HOUSTON, TX— Jasminne Mendez’s new picture book, Josefina’s Habichuelas / Las habichuelas de Josefina (ISBN 978-1-55885-923-4, hardcover, $18.95), has been awarded the Writers’ League of Texas 2022 Discovery Prize. Established in 1991, the Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards recognize the year’s outstanding books published by Texas authors. The Discovery Prize honors books with fresh perspectives and outstanding narratives to bring recognition to new voices. Young Josefina loves sweets and eats plenty of cookies, cupcakes and candy, until one day her mother suggests they refrain from eating sugar for 40 days and 40 nights in preparation for Easter Sunday. In exchange, her mom promises to teach her how to make habichuelas con dulce, or sweet cream beans, her family’s traditional dessert. Josefina reluctantly agrees, and struggles to keep her promise while her friends continue to eat their favorite sweets at school. When she and her mom, tías and abuela finally …
A Sweet Tradition: Children’s Book Celebrating Mexican Birthdays Wins Prize
HOUSTON, TX—A bilingual picture book about a Mexican birthday celebration, El cumpleaños de mi hermana Dulce / My Sister Dulce’s Birthday by Erika Said (ISBN 978-1-55885-954-8, hardcover, $18.95), is the winner of the 2022 Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature. Published October 31, 2022, this joyful story depicting two girls’ excitement as they prepare for a birthday party is sure to inspire kids’ plans for their own birthday celebrations. 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. 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 realistically portrays themes, characters and customs unique to US Hispanic culture. In addition to the publication of the book and …
Enjoy this recap of Arte Público Press’ 40th Anniversary Celebration!
Attendees at the welcome tableAuthor and astronaut, José M. HernándezUH Mariachi PumasDr. Blas Canedo-González and Alejandro Magallón, Houston Grand Opera Solero Flamenco dancersFrom left to right: Jessica Rossman, Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, Rolando Maldonado, MD.Picture book loversAttendees at the wine tableAuthor Erika Said, winner of the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s LiteratureSambabom dancersFrom left to right: Geraldina Interiano Wise, Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, Nellie González, Mikaela Selley, Miriam Maldonado, Dra. Carolina Villarroel, Marina Tristán, Jesús González, Julia Dávila, Rosanna Moreno, Dr. Lorena Gauthereau Attendees at the receptionFrom left to right: Dr. Suresh Khator, Associate Dean of UH Cullen College of Engineering; Dr. Renu Khator, President of the University of Houston; Dr. Nicolás Kanellos, Director of Arte Público PressAuthor Airy Sindik, winner of the Reyes-Olivas Award for the First Book of Latino Children’s and Young Adult LiteratureCecilia Duarte (singer) and Ana María Otamendi (piano), ROCO40th Anniversary in the News Arte Público …
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS!
HOUSTON, TX—Arte Público Press, the country’s oldest and largest publisher dedicated to amplifying US Hispanic voices, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a performing-arts showcase Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 6:30-9:30 pm at the University of Houston’s Moores Opera House (3333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77004). Bringing together outstanding artists from a variety of genres, the event will feature author and former astronaut José M. Hernández as the emcee and highlight the vibrant influence of Latin American and Latino cultures. The University of Houston’s Mariachi Puma will welcome attendees; other performers include the Brazilian dance and drum group, Sambabom; the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, presenting a selection of Latino songs in honor of Arte Público Press; Solero Flamenco; and the Houston Grand Opera, doing its children’s production based on Jorge Argueta’s trilingual picture book, Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water (Arte Público Press, 2017). In addition, two children’s book awards …
Hispanic Theater Digital Exhibit
HOUSTON, TX–The University of Houston’s US Latino Digital Humanities Center (USLDH) announces the release of the interactive Hispanic Theater Collection curated and created by Dr. Gabriela Baeza Ventura and Dr. Lorena Gauthereau. The digital collection centers the Hispanic community within US theater production (1789-2000) and highlights the role that Hispanic theater (actors, writers, producers, musicians, technicians, artists and many others) played in the creation of cultural and sociopolitical capital. Some of the items feature: Miguel Piñero, Miriam Colón, Susy Astol, Chata Noloesca, Don Lalo (Leonardo García Astol), Carpa Theater, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Teatro Campesino, among many others. This digital exhibit draws from the Nicolás Kanellos Theater Collection at UH’s Special Collections. This valuable digital exhibit is a unique and useful teaching and research tool for educators, students and community members interested in performing arts, visual art, art history and Latina/o culture. UH’s USLDH received funding from the American …
Join Us for Hispanic Heritage Month
SEPTEMBER September 15, 2022 | 6:30 – 9:30 pm Showcase of Latino Performing Arts Moores Opera House/University of Houston (3333 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX) Celebrate Arte Público Press’ 40th anniversary with food, drink and performances by Mariachi Puma, Sambabom, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, Solero Flamenco, and Houston Grand Opera. Tickets and more details here. September 15-17, 2022 La Raza Unida Party 50th Anniversary Conference University of Texas San Antonio – Downtown Campus (501 W. Cesar E. Chavez, San Antonio, TX) Arte Público Press founder/director Dr. Nicolás Kanellos speaks about publishing opportunities for Latinos. More details here. September 23, 2022 | 10 am – 4:30 pm Latin American Book Fair Love Park (1501 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA) Authors and illustrators share their work, including children’s book author Raquel Ortiz, who will delight audiences with her musical storytelling! More details here. OCTOBER October 1, 2022 | 1 – …
Young Adult Novel with the Right Ingredients Wins Skipping Stones Honor Award
HOUSTON, TX— An intriguing coming-of-age novel for teens, Reservations Required by Estela Bernal, is the recipient of a 2022 Skipping Stones Honor Award. The book follows seventeen-year-old Lucy Sánchez as she overcomes numerous obstacles to achieve her dream of becoming a chef. 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 the annual book awards promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation and encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology and diversity. In Reservations Required (Piñata Books, 2021), Bernal depicts Lucy’s journey as her world is turned upside down when her grandmother dies. Nana was instrumental in teaching her how to cook and encouraging her dream to become a chef. More importantly, her kitchen was a haven from the dysfunction at home. When Lucy becomes the target of her father’s …
