A Magical Encounter: Latino Children's Literature in the Classroom

■ A Magical Encounter: Latino Children's Literature in the Classroom is divided in four major parts: Part One outlines theoretical principles which ground the practices suggested, offering some reflections on the role of literature for children and adolescents in the language arts curriculum. It presents the basic tenets of "Transformative Education" as they relate to books for children and adolescents, and describes the "Creative Reading" methodology and its applications. The "One Thousand Book Classroom" is outlined, as well as what a "Transformative Language Arts Classroom" would look like. Part Two overviews the evolution of Latino literature for children and adolescents in the United States. It includes an extensive bibliography of books published by Latino and Latina Authors. Part Three describes the role of the various literary genres in the classroom. Part Four offers suggestions for the application of the theory. The activities suggested are accompanied by examples using specific books.

Dr. Alma Flor Ada directs the Center for Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults at the University of San Francisco, where she has been a professor since 1976. Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States. Dr. Ada was the founder and First Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE). She has been active for many years in various professional associations including IRA, CRA (California Reading Association), CABE (California Association for Bilingual Education), among others. Dr. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents.


Preface.

Why Latino Literature?
Genesis of this Text.
Using this Text.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

I. A MAGICAL ENCOUNTER: CHILDREN AND BOOKS.
1. Language Arts and Children's Literature.
2. Transformative Education and Children's Literature.
3. The Creative Reading Process.
4. The “One Thousand Books Classroom.”
5. The Transformative Language Arts Classroom.

II. WORDS OF JADE AND CORAL: LATINO LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
6. Latinos and Latinas.
7. A Latino Literature for Children and Adolescents.
8. Non-Latino Authors Writing About Latinos.
9. A Panoramic Historical View
10. Genres and Themes.
11. Telling Original Stories of People Like Us.
12. Latino and Latina Folksingers and Songwriters.
13. Latino and Latina Illustrators.

III. ONCE UPON A WORLD: THE DIVERSITY OF LITERATURE.
14. Oral Traditional Folklore.
15. Poetry and Songs.
16. Plays and Dramatic Games.
17. Narrative and Other Forms of Prose.

IV. Using the Magic: Literature in the Classroom.
18. Preparing to Share a Book.
19. Reading the Book.
20. The Creative Dialogue.
21. Promoting Language Development.
22. Promoting Discovery and Research.
23. Promoting Creative Expression.
24. Home-School Interaction.
25. Culminating Activities.
26. An Author's Visit or Author's Study.
27. Evaluation.

Appendix 1. Hispanic Proverbs and Sayings
Appendix 2. Story Beginnings and Endings.
Bibliographies.
References Cited.
Books for Children and Adolescents by Latino Authors.
Acknowledgements.
About the Author.