 2008. 136 pgs. 978-0- 8037-3275-9

Divali Rose by Vashanti Rahaman. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. Boyds Mills, 2008. 32 pgs.

Dolores Huerta: Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist by Robin S. Doak. Compass Point, 2008. 112 pgs. 978-0-7565-3477-6

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole. HarperCollins, 2008. 351 pgs. 978-0-06-084311-3

Facts of Life by Gary Soto. Harcourt, 2008. 174 pgs. 978-0-15-206181-4

He Forgot to Say Goodbye by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Simon & Schuster, 2008. 321 pgs. 978-1-4169-4963-3

Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning. Clarion. 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-0-618- 99110-5

Pablo (Cuando los Grandes Eran Pequeños) by Georgina Lázaro. Illustrated by Marcela Donoso. Lectorum, 2008. 32 pgs. ISBN 978-1-930332-09-2

Peace Jam: A Billion Simple Acts of Peace by Ivan Suvanjieff and Dawn Gifford Engle. Puffin/Penguin, 2008. 197 pgs. ISBN 978-0-14-241234-3

A Perfect Season for Dreaming / Un tiempo perfecto para soñar by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Illustrated by Esau Andrade Valencia. Cinco Puntos, 2008. 36 pgs. ISBN 978-1-933693-01-9

Reaching Out by Francisco Jiménez. Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 194 pgs. 978-0-618-03851-0

The Secret Legacy by Rigoberta Menchú. Illustrated by Domi. Groundwood, 2008. 64 pgs. ISBN 978-0-88899-896-5

The Smell of Old Lady Perfume by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez. Cinco Puntos, 2008. 249 pgs. 978-1-933693-18-7

Voices in First Person: Reflections on Latino Identity by Lori Marie Carlson. Photographs by Manuel Rivera-Ortiz. Illustrated by Flavio Morais. Atheneum, 2008. 84 pgs. ISBN 978-1-4169-0635-3

The Walls of Cartagena by Julia Durango. Illustrated by Tom Pohrt. Simon & Schuster, 2008. 150 pgs. 978-1-4169-4102-6

What Can You Do With a Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Tricycle Press, 2008. 28 pgs. ISBN 978-1-58246-220-2