Amplify Your Library with Women Centric Writings Chola Salvation by Estella Gonzalez In the title story of this collection, Isabela is minding her family’s restaurant, drinking her dad’s beer, when Frida Kahlo and the Virgen de Guadalupe walk in. Even though they’re dressed like cholas, the girl immediately recognizes Frida’s uni-brow and La Virgen’s crown. They want to give her advice about the quinceañera her parents are forcing on her. In fact, their lecture (don’t get pregnant, go to school, be proud of your indigenous roots) helps Isabela to escape her parents’ physical and sexual abuse. But can she really run away from the self-hatred they’ve created? These inter-related stories, mostly set in East Los Angeles, uncover the lives of a conflicted Mexican-American community. In “Sábado Gigante,” Bernardo drinks himself into a stupor every Saturday night. “Aquí no es mi tierra,” he cries, as he tries to ease the sorrow of a …
New Children’s Book Award Created to Support First-Time Latino Authors
HOUSTON, TX—Long-time Arte Público Press supporters Dr. Augustina “Tina” Reyes and Dr. Michael Olivas, both retired University of Houston professors, have donated the funding to create an endowment in support of a new book award to inspire first-time Latino authors of books for children or teens. Dr. Olivas chaired the press’ advisory board for a decade and published two scholarly books with Arte Público, and Dr. Reyes has worked to introduce immigrant and migrant children to Arte Público’s books. “We feel our love and dedication to UH are aligned with the goals of the Press, and we hope our gift will not only recognize budding authors but will provide longstanding financial support.” The couple donated $80,000 to create an endowment to support the award, and they intend to raise an additional $45,000 to ensure a $5,000 prize can be given annually to debut authors using endowment interest. “We call upon …
Holiday Closure
Arte Público Press and the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage Project will be closed December 24, 2021, through Friday, December 31, 2021. We will re-open and resume normal operations on Monday, January 3, 2022. Please continue to send book orders by email (bkorders@uh.edu) or fax (713-743-2847). Orders will be processed in the order received. Happy holidays!
Kids’ Book Exploring Latino Culinary Traditions Wins Award
HOUSTON, TX—A bilingual picture book introducing children to Hispanic cultural traditions, Josefina’s Habichuelas / Las habichuelas de Josefina (ISBN 978-1-55885-923-4, hardcover, $18.95), is the winner of the 2021 Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature. This charming story by Jasminne Mendez, published October 31, 2021, tells the story of a young girl whose mother challenges her to give up sweets during Lent. As a reward, Josefina’s mom promises to teach her how to cook habichuelas con dulce, or sweet cream beans, a traditional Dominican dessert eaten at Easter. Enlivened by Flor de Vita’s warm illustrations depicting an Afro-Latino, multigenerational family spending time together, the book will appeal to kids ages 4 to 8 who will enjoy testing the recipe—and eating the dessert—that appears in both English and Spanish! In 2019, according to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 225 of the 4,029 children’s books published were written by Latinos; …
Do the Hustle …
Groovy Young Adult Novel Wins Another Award Richie Narvaez’s award-winning novel for teens set in 1970s New York City, Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco, is the recipient of a 2021 Anthony Award in the Best Juvenile/Young Adult category. This action-packed book follows two high-school students as they unravel a dangerous case gripping their school grounds. The Anthony Awards were established in 1986 to celebrate the best crime/mystery books of the year. Winners of seven categories (Best Hardcover Novel, Best First Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Juvenile/Young Adult, Best Short Story, Best Critical/Non-fiction Work and Best Anthology or Collection) were announced in a ceremony at the virtual Bouchercon mystery convention on August 30, 2021. The book recently won a 2020 Agatha Award and has received excellent reviews, including: “The novel alternates between Holly’s and Xander’s perspectives as the danger mounts and the two investigate the case in parallel. This fast-paced, …
Honoring a Career Giving Voice to Latino Writers
HOUSTON, TX— The founder and director of Arte Público Press, Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, is one of two recipients of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award given by Empowering Latino Futures. The awards will be presented to Kanellos—as well as Lee and Bobby Byrd of Cinco Puntos Press—on October 16, 2021, as part of the virtual 23rd International Latino Book Awards Ceremony at www.latinobookawards.org. The International Latino Book Awards recognize books by and about Latinos. Founded by Empowering Latino Futures, formerly known as Latino Literacy Now, the organization seeks to obtain equal representation in publishing, increase access to resources and ensure mainstream America views the Hispanic community in more accurate, less stereotypical ways. Previous recipients of the lifetime achievement award include Congressman Esteban Torres, public servant and humanitarian Hank Lacayo, politician Hilda Solis, journalist Charlie Ericksen and educator and activist Mimi Lozano. NICOLÁS KANELLOS, the Brown Foundation Professor of Hispanic Studies at …
Row, Row, Row Your Boat… Kids’ Book of River Odes Wins Award
HOUSTON, TX—A beautiful bilingual children’s picture book celebrating rivers and the life found along them, Arenas y trinos: Abecedario del río / Sand and Song: The ABCs of the River, is the recipient of a 2021 Skipping Stones Honor Award. Skipping Stones: An International Multicultural Magazine, an award-winning resource in multicultural and global education, publishes art and original writings in every language and from all ages. The winners of its 38th annual book awards promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology and diversity. Acclaimed children’s book author Alma Flor Ada and her daughter Rosalma Zubizarreta-Ada share short poems about rivers in this book with gorgeous illustrations by Gabhor Utomo. There are odes to cicadas, dragonflies, butterflies, fish, frogs and birds, and the poems brim with the beauty of the natural world and the joy found in the great outdoors. There are stars …
Disco Ball Shines its Light on Teen Novel!
HOUSTON, TX— Richie Narvaez’s acclaimed novel for teens set in 1970s New York City, Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco, is the recipient of a 2020 Agatha Award for Best Children’s / YA Mystery book. An action-packed story, Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco follows two high-school students as they unravel a dangerous case gripping their school grounds. The Agatha Awards celebrate traditional mystery and crime books, best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. They are conferred to stories written in a warm mystery subgenre with no explicit sex, excessive gore or gratuitous violence. Winners of six categories (Contemporary Novel, Historical Novel, First Novel, Nonfiction, Short Story and Children’s/Young Adult Novel) were given during the annual Malice Domestic conference held virtually July 17, 2021. The book has received excellent reviews, including: “The novel alternates between Holly’s and Xander’s perspectives as the danger mounts and the two investigate …
Calling All Latino Authors…
Houston, TX— Generations of Hispanic children in US schools had to do without books reflecting their culture and heritage. In 2019, according to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 225 of the 4,029 children’s books published were written by Latinos; only 235 were about Latinos. In an effort to fill that gap, Arte Público Press is accepting children’s book manuscripts to be considered for the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature. The award, which will be given annually to one children’s picture book manuscript, seeks to address the need for more culturally relevant, bilingual reading materials for Hispanic children by encouraging more authors to create for this growing audience. Manuscripts can be submitted all year long in English, Spanish or bilingual formats. Children’s book entries (between 50 and 1,000 words) should be submitted in PDF format online at http://artepublicopress.com/submissions/. In addition to publication of the book, the winner …
Annual Inventory
It is time for our annual inventory. Our fulfillment department will be closed Monday, August 23, through Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Please place your orders by Thursday, August 19, 2021.Normal operations will resume Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Please continue to fax or email orders.
