“El templo del jaguar / The Temple of the Jaguar” by Xánath Caraza

“El templo del jaguar / The Temple of the Jaguar” by Xánath Caraza

 

Balamkú, te ofrezco mi voz.

Frente a ti me encuentro

ancestral friso sagrado.

 

Balám recorre la piedra

bajo el negro cielo estrellado,

un rugido alerta al oído.

 

Los siglos nos reúnen,

los ojos derraman líquido

canto, florido pensamiento.

 

Mis manos te sienten

sin verte, vibra tu voz

de selva esmeralda.

 

Friso sagrado, vuelvo

a ti para entregarte

sílabas de agua.

 

El sendero de la selva

es humo de copal,

las antorchas se encienden.

 

Balám, guía mis pasos

para dejar mi dulce poesía

incrustada en las piedras rojas.

 

Los versos en la atmósfera

crean un puente de refulgente luz.

 

No hay líquido tiempo

ni ambarina lluvia

en las páginas de cálido viento.

 

Me entrego a la garganta de la selva,

la música de jade absorbe mi voz,

mi esencia en los diseños de piedra.

Xanath Caraza

The Temple of the Jaguar

 

Balamkú, I offer you my voice.

I find myself before you

sacred ancestral frieze.

 

Balam crosses the stone

beneath the starry black sky,

a roar alerts my ear.

 

Centuries unite us,

eyes spill liquid

song, flowery thought.

 

My hands feel you

without seeing you, your voice,

emerald jungle, vibrates.

 

Sacred frieze, I return

to you to hand you

syllables of water.

 

The path of the jungle

is copal smoke,

torches are lit.

 

Balam, guide my steps

to leave my sweet poetry

embedded in red rock.

 

Verses in the atmosphere

create a bridge of shimmering light.

 

There is no liquid time

or amber rain

on the pages of the warm wind.

 

I give myself to the throat of the jungle,

jade music absorbs my voice,

my essence in designs of stone.

 

Xanath Caraza

“El templo del jaguar / The Temple of the Jaguar” está incluido en el poemario Balamkú (2019). Traducido al inglés por Sandra Kingery.

 

In 2020 Balamkú received second place for the Juan Felipe Herrera Best Book of Poetry Award by the International Latino Book Awards.

 

Balamkú (Es una zona maya del estado de Campeche en México) significa: el templo del jaguar

 

International Latino Book Award Ganadores 2023

This is the list of picture books awards. To find the list of all ganadores, visit https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

Felicidades a todos los ganadores.

 

 

 

 

A1 CHILDREN BOOK AWARDS

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award

-Gold Medal:Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter, Aida Salazar, Art by Molly Mendoza; Scholastic Books.

-Silver Medal: Only for a Little While, Gabriela Orozco Belt; Illustrated by Richy Sánchez Ayala; Balzer + Bray; Ancestry of the author(s): U.S./ Costa Rica; The author(s) lives in: Las Vegas, NV.

-Bronze Medal: Abuela’s Fideo: A Story of a Grandma’s Love, Gabriela Tijerina; Del Alma Publications, LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): USA, Mexican; The author(s) lives in: San Antonio, TX.

-Bronze Medal: Vitamina C for Cultura, Mando Rayo & Suzanne García-Mateus; Jade Publishing; Ancestry of the author(s): U.S./ Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Jose, CA.

 

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award – Spanish

-Gold Medal: El cabello de Gregorina, Milagros Wallace, illustrated by Alynor Díaz; Snow Fountain Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Venezuela; The author(s) lives in: Chicago.

-Silver Medal: Domingos con abuelita, Teresa Verduzco, illustrated by Gloria Felix; Adobe House Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Michoacán, Mexico; The author(s) lives in: California.

-Bronze Medal: Soy la arepa, Ximena Montilla, illustrated by Laura Stagmo; Clases Listas; Ancestry of the author(s): Venezuela; The author(s) lives in: Atlanta.  

 

Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book – English

-Gold Medal: Mr. Macaw Lost in the Big City/ El Sr. Macaw perdido en la gran ciudad, Leticia Ordaz; Cielito Lindo Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexican American; The author(s) lives in: Sacramento, CA. 

-Gold Medal: Something Happened to My Dad: A Story About Family Separation and Immigration, Ann Hazzard & Vivianne Aponte Rivera; American Psychological Association.

-Silver Medal: Something About Grandma, Tania de Regil; Candlewick Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: Mexico city.

-Bronze Medal: Little Person, Luis Amavisca, illustrated by Anna Font; nubeOCHO; ; The author(s) lives in: Málaga, España.

