HOUSTON, TX—Generations of Hispanic children in US schools had to do without books reflecting their culture and heritage. In 2023, according to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 398 of the 3,491 children’s books published in the United States were written by Latinos (11.4%); only 300 were about Latinos (8.6%). To fill that gap, Arte Público Press is accepting children’s book manuscripts to be considered for two awards: the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature and the Reyes-Olivas Award for Best First Book of Latino Children’s and Young Adult Literature. Both seek to stimulate the work begun by Arte Público Press and its imprint, Piñata Books, which is dedicated to the publication of children’s and young adult literature that realistically portrays themes, characters and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. In addition to the publication of the book and royalties from sales, the winning authors will receive a …
UH and Its Publishing House Honored in Mexico
HOUSTON, TX—Arte Público Press and the University of Houston played a pivotal role in the 2025 UANLeer Feria Universitaria del Libro that took place at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL) in Monterrey, Mexico, March 12-16, 2025. Arte Público, the largest and most prestigious publisher of US Latino literature, was the “editorial invitada,” or honored publisher. Its founder and director, Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, the Brown Foundation Professor of Hispanic Studies, was awarded the “Mérito Editorial,” or Publisher Award.“Our work, creating and making accessible Latino literature and cultural history, is so important to communities in the United States, and it’s gratifying to know that it is valued in Mexico as well,” Dr. Kanellos said. The University of Houston was the “invitado de honor,” or the honored organization. President Renu Khator spoke at the opening ceremony and was on hand to accept the award conferred by the UANL president, Dr. Santos …
Two Piñata Books Awarded 2025 Paterson Prize
HOUSTON, TX—The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College in New Jersey has recognized two Piñata Books as co-winners in their respective categories for the 2025 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. The prize comes with a cash award. Adriana Camacho-Church’s bilingual children’s picture book, Grandma, Where Will Your Love Go? / Abuela, ¿adónde irá tu amor? (Piñata Books, 2023), tied for the prize in the Pre-K-Grade 3 category with The Heights of Love by Boyd Bauman. Beautifully illustrated by Gastón Hauviller, Camacho-Church’s sweet story depicts the loving relationship between a young girl and her grandmother and the girl’s growing realization that her grandmother will not always be physically present. In the Grades 7-12 category, A Bridge Home (Piñata Books, 2024) by Mona Alvarado Frazier tied for the prize with Beware the Smart Kids by Matthew J. Kushin. Alvarado Frazier’s engaging young adult novel introduces readers to Jacqueline Bravo, …
Imaginative First Children’s Book Wins Award
A Poem Can Do Anything Imaginative First Children’s Book Wins AwardHOUSTON, TX—A bilingual picture book that explores the joy of writing poetry, ¿Qué es un poema? / What Is a Poem? by Jovi de la Jara (ISBN 979-8-89375-016-4, hardcover, $18.95), is the winner of the 2025 Reyes-Olivas Award for Best First Book of Latino Children’s and Young Adult Literature.In this playful story forthcoming May 31, 2025, Jovi de la Jara describes all the things a poem can do, like: “Puppies can be / planets / and flowers / can be kittens” and “the moon can be / square / and rain can be / laughter.” Simple text describes the endless possibilities available in writing poetry; words can rhyme, run off the page or even be invented! Poems can be very long or super short. The author’s fun black-and-white illustrations cleverly depict the humorous ideas: a dog’s face looks like a planet …
Chicano Author’s First Picture Book Honored
A Lizard’s Tale Chicano Author’s First Picture Book Honored HOUSTON, TX—Chicano author Daniel Chacón’s first book for children, Gecko Girl / Lagartijita (ISBN 979-8-89375-014-0, hardcover, $18.95), is the winner of the 2025 Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature. Forthcoming May 31, 2025, this whimsical bilingual picture book for ages 4-8 contains Steven James Petruccio’s beautiful illustrations of the gecko girl and the creatures she meets on her journey of discovery.According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, just 379 of the 3,203 children’s books it received that were published in the United States in 2023 were written by Latinos; only 291 were about Latinos. Diversity statistics for 2024 are not yet available. The Salinas de Alba Award seeks to stimulate the work begun by Arte Público Press and its imprint, Piñata Books, which is dedicated to the publication of children’s and young adult literature that authentically and realistically portrays themes, …
Four Piñata Books Recognized with the Campoy-Ada Award
