Arte Público Press Receives Prestigious National Literary Award

Houston, TX January 2019— The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) has announced that Arte Público Press, the nation’s largest publisher of U.S.-based Hispanic authors, has received the prestigious Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award. Named after the first president of the NBCC, the award is given annually to a person or institution with an extensive history of significant contributions to book culture. “The award comes as a total surprise because it typically goes to authors,” said Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, founder and director of Arte Público Press. “This recognition will help us amplify voices in Latino literature throughout the United States.” The National Book Critics Circle Awards, considered among the most respected literary awards in America, are bestowed by a jury of working critics and book-review editors. Past recipients include Margaret Atwood and Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison. “The University of Houston has given Arte Público Press an intellectual space in which to …

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

A Mummy in Her Backpack Una momia en su mochila e-Book PDF Tip Sheet The Boy Who Touched the Stars El niño que alcanzó las estrellas e-Book PDF Tip SheetThe Case of the Pen Gone Missing El caso de la pluma perdida e-Book PDF Tip SheetCreepy Creatures and Other Cucuys e-Book PDF Tip SheetDalia’s Wondrous Hair El cabello maravilloso de Dalia e-Book PDF Tip SheetEl niño de maíz The Boy of Maize e-Book PDF Tip SheetEvangelina Takes Flight e-Book PDF Tip SheetFrom Farmworker to Astronaut De campesino a astronauta e-Book PDF Tip SheetGrandma, Where Will Your Love Go? Abuela, ¿adónde irá tu amor? e-Book PDF Tip SheetThe Golden Flower A Taino Myth from Puerto Rico e-Book PDF Tip SheetLa flor de oro Un mito taíno de Puerto Rico e-Book PDF Tip SheetAgua, Agüita Water, Little Water e-Book PDF Tip SheetFuego, Fueguito Fire, Little Fire e-Book PDF Tip SheetTierra, Tierrita Earth, …

Chicana Author to Share Testimony During Book Reading

HOUSTON, TX—Acclaimed LGBTQ+ author Emma Pérez will read from her new book, Testimony of a Shifter, at Brazos Bookstore (2421 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77005) at 6:30 pm Friday, April 26, 2024. This fascinating speculative narrative delving into gender transmutation and discrimination has been lauded by Booklist as the “queer, feminist dystopian novel readers [fans of Ursula K. Le Guin and Margaret Atwood] have been searching for.” Imprisoned by the totalitarian government, Dr. Benito Espinoza practices for his weekly interrogations by recounting his story to his thirteen-year-old daughter. He tells her about turning his back on his ability to shift his gender from male to female—to Alejandra—to become a scholar in the Grand Library. Most academics are Residents who inherited their seats and believe Descendants like Ben don’t have the intellectual ability to be a person of letters. Ben conforms to the laws against transmuting, so he manages to secure …

2024 USLDH Summer Internship Opportunities

The US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) announces two summer internship opportunities for University of Houston undergraduate students. These internships will expose students to archival research, best practices, digital scholarship and tools, US Latino DH methodology and research approaches. These skills will help interns to pursue academic careers and introduce them to a network of scholars, practitioners and community members. ​​Students will be able to receive both professional and intellectual formation during the course of the program. The internship sessions offer different opportunities and take place during different times of the summer (please see below for details). No prior experience in digital humanities required. Near-native Spanish reading and writing knowledge is preferred. Applicants must be current University of Houston undergraduates (Main campus). Internships take place at the Arte Público Press offices at the University of Houston’s Technology Bridge Annex, Building 19. Arte Público Press is open Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – …

Bank Street College of Education Honors Three Piñata Books as Best of 2024 in Spanish