-Bronze Medal: Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land, Written and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega;  Ancestry of the author(s): México; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles

-Bronze Medal: Run, little Chaski! An Inka Trail Adventure, Mariana Llanos, Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson; Barefoot Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Perú; The author(s) lives in: Oklahoma City.

 

Mejor libro ilustrado de ficción para niños

-Gold Medal: El Mundo Magico de Mishi, Carla Martilotti; ; Ancestry of the author(s): Italian/ Uruguayan American; The author(s) lives in: Miami, Fl. 

-Silver Medal: Algo Le Pasó a Mi Papá: Una Historia Sobre Inmigración y la Separción Familiar, Ann Hazzard & Vivianne Aponte Rivera; American Psychological Association.

-Silver Medal: El gato más largo del mundo, Susana Illera Martínez, illustrated by Blanca Bk; Hola monstruo; Ancestry of the author(s): Colombia; The author(s) lives in: Miami, FL.

-Silver Medal: Guapa Canta, Canizales; Apila Ediciones; Ancestry of the author(s): Colombia; The author(s) lives in: Palma de Mallorca, Spain. 

-Bronze Medal: El fantasma de las bragas rotas, José Carlos Andrés, Illustrated by Gómez; nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Santander.

 

Best Children’s Nonfiction Picture Book

-Gold Medal: When I Feel at Home, Dia Mixon, illustrated by Siara Torres; El Mundo Mixon Books; Ancestry of the author(s): US/ African American; The author(s) lives in: Columbus, OH. 

-Silver Medal: Arepa, Ximena Montilla, illustrated by Laura Stagmo; Clases Listas; Ancestry of the author(s): Venezuela; The author(s) lives in: Atlanta.

-Bronze Medal: Daniela y las mujeres pirata de la historia, Susanna Isern, illustrated by Gómez; nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Santander, España.

-Bronze Medal: El monstruo Téfilo, Mónica Moranchel Matarranz, illustrated by Teté Cirigliano; Editorial Gunis; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Guadalajara, España.

 

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – English

-Gold Medal: Lupe Lopez: Rock Star Rules!, e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, Pat Zietlow Miller; Candlewick Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexican American; The author(s) lives in: San Antonio TX & Madison WI.

-Silver Medal: Brave Lolis Learns English / La valiente Lolis Aprende inglés, Armida Espinoza, Illustrated by Robert Blancas; ; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexican American; The author(s) lives in: Fresno, CA.

-Silver Medal: Day of the Dead - Día de los muertos, Marisa Boan; Magic Spells for Teachers LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Cuban-American; The author(s) lives in: New York.

-Bronze Medal: ABC Taíno, Armando Valdés Prieto; Little Boricuas; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rican; The author(s) lives in: San Juan, P.R.

-Bronze Medal:  Chabelita’s Heart/ El corazón de Chabelita, Isabel Millán; Reflection Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Chicana: Mexican American; The author(s) lives in: Portland, OR.

-Bronze Medal: Polvorones, Marta Arroyo, Illustrated by Isa Medina; Babidi- bú; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Diego, CA.  

-Bronze Medal: Raspas con mi Grandpa: A Spanglish Story, Eliza M. Garza; The author(s) lives in: Mc Allen, TX.

-Bronze Medal: Taking Flight with Captain Mama/ Despegado con Capitán Mamá, Graciela Tiscareño-Sato; Gracefully Global Group LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexican-American; Th author(s) lives in: San Francisco. 

-Bronze Medal: The Sculpture for Children Though the Hands of Ángel Tarrac/ La escultura para niños a través de las manos de Ángel Tarrac, Carlos F. Tarrac; Unique Artistic Creations Showcase; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Diego, CA.

 

Mejor libro ilustrado educativo para niños

-Gold Medal: Éramos una vez... mi mamá y yo, Saioa López Rico, Illustrated by Eva Rami; ; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

-Silver Medal: Pimpón, Libro para cantar y jugar, Yolanda Borrás; I’m Bilingual!; Ancestry of the author(s): Dominic Republic; The author(s) lives in: Atlanta, Ga.

-Bronze Medal: El Cielo de Susana, Lulú Buck, illustrated by Chrys Zyx; FriesenPress; The author(s) lives in: Frederick, Co. 

 

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – English

-Gold Medal: ¡Eso es extraño! That’s Weird!, Pilar Vélez; Snow Fountain Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Colombia; The author(s) lives in: Miami.