HOUSTON, TX— The Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (ANLE) and the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) recognized four bilingual children’s picture books with honorable mentions in various categories for the 2024 Campoy-Ada Award. Established in 2017, the prize celebrates books in Spanish for children and young adults published in the US and Puerto Rico; there are 12 categories with Latino-centered and universal themes that promote multicultural understanding. Grandma’s Hair Is Ankle Length / El cabello de Abuela le llega hasta los tobillos, written by Adriana Camacho-Church and illustrated by Carmen Lop, and Tierra, Tierrita / Earth, Little Earth by Jorge Argueta with illustrations by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara, were recognized for universal themes in the children’s narrative and children’s poetry categories, respectively. Xequina María Berbér’s Pedro and the Monster Eaters / Pedro y los devoradores de monstruos, illustrated by C. Rod. Unalt, and Mariano’s First Glove / El …
2024-25 Recovery-USLDH Students
University of Houston Graduate Research Fellows and interns at Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage (Recovery) work closely with archival texts, such as periodicals, manuscripts, photographs, albums, correspondence, books, ephemera and other documents. In doing so, they gain valuable experience with archival collections and asset management. The US Latino Digital Humanities Program (USLDH) at Recovery provides training in digital tools and students contribute to digital humanities data and projects. They have the opportunity to learn the following skills: Scanning of archival items Microfilm scanning Handling and preserving archival texts Inventory of primary documents Organizing collections Creating finding aids Curating exhibits Database research Primary document research Asset management Data management (with spreadsheets) Metadata creation Metadata translation Familiarity with Library of Congress Subject Headings E-book editing and translation (APP Digital) Digital archives (Omeka) Digital tools (mapping, timelines, digital collections, OpenRefine) Archival theory Digital humanities theory Academic conference presentations Academic conference posters Planning …
New Award for Latino Writers Targets Young Adult Readers and Honors Longtime Supporter
HOUSTON, TX—Arte Público Press will launch its new book award, the Cristelia Pérez Award for Latino Young Adult Literature, in 2025. The goal of this recognition is to stimulate the work begun by the press’ imprint, Piñata Books, which is dedicated to the publication of children’s and young adult literature that authentically portrays themes, characters and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, just 379 of the 3,203 children’s books it received that were published in the United States in 2023 were written by Latinos; only 291 were about Latinos. Diversity statistics for 2024 are not yet available. In addition to the publication of the book and royalties from sales, the winning author of the Cristelia Pérez Award will receive a $5,000 prize. Submissions are accepted year-round. The winner will be announced shortly before the publication of the book. This new prize is named …
Chicano Author’s Literary Work Optioned for TV/Film
HOUSTON, TX—Warner Bros. Television, a division of WB Studio Enterprises, Inc., has optioned rights to the work of Manuel Ramos to produce a TV series or theatrical film(s). “For almost forty years, Chicanos have been the focus of my novels and short stories,” Ramos said. “I look forward to giving my characters a bigger stage and introducing Luis Montez and Gus Corral to new audiences through my partnership with Warner Bros. and Arte Público.” Ten of his books—nine novels and one collection of stories—are included in the agreement. Five of the novels make up the Luis Montez Mystery series that features a Chicano attorney and civil rights activist in Denver, Colorado—much like the author himself—who finds himself involved in cases that impact his Mexican American community, including gentrification, discrimination and police violence. Four feature Gus Corral, a native of Denver’s Northside neighborhood, and one book, My Bad, brings the two …
UH Professor and Publisher Receives National Humanities Medal
HOUSTON, TX—Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, the Brown Foundation Professor of Hispanic Literature at the University of Houston and the founder/director of Arte Público Press and the Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage, has been recognized with the National Humanities Medal for his work to make available the writings of contemporary and historical Latinos. The medal was presented by President Joseph R. Biden on Monday, October 21, 2024. “The medal has my name on it—and I am so proud of that—but in reality it honors all the hardworking and mission-driven people who for some forty years have searched for and preserved Latino cultural history and made it accessible to schools, universities, libraries and the public at large,” Dr. Kanellos said. “Here at UH, the entire Arte Público Press and Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage team of professionals and students is assiduously working to create new humanistic knowledge through cutting-edge technology, traditional scholarship and outreach to the …