HOUSTON, TX—The Bank Street College of Education Children’s Book Committee named three new Piñata Books to its Best Children’s Books of the Year in Spanish list for 2024: Mariano’s First Glove / El primer guante de Mariano by Robert Casilla, Do I Belong Here? / ¿Es este mi lugar? by René Colato Laínez and Tierra, Tierrita / Earth, Little Earth by Jorge Argueta. Additionally, Colato Laínez’s and Argueta’s books were both starred as exceptional for cultural authenticity, engaging style and appealing illustrations, among other characteristics. In Mariano’s First Glove / El primer guante de Mariano, Robert Casilla shares the life story of New York Yankees relief pitcher and closer Mariano Rivera, from his childhood in a small fishing village in Panama to the Baseball Hall of Fame. A School Library Journal review said, “The realistic illustrations depict not only his life but the many hours he spent practicing; the bilingual …

Annette Hugh

Global Head of Market Development & Engagement, S&P Global

Arte Público Executive Editor Promoted to Deputy Director

HOUSTON, TX—With an eye to the future, Arte Público Press has promoted Executive Editor Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura to deputy director in what Director Nicolás Kanellos called “a long-overdue recognition of her dedication and commitment to the work of Hispanic writers.”  Baeza Ventura began working for the press as a research assistant while studying for her doctorate in Spanish at the University of Houston, which she completed in 2001. Now an associate professor of US Latino literature, she became the full-time managing editor in 1999 and executive editor in 2000. “This is such an honor,” Baeza Ventura said of her promotion. “Having worked closely with Dr. Kanellos for many years, I look forward to continuing Arte Público’s mission to promote Latino literature and expand community outreach through our various publications and programming.” In addition to overseeing the editing of Arte Público’s publications, Baeza Ventura has translated over 50 picture books …

A Rare Gem in the City: Publisher Named Houston Cultural Treasure

HOUSTON, TX—Arte Público Press, the nation’s oldest and largest publisher of US Hispanic literature, has been named one of eleven Houston Cultural Treasures by the BIPOC Arts Network & Fund (BANF). The acknowledgement of the press’ importance comes with $500,000 in general operating support over a two-year period and additional funds for technical support. Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, the founder and director of Arte Público Press, said, “We are tremendously honored by this recognition. Arte Público has suffered from being one of Houston’s best-kept secrets, and we feel certain this opportunity will empower us to continue our efforts to help the community, its art and culture.” The Houston Cultural Treasures initiative invests in the arts organizations that have anchored Houston’s communities of color and shaped the city’s dynamic and diverse culture, benefiting current arts groups. It is part of a larger national project sponsored by the Ford Foundation to honor the …

2023-24 Graduate Research Fellows

University of Houston Graduate Research Fellows 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 an academic …

Arte Público Press presentará al astronauta y proyectará su película en UH

HOUSTON, TX—El astronauta y autor de libros infantiles José M. Hernández conversará con el público que asista a la proyección de la nueva película de Amazon Studios, A Million Miles Away. La cinta se presentará en el Student Center South Theatre de la Universidad de Houston (4455 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204), el viernes 27 de octubre, de 5 a 8:15 p.m. Inspirada en la vida real del ingeniero de vuelo de la NASA, José M. Hernández, A Million Miles Away cuenta la  historia de una devota familia de orgullosos trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en un viaje de décadas, desde una aldea rural en Michoacán, México, a los campos del Valle de San Joaquín, California, y de allí, a más de 200 millas de la Tierra, en la Estación Espacial Internacional. Con el apoyo incondicional de sus padres, familiares y maestros, el impulso y la determinación de José lo llevaron a …

Arte Público Press to Host Astronaut and Screen Film at UH

HOUSTON, TX—Astronaut and children’s book author José M. Hernández will speak at a screening of the new Amazon film about his life, A Million Miles Away, which will be shown at the University of Houston in the Student Center South Theater (4455 University Dr., Houston, TX 77204) on Friday, October 27, from 5-8:15 pm. Inspired by the real-life story of NASA flight engineer José M. Hernández, A Million Miles Away follows him and his devoted family of proud migrant farm workers on a decades-long journey, from a rural village in Michoacán, Mexico, to the fields of the San Joaquin Valley, to more than 200 miles above the Earth in the International Space Station. With the unwavering support of his hard-working parents, relatives and teachers, José’s unrelenting drive and determination culminates in the opportunity to achieve his seemingly impossible goal. Acclaimed writer and director Alejandra Márquez Abella has created a dazzling …