-Silver Medal: Mi Casa is My Home, Laurenne Sala, Pictures by Zara González Hoang; Candlewick Press.

-Bronze Medal: The Tree of Hope: The Miraculous Rescue of Puerto Rico’s Beloved Banyan, Anna Orenstein-Cardona, illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno; Beaming Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rico; The author(s) lives in: London, UK.

Libro más inspirador ilustrado para niños

-Gold Medal: Éramos una vez... mi mamá y yo, Saioa López Rico, Illustrated by Eva Rami; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

-Silver Medal: Silencio, Nívola Úya; Cuento de Luz; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Mallorca.

-Bronze Medal: Soy solo mía, Raquel Díaz Reguera; nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España; The author(s) lives in: Sevilla, España.

 

 

Videos- 24th International Latino Book Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to all the winners y ganadores! For more information visit https://www.latinobookawards.org/ 

Poetry, Translation, Mariposa, Design, Themed, eBooks, Audiobooks, Portuguese, & Marketing Awards Ceremony 

 

FICTION Awards Ceremony 

 

 CHILDREN, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT Awards Ceremony

   

 NONFICTION Awards Ceremony

 

International Latino Book Award Ganadores 2022

 

This is the list of picture books awards. To find more information, visit https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

Felicidades a todos los ganadores. 

 

A1 CHILDREN BOOK AWARDS

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award – English

GOLD MEDAL -Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh; Abrams Books For Young Readers; ; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Gorgeous book, with a story that has not been told often. Would be a wonderful movie or TV show. '

SILVER MEDAL -Tía Fortuna’s New Home, Ruth Behar, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth; Alfred A. Knopf Publishing; Ancestry of the author(s): Havana, Cuba; The author(s) lives in: Ann Arbor/ Detroit, MI; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'A warm and charming story to reassure the youyh that change can be good and sometimes necessary.'

BRONZE MEDAL -Bisa’s Carnaval, Joana Pastro, illustrated by Carolina Coroa; Scholastic Inc.: Orchard Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Both from Brazil; The author(s) lives in: Dublin; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Great to see Brazilian Portuguese language and culture in a children's book.'

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award – Spanish

GOLD MEDAL -¡Corre, pequeño Chaski! Una aventura en el camino Inka, Mariana Llanos, Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson; Barefoot Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Perú; The author (s) lives in: Oklahoma City; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Amazing! Beautifully told and illustrated - great character and stakes.'

SILVER MEDAL -Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Magaly Morales; Abrams Books For Young Readers; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Author and illustrator hit a grand Slam!! An outstanding biography on the acclaimed Pura Belpre!!'

Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book – Bilingual

GOLD MEDAL -Let’s Be Friends / Seamos Amigos, René Colato Laínez; Illustrated by Nomar Perez; Holiday House, Inc.; Ancestry of the author(s): El Salvador; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles, CA; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Excellent simple, bright illustrations. Fully bilingual. Great read-aloud perfect for the classroom or storytime.'

SILVER MEDAL -Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Courtney Dawson; Sleeping Bear Press; Ancestry of the author(s): US/ Colombia; The author(s) lives in: Miami, FL; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Beautiful pictures that appeal to kids and enhance the story.'

Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book – English

GOLD MEDAL -Abuelita and Me, Leonarda Carranza, illustrated by Rafael Mayani; Annick Press; Ancestry of the author(s): El Salvador; The author(s) lives in: Toronto; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Sweet, engaging story of the relationship between abuelita and nieta, plus a lesson about ageism and how to combat others' negative attitudes.'

SILVER MEDAL -Tía Fortuna’s New Home, Ruth Behar, Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth; Alfred A. Knopf, Random House Children’s Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Cuban/USA; The author (s) lives in: New York, NY; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This story will stick with young readers for a long time.Well illustrated!!'

BRONZE MEDAL -May Your Life Be Deliciosa, Michael Genhart, illustrated by Loris Lora; Abrams Books For Young Readers; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'A beautiful story that turns a tamale into a benediction and blessing.'

Mejor libro ilustrado de Ficción para niños

GOLD MEDAL -Pitu le Baila al Mar, Gama Valle; Illustrated by Yamel Figueroa ; Editorial Destellos LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rico; The author(s) lives in: New York City; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'The author brings to light several social issues at a level that the readers can identify with.'

SILVER MEDAL -La Jirafa que no Cabía en su Cuento, Haydée Zayas Ramos; Editorial Destellos LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rico; The author(s) lives in: San Juan; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This is a fun book for kids and parents. Also, the illustrations are adorable.'

