In this episode, we celebrate Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month with some favorite Scholastic authors. First, Sonia Manzano revisits her 2015 memoir, Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx.
You may know Sonia as Maria, the beloved character she played on Sesame Street for more than 30 years. Growing up in a struggling Puerto Rican family in the 1950s, Sonia wondered how she could contribute to a society that didn’t see her. “I felt invisible,” she says. Her story of resilience and hope continues to inspire readers of all ages.
Host Suzanne McCabe also talks with Pam Muñoz Ryan, the award-winning author of Esperanza Rising and several other celebrated novels. Pam discusses the genesis of her latest book, an enchanting novel for middle-graders called Mañanaland. The mythical tale introduces readers to a brave boy named Max, who learns what it means to help people fleeing danger and persecution.
In the final segment, author Justin A. Reynolds and illustrator Pablo Leon introduce their new graphic novel, Miles Morales: Shock Waves. It is already a hit with young Marvel fans. “Maybe you’re not able to have web slingers and scale the city walls,” Justin tells kids, “but your voice can travel just as far.”
Resources:
Books for Young Readers: These titles for children and young adults spotlight Hispanic and Latine culture.
Sonia Manzano: Find out about the latest projects from the 15-time Emmy Award winner.
Pam Munoz Ryan: “I am a reader, writer, author, and pilgrim,” Pam says. “Every book is a journey.”
Justin A. Reynolds: Justin always wanted to be a writer. His stories are now inspiring kids everywhere.
Pablo Leon: Meet the background artist and illustrator who brings a superhero to life in Miles Morales: Shock Waves.
Celebrating Our Cuentos: Choosing and Using Latinx Literature in Elementary Classrooms by Julia López-Robertson for grades K – 6 highlights ways to infuse classrooms with literature by a range of Latinx authors and illustrators
Rooted in Strength: Using Translanguaging to Grow Multilingual Readers and Writers by Cecilia Espinosa and Laura Ascenzi-Moreno demonstrates the power of honoring and leveraging the language and cultural resources of multilingual students in the learning process.
Special Thanks:
Producer: Bridget Benjamin
Associate producer: Constance Gibbs
Sound engineer: Daniel Jordan
Music composer: Lucas Elliot Eberl
Coming Soon:
If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving: A Conversation with Author and Educator Chris Newell
Muted: A Conversation with Author Tami Charles
