Latino children's literature

Latino children's literature encompasses works such as stories, books, and poems about Latinos in the United States, often touching on the Latino cultural experience in the U.S. This includes people of Latin American heritage born in the United States, including Puerto Rico, or those who have immigrated from Latin America, with the term encompassing their contributions to the field of writing for children in the United States. These works are oftentimes written in English but can include works written in Spanish or a mix of both languages.[1]

Latino children’s literature has had a long history in the United States and the Americas but did not gain popularity until the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with the rise of the Chicano movement and a new focus on multiculturalism by Latino authors.[2] Since then there have been multiple awards created to recognize notable works and influential authors of Latino children's literature.

Thematically, Latino children’s literature often touches upon many topics including identity and immigration and follow the styles of oral traditions, folklore, and memoirs, oftentimes incorporating Spanish vernacular or phrases.[2]

  1. ^ Goetz., Cullinan, Bernice E. Person, Diane (2005). Continuum encyclopedia of children's literature. Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-1778-7. OCLC 61478089.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Zipes, Jack (2006). The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-514656-5. OCLC 865552579.