BRONZE MEDAL -El monstruo más feo del mundo, Luis Amavisca, Illustrated by Erica Salcedo; nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España ; The author(s) lives in: Málaga; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This book is hilarious! Its simplicity and repetition of words makes it comprehensible for youngsters.'

Best Children’s NonFiction Picture Book – English

GOLD MEDAL -One Whole Me, Dia Mixon, Illustrated by Natalia Jiménez Osorio; El Mundo Mixon Books; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/African American; The author(s) lives in: Columbus, Ohio; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Perfection! Lovely and fun to read, empowering for bicultural readers.'

SILVER MEDAL -In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color, Aida Salazar, illustrated by Alina Chau; Scholastic Inc.: Orchard Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Francisco, CA; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'I love the subject matter and the way each story was presented.'

BRONZE MEDAL -Alphabet & Affirmations with The Black Unicorn, Sandra Elaine Scott; Vision Your Dreams; Ancestry of the author(s): Panama/USA; The author(s) lives in: Boston; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Very empowering for young readers and age appropriate. Excellent teaching tool!'

Best Children’s Nonfiction Picture Book – Spanish or Bilingual

GOLD MEDAL -Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Magaly Morales; Abrams Books For Young Readers; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This book should be in every school library. It was a pure joy to read.'

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

GOLD MEDAL -Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales; Abrams Books For Young Readers; ; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'I think this book emphasizes the beautiful traditions of the oral storytelling, which Latino people, like myself, grown up hearing.'

SILVER MEDAL -Popol Vuh Stories for Children, Denis O’Leary; Floricanto Press; Ancestry of the author(s): USA; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'I believe the value of this book resides on the three languages in which is narrated, English, Spanish and Yucatec Maya.'

BRONZE MEDAL -Lala and the Pond by the Rock / Lala y el Charco de la Piedra, Susana Illera Martínez; Snow Fountain Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Columbia; The author(s) lives in: Miami, FL; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'he illustrations of this book are beautiful, and they have a lot of value, especially because the illustrator put a lot of effort on the drawings.'

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – English

GOLD MEDAL -Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh; Abrams Books For Young Readers;  Insights from the ILBA judges, 'The storyline is honest, deep, about challenges wherein one culture attempts.'

SILVER MEDAL -We Move Together, Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, illustrated by Eduardo Trejos; AK Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Canada & Costa Rica; The author(s) lives in: Toronto & Ottawa; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Colors are great, illustrations keep the attention and tie everything together.'

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

GOLD MEDAL -Morderse las uñas, Paula Merlán, illustrated by Brenda Figueroa; Cuento de Luz; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This is a beautifully illustrated story that tries to help kids get rid of the bad habit of biting their nails.'

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

GOLD MEDAL -Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales; Abrams Books For Young Readers; ; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Wonderful book about a Puerto Rican story teller and her love for story telling.'

SILVER MEDAL -The Last Butterfly / La última mariposa, Regina Moya & Carmen Tafolla; FlowerSong Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Antonio. TX; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Beautifully told and illustrated, students will love the activity at the end.'

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – English

GOLD MEDAL -Courageous Camila: A story about finding your inner warrior, Naibe Reynoso & Giselle Carrillo; Illustrated by María Tuti; Con Todo Press; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/Mexican-American; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This book is so empowering, demonstrating the struggle but rewarding end of following dreams.'

SILVER MEDAL -The Voices of the Trees, Elisa Guerra y Fernando Reimers; Illustrated by Ana RoGu; Pearson Educación; Ancestry of the author(s): Elisa Guerra: México. Fernando Reimers: Venezuela. Ana RoGu: México; The author(s) lives in: Elisa / Ana: Aguascalientes, México. Fernando: Cambridge, MA.; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'This book is not just amazing, it's greatly needed with our current times of global warming.'

BRONZE MEDAL -Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh; Abrams Books For Young Readers; ; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Great inspiration! This story must be told. Diego Rivera would put her in murals!'

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

GOLD MEDAL -Tienes un color especial, Lorena Sierco Espino; Mr. Momo, Lantia Publishing Group; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain; The author(s) lives in: Barcelona; Insights from the ILBA judges, ' Refreshing! This is an adorable sweet story.'

SILVER MEDAL -Memoria de un abedul, Daniel Cañas, illustrated by Blanca Millán; Cuento de Luz; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Very well written, a good book to read aloud to children.'

