If the new diplomatic dialogue between the US and Cuba has you curious about Cuban culture, consider reading some of these books! Below, we’ve compiled some titles by Cuban authors, about Cubans, with a particular emphasis on memoir and poetry. Little Havana Blues: A Cuban-American Literature Anthology  Edited by Virgil Suárez and Delia Poey Little Havana Blues is a medley of voices—narrators, essayists and poets—that have come to forge a literary identity within the United States since their parents left Cuba to go into exile. However, this first comprehensive anthology of Cuban-American literature is not a symphony of the exile or immigrant generation and its letters. Instead, these writers are staking their claim on part of the American mosaic, with Pulitzer Prices and other awards in hand. But in their Americanization they are not rejecting their heritage or their Hispanic culture; rather they are Cubanizing, tropicalizing, expanding the realm of American …

Spelile Rivas’ monster children’s book named finalist  HOUSTON, TX August 2014—The Cucuy Stole My Cascarones / El Cucuy me robó los cascarones by Spelile Rivas and illustrated by Valeria Cervantes has been chosen as a finalist in the 2014 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards. These awards seek to honor the best books readily available to a North American audience in any format within the past year. Killer Nashville Writers’ Conference was founded in 2006 by writer and filmmaker Clay Stafford. Since then, it has developed a reputation as a leading advocate for writers and readers of all genres. In this bilingual picture book, an imaginative boy overcomes his fears as he searches for his missing confetti eggs. Roberto and his mother made thirty dozen confetti-filled eggs for his birthday party. Roberto can’t wait to crack the hollowed, painted and confetti-stuffed eggs over his friends’ heads. But, when he goes to …

HOUSTON, TX January, 2014—The Patchwork Garden / Pedacitos de huerto by Diane de Anda with illustrations by Oksana Kemarskaya has been chosen for inclusion in Reading Is Fundamental’s (RIF) 2013-14 Multicultural Collection of Children’s Literature. Containing only 40 titles, RIF’s Multicultural Collection is sponsored by Macy’s and consists of books focused on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Reading Is Fundamental prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most. During this year, RIF will distribute collections to schools and other organizations across the country, with a focus on reaching at-risk and underserved children. In author Diane de Anda’s colorful picture book, a young girl inspires her neighbors to create community gardens full of delicious vegetables. According to Kirkus Reviews, “its positive message of collaboration and cooperation is enhanced by gouache paintings that cheerily depict a …