The New York Times Examines the Lack of Books Available for Young Latino Readers
December 06, 2012
Why aren't there more books for young Latino readers? This is a concern that has been raised by many educators, especially as the national population of Latino students grows. According to The New York Times, the experts who drafted the Common Core are currently putting together a supplemental book list that will include more diversity titles.
"At Bayard Taylor Elementary in Philadelphia, a school where three-quarters of the students are Latino, Kimberly Blake, a third-grade bilingual teacher, said she struggles to find books about Latino children that are 'about normal, everyday people.' The few that are available tend to focus on stereotypes of migrant workers or on special holidays. 'Our students look the way they look every single day of the year,' Ms. Blake said, 'not just on Cinco de Mayo or Puerto Rican Day.'"