BRONZE MEDAL -Peque y yo, Alicia Acosta, Illustrated by Mercé Galí; nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España ; The author(s) lives in: Málaga; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'Beautifully written, accessible for children to understand grief. A read standout! '

Best Learn to Read Book

GOLD MEDAL -The Awesome Reading Adventures of Super Sammy and Marvelous Megan, Vanessa Caraveo; Vanessa Caraveo; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/ Mexican-American; The author(s) lives in: Harlingen, Texas; Insights from the ILBA judges, 'I like the storyline of siblings and their adventures.'

GOPlague-time, Galardonado In Silence, Roblest Impressions

 Michael Sedano

As if caregiving isn't enough challenge for a semi-old man (in two weeks I'll be 77), now I'm dealing with the GOPlague. Barbara has tested positive twice for the virus. She's got it, but it's not going to get her.

Me, I test negative. My claim to temporary invincibility comes as no idle boast. After all, I survived the cold war high above the frozen Korean DMZ, and back in July 2014, I died. 

The Ancestors sent me back so I wouldn't miss all those life events that flashed before my eyes as I was departing. My one regret was I wouldn't get to share my granddaughter's milestones. "Burn Sage," the ancestors told me. I do, every morning. The Ancestors are in the smoke, powerful medicine.

Provenance? I was overjoyed that Barbara had built strength and had energy to come into the grocery store and push the cart. My negligence allowed her to complete the aislesweeps unmasked. The only time she's gone into public without masking, the GOPlague gets her.

And that's the view from the coast, Tuesday, August 22, 2022. The only penultimate Tuesday of August in 2022 you're ever going to see, for the rest of your life. Make it great, gente. Read, raza, and GOTV. Never vote R.

Silence of the Latino Book Awards

The weekend of August 19-20 brought raza writers from across the continent to receive an International Latino Book Award. Almost 600 titles won a prize, if not a Medal, an honorable mention. The awards structure offers 208 categories, accounting for two full days of meetings at L.A. City College.

I searched the Google for news of "International Latino Book Awards" to disappointing results. The dearth of news about the awards fills me with frustration at lack of effort, somewhere. 

Essentially, the only news promotions the Awards get is from the organizers. Running the show is Empowering Latino Futures, renamed  from "Latino Literacy Now", whose dubious history of poorly-attended Edward James Olmos Book & Family Festivals are good cause to change identity, while pursuing the same business plan.

 

I don't know if the abysmal publicity about the Awards owes itself to poor promotion out of the Empowering Latino Futures' office, or deliberate erasure by newspaper culture editors. Raza literature doesn't get ink, just as raza actors don't get roles, raza directors don't get gigs, raza books don't get awards. So we have to do it ourselves.

 

Next year's Award campaign evidently keeps the same $90 entry fee per title. Authors, Agents, and Publishers interested in next year's awards can click this link. But do note, ELF staff have not updated the company webpage in detail.

 

Most Galardonadas Galardonados receive a dust jacket sticker, and authority to call oneself Prize-winning Author. Empowering Latino Futures promises some Award-winners $1000 cash and a marketing campaign. ELF places a $2500 value on the  marketing package that sends press releases and stories to 625 "Latino media outlets." 

Wouldn't it be something if ELF were to share that 625-name list with the Galardonadx? The only news I get about the Awards comes from happy Award-winning Authors on the MetaFace, so distributing proven leads to the writers genuinely has value.

It would be something if those 625 Latino media outlets ran the story big, with fotos and a local spin? A local writer's P.R. release has a better chance with a small-town editor, me parece, but the writer needs a name and number/email.

La Bloga congratulates all the participants in the International Latino Book Awards, and encourages participation in this, or similar, programs, with a caveat:

This Award is a sticker on a book. You gotta put that book and sticker onto bookshelves, you gotta send out your own press releases, don't restrict yourself to local Latino media outlets. You gotta toot your own horn. 

Learn to pronounce "Indefatigable" when people ask about your marketing campaign.

Guest Writer: Hugo Garcia

A guest at CasaSedano asked if I had read anything interesting, lately? I had just the answer for him sitting on my TBR pile, Against the Wall, in Spanish, as Contra la muralla, from Arte Publico Press.

The guest, retired newspaper editor and Spanish-language newspaper journalist, Hugo García, devoured the volume and enthusiastically sketched a few notes. The collection is available from the publisher (link).

In Alberto Roblest's Contra la Muralla's 17 short stories, reality and perception mix, even in the same sentence. The dramatic effect is not always clear to the reader.

