Poetry

 

Brooks, G. (2015, March 20). Bronzeville Boys and Girls. 48 pages. Tr $7.93. ISBN 0060295058.

Gwendolyn Brooks honored the freedom, beauty, imagination, and joy of childhood in Bronzeville Boys and Girls (1956), a collection of thirty-four poems. In Bronzeville Boys and Girls, you'll find these classic poems that serve as a reminder that childhood is a shared experience, full of new feelings and adventures, regardless of where you live in Chicago.This picture book by the gifted Faith Ringgold delves into the hopes and aspirations of a group of urban neighborhood kids.Because of the shared experiences of growing up in an urban environment, this book is particularly meaningful to me. 

Thomas, J. C. (2008, January 1). The Blacker the Berry. 32 pages. Tr $ 17.99. ISBN  0060253754. 

The many shades of black are eloquently praised in this brilliant and lyrical collection of poetry written by Joyce Carol Thomas and Floyd Cooper, who were both presented with the Coretta Scott King Award. That is a fantastic approach to honor blackness and the many shades of blackness as a whole. The eloquent and lovely poems in this collection include tales of family, tradition, and self-love. 

Ada, A. F., & Campoy, F. I. (2013, August 1). Yes! We Are Latinos! Charlesbridge. 96 pages. Tr $ 15.99. ISBN 158089383X.

Through the stories of thirteen young Latinos and Latinas now residing in the United States, this book honors the rich diversity of the Latino and Latina experience in America. Through the free-verse fictional narratives presented from the perspective of each child, the reader is given a more profound comprehension of the Latino community's quest for identity. These narratives offer specific stories and situations. In the nonfiction writing that follows each profile, we learn more about the character's past and how they came to be, including important events in Latino American history such as the Spanish Civil War, immigration to the United States, and the incarceration of Latinos with Japanese heritage during WWII.

Bowles, D. (2018, November 27). They Call Me Güero. Cinco Puntos Press. 112 pages. Tr $ 8.99. ISBN 0593462556. 

Twelve-year-old Güero is 100% Mexican. Because of his red hair, light skin, and freckles, they call him Güero. People may simply believe what they see. He speaks Spanish or English and feels at home on both banks of the river. Reading, gaming, and music, Güero runs with Los Bobbys, a group of misfits. They jest and discuss their growing world, which now includes girls. Güero enters seventh grade with heart, smarts, family traditions, and his accordion. This Mexican American border youngster writes poems when life becomes difficult.