Reflection Post- Latin American Literature Text Set

In my search for authentic Latin American children's literature I ran into some difficulties. As a child development major my focus was in finding picture books that are representative of this culture and can be used with lower elementary grades. While several picture books are existing, the public library and local bookstores did not have the books I originally had an interest in leading me to believe that the demand for these books is low. The books I ended up reviewing were for the most part, accurate and authentic pieces of multicultural literature. However one thing that was very common in the texts I reviewed was that the majority of them represented one more specific group that falls under the category of Latin American literature. This was that of Mexican American culture. While I strived to find books that were representative of varying groups within Latin American literature, this was not accomplished.

 

The books in my text set portray Latin Americans in several different ways. The insights that these books provide into this culture are very similar and are found within many of the texts. All of the reviewed books portray Latin Americans as being a culture that highly values family and traditions. Many of these books convey close relationships between immediate and extended family members. Traditions specific to the culture are celebrated in the majority of the books. The importance of traditional Spanish language is also often emphasized. The use of Spanish language mixed within the English texts add to the authenticity of these books. Also, traditions related to the baking or preparing of food associated with the Mexican American culture is another common thread found through each of these texts. Overall, the texts work well to portray Latin Americans positively. For example, in the book Gathering the Sun about migrant workers, the texts and illustrations portray them in a way that is not condescending but is instead respectful.