When Roblest succeeds, like in El Dia Anterior al Anterior he skillfully describes its protagonists:

To date Grace hated her job...Sometimes she dreamt the plane was crushed by God's hand slamming it against the clouds; The Scorpions got off the limousine at the airport entrance astonished there were no fans anywhere; Pedro Martinez Ocaña aka Tigrillo was born without talent for politics or investments. To be honest he lacked talent to do anything; Cristal was worried her only support could die any moment leaving her destitute. She knew she had to hurry before his children and his two ex wives beat her to it. (García's translation) 

Roblest intrigues the reader as to how his people will intersect and how this will affect the story's end? Other times, the reader is left wondering what the stories were really about.

Throughout the stories Roblest shows a mastery  of character description and deep awareness of current political and economic corruption in the U.S., for example, in Obelisco Ennegrecido  Roblest covers the Washington Monument in cockroaches. 

Some of the Cuentos are only a couple of pages long like Laberinto in which its protagonist is chased by a fat being called la Chingada and Una Vez Abajo no se olviden de Encomendarse a Dios where the narrator is intrigued that a man in a suit and slippers stands in New York's Times Square looking up at the sky calling God.

Some stories are several pages long like El Dia anterior al Dia anterior and Lost and Found. Longer works allow the writer to present a traditional linear narrative until he gives the story a suprising end. 

In all, there is something for every one in its 17 short stories.

International Latino Book Award Finalistas 2022

This is the list of picture books awards. To find more information, visit https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

Felicidades a todos los finalistas. 

 

A1 CHILDREN BOOK AWARDS

 

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award – English

-Bisa’s Carnaval, Joana Pastro, Illustrated by Carolina Coroa, Scholastic Inc.: Orchard Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Both from Brazil; The author(s) lives in: Dublin

-Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, Abrams Books For Young Readers

 

The Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children’s Picture Book Award – Spanish

 -¡Corre, pequeño Chaski! Una aventura en el camino Inka, Mariana Llanos, Illustrated by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, Barefoot Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Perú; The author(s) lives in: Oklahoma City

-Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay 

Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales, Abrams Books For Young Readers

 

Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book – Bilingual

-Isabel and Her Colores Go to School, Alexandra Alessandri, Illustrated by Courtney Dawson, Sleeping Bear Press; Ancestry of the author(s): US/ Colombia; The author(s) lives in: Miami, FL

-Let’s Be Friends/ Seamos Amigos, René Colato Laínez, illustrated by Nomar Perez, Holiday House, Inc.; Ancestry of the author(s): El Salvador; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles, CA

 

Best Children’s Fiction Picture Book – English

-Abuelita and Me, Leonarda Carranza, illustrated by Rafael Mayani, Annick Press; Ancestry of the author(s): El Salvador; The author(s) lives in: Toronto

-May Your Life Be Deliciosa, Michael Genhart, Illustrated by Loris Lora, Abrams Books For Young Readers;

-Tía Fortuna’s New Home, Ruth Behar, Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth, Alfred A. Knopf, Random House Children’s Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Cuban/USA; The author(s) lives in: New York, NY

 

Mejor libro ilustrado de ficción para niños

-El monstruo más feo del mundo, Luis Amavisca, Illustrated by Erica Salcedo, nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España ; The author(s) lives in: Málaga

-La Jirafa que no Cabía en su Cuento, Haydée Zayas Ramos, Editorial Destellos LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rico; The author(s) lives in: San Juan

-Pitu le Baila al Mar, Gamaliel Valle Rosa, Editorial Destellos LLC; Ancestry of the author(s): Puerto Rico; The author(s) lives in: NY city

 

Best Children’s Nonfiction Picture Book – English

-Alphabet & Affirmations with The Black Unicorn, Sandra Elaine Scott, Vision Your Dreams; Ancestry of the author(s): Panama/USA; The author(s) lives in: Boston

-In the Spirit of a Dream: 13 Stories of American Immigrants of Color, Aida Salazar, Illustrated by Alina Chau, Scholastic Inc.: Orchard Books; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Francisco, CA

-One Whole Me, Illustrated by Natalia Jiménez Osorio, El Mundo Mixon Books; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/African American; The author(s) lives in: Columbus, Ohio

 

Best Children’s Nonfiction Picture Book – Spanish or Bilingual

-Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales, Abrams Books For Young Readers

 

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

-Lala and the Pond by the Rock/ Lala y el Charco de la Piedra, Susana Illera Martinez, Snow Fountain Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Columbia; The author(s) lives in: Miami, FL

-Popol Vuh Stories for Children, Denis O’Leary, Floricanto Press; Ancestry of the author(s): USA; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles

-Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales, Abrams Books For Young Readers

 

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – English

-Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, Abrams Books For Young Readers

-We Move Together, Kelly Fritsch, Anne McGuire, Illustrated by Eduardo Trejos, AK Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Toronto, Ottawa; The author(s) lives in: Charles Weigl

 

Best Educational Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

-Morderse las uñas, Paula Merlán, Illustrated by Brenda Figueroa, Cuento de Luz; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain

 

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

-Pura’s Cuentos: How Pura Belpré Libraries Reshaped Libraries with Her Stories, Annete Bay Pimentel, Illustrated by Magaly Morales, Abrams Books For Young Readers

-The Last Butter"y/ La última mariposa, Regina Moya & Carmen Tafolla, FlowerSong Press; Ancestry of the author(s): Mexico; The author(s) lives in: San Antonio. TX

 

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – English

-Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua, Gloria Amescua, Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, Abrams Books For Young Readers

-Courageous Camila: A story about finding your inner warrior, Naibe Reynoso and Giselle Carrillo, illustrated by María Tuti, Con Todo Press; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/Mexican- American; The author(s) lives in: Los Angeles

-The Voices of the Trees, Elisa Guerra y Fernando Reimers, illustrated by Ana RoGu, Pearson Educación; Ancestry of the author(s): Elisa Guerra: México. Fernando Reimers: Venezuela. Ana RoGu: México; The author(s) lives in: Elisa / Ana: Aguascalientes, México. Fernando: Cambridge, MA.

 

Most Inspirational Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

-Memoria de un abedul, Daniel Cañas, Illustrated by Blanca Millán, Cuento de Luz; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain

-Peque y yo, Alicia Acosta, Illustrated by Mercé Galí, nubeOCHO; Ancestry of the author(s): España ; The author(s) lives in: Málaga

-Tienes un color especial, Lorena Sierco Espino, Mr. Momo, Lantia Publishing Group; Ancestry of the author(s): Spain; The author(s) lives in: Barcelona

 

Best Learn to Read Book

-The Awesome Reading Adventures of Super Sammy and Marvelous Megan, Vanessa Caraveo, Vanessa Caraveo; Ancestry of the author(s): USA/ Mexican-American; The author(s) lives in: Harlingen, Texas

 

 

23rd International Latino Book Awards Virtual Ceremony

PROGRAM

23rd International Latino Book Awards Virtual Ceremony

 

 

SATURDAY OCTOBER 16, 2021 / Sábado 16 de Octubre

1pm PST, 4pm ET: 

Children, Youth, & Young Adult 

Para Niños, Jóvenes, y Jóvenes Adultos

https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

4pm PST, 7pm ET: 

Nonfiction Book Awards

No-ficción

https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

 

SUNDAY  OCTOBER 17, 2021 / Domingo 17 de Octubre

 

1pm PST, 4pm ET: 

Poetry, Translation, Design, Mariposa, eBooks & Audiobooks, Portuguese, Themed Book, & Marketing Book Awards

Poesía, Traducción, Diseño, Mariposa, libros electrónicos y audiolibros, Portugués, Temáticos, y Promoción

https://www.latinobookawards.org

 

 

4pm PST, 7pm ET: 

Fiction Book Awards

Ficción

https://www.latinobookawards.org

Celebrating _Corta la piel / It Pierces the Skin_ (FlowerSong Press)

 Celebrating _Corta la piel / It Pierces the Skin_ (FlowerSong Press)

 

I’m excited to invite our lectores de La Bloga to a reading of my book Corta la piel / It Pierces the Skin (FlowerSong Press, 2020) on Friday, October 1, at 7 p.m. CST on Facebook and Zoom.  This event is organized by Edward Vidaurre, editor of FlowerSong Press.  Please join us by going to the FlowerSong Press Facebook page el Viernes 1 de octubre.  We are celebrating the nomination of Corta la piel / It Pierces the Skin as a finalist for the Juan Felipe Herrera Poetry Award as Best Book of Bilingual Poetry of the International Latino Book Awards 2021. Corta la piel / It Pierces the Skin was translated by Sandra Kingery y sus estudiantes. Music performance by Flor Lizbeth Cruz. Espero y nos puedan acompañar. ¡Que la poesía nos salve!

 Xánath Caraza’s Corta la piel/It Pierces the Skin is a remarkable collection of prose poems in which we see the conjuring poet fearless enough to take us through personal, political and geographical terrains.  The poems are muscular meditations on rage, powerlessness, love, and ultimately the sanctity/sanity of poetry.  The title fits into the visceral world filled with the paradoxes of beauty and violence that Caraza is famous for: the fierce loneliness of the New York city trains over the Hudson, Violeta (the Salvadoran speaker, the figure who is observed, the writer who is writing the poem) discerns the full moon as “Icy, splendid, silvery white.”  In one of her most poignant political poems, we encounter the disappeared forty-third student from Ayotzinapa who sees “The stars in the heavens were shining like never before” while his mouth is “buzzing with flies.” Another poem, “Our Sons and Daughters,” captures the heartbreaking evil of separating children from their parents at the border.  Water becomes an ever increasing trope throughout as we move from New York to Lisbon to Athens, an element essential for survival as poetry itself, the poet’s “liquid words” joining the river of memory.  They “flow on placid waters.  They sway back and forth in her mouth.”  Xánath Caraza is one of the most courageous Latina poets writing today. The “silent voice of dawn gallops” towards something framed in hope, and Caraza’s poems leave you light headed, sorrowful, yet empowered.

 

—Helena Maria Viramontes

Author of Their Dogs Came with Them

Xánath Caraza’s Corta la piel is a very powerful piece of writing. These 62 interconnected short prose poems move the reader with images encompassing everything from the personal struggles of the protagonists to current events to the conquest of the Americas. The poignancy of contemplating a world that is, as Violeta murmurs in the first story, “so screwed up” is leavened with shimmering glimpses of the beauty of the natural world and a paean to the power of writing, all expressed in texts that sparkle with the energy and brio and authenticity found in all of Xánath Caraza’s writing.

The two protagonists in these stories afford us dual levels of reality: at the primary level, we have texts in roman script which focus on Violeta the writer. That first Violeta creates the fiction within the fiction, the italicized stories written by Violeta about a fictional character who is also named Violeta. These nesting stories emphasize the creative process as our primary protagonist invents a secondary protagonist who shares many of her experiences and concerns about the world.  Both suffer loneliness and a failed relationship, both revel in the beauty of nature (the moon, water, fog, birdsong), both are drawn inexorably back to memories of their troubled past when they hear the whistles of trains, and both celebrate the power of the written word. The dual nature of the two Violetas is most readily apparent in “Loss,” the only story that includes both roman and italic script: “The racist groups were organizing, and the weight of their negative energy was felt more strongly every day. It was heartbreaking, a threat. There’s nothing worse than ignorance, Violeta wrote, but she was wrong, there was something even worse…”. Subsequent references to the first Violeta’s writing process are more subtle as they remain in italic script: “It’s very easy to project our fears onto others and then blame them, Violeta continued writing”.

 —Sandra Kingery

Lycoming College

 

The first text, which also gives us the title of the collection, is an indictment of the brutality of the war in El Salvador, since the protagonist remembers that when she was a child she had to flee abruptly—by train—from the Salvadoran soldiers who suddenly appeared near her house with machine guns. That thought leads to another, current and present: the cancelation of the Temporary Protected Status or TPS for Salvadorans. Both reflections are sparked by the sound of a train and by a small cut that the protagonist suffers in her kitchen. In this way, a connection is made between Violeta’s private experience, in other words, the microcosm of the violence she has experienced personally, and the macrocosm of the violence in El Salvador and the anti-immigration politics carried out by the U.S. government. As with other texts in this collection, nature, here embodied in the song of the woodpecker that Violeta hears in the garden and in the trees that she sees from her kitchen window, helps her find peace in a foreign land: “She was soothed by the chirping sounds coming from the thick bushes.”  The social theme, constant in Caraza’s writing, is also found in “43,” a story that alludes to the disappearance of the 43 normalistas in Ayotzinapa, Mexico, in September 2014, where the narrative voice imagines itself as one of the victims who lie beneath the sun with no tomb and no justice: “In the darkness of the night, I felt warm blood trickling toward my eyes. . . ‘I’m from Ayotzinapa’. . . I am the 43.”

—María Esther Quintana Millamoto

Texas A&M University

 

This is a book of beautiful, poetic images of loneliness, grief and emptiness.  The persona of Violeta tells of a violent childhood of abandonment and impossible love via her travels in New York, Portugal, and Greece.   For Violeta, only ink remains; only ink is indelible.  Translator Sandra Kingery and her team of students have produced smooth, faithful translations that carry all of the sorrow of Caraza’s originals.

 —Don Cellini

poet / translator

Piedra poemas / Stone Poems