K-12 Resources

Download a brochure compiling K-12 Resources and Book Lists HERE.

Literature and Research Guides:

Chicano/Latino Studies Quick Guides-Standford University

Barahona Center for Study of Books in Spanish for Children & Adolescents: This comprehensive website has many reviews of children's books either written in Spanish or written in English about Latinos. Isabel Schon, the director of the center, has a search engine that allows users to explore a database of Recommended Books in English About Latinos, as well as recommended Spanish titles. Users can even limit the search to locate only books set in a specific country.

Kay Vandergrift's children's literature website: This comprehensive website includes a plethora of information about many aspects of children's literature including a page devoted to quality books about Latinos. The page is entitled Powerful Hispanic and Latin-American Images Revealed in Picture Books.

The Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) has compiled a list of children's books about "Growing Up Latino in the U.S.A."

Americas Award

Jean Sutherland Latin Children's Book Guide: Provides information on how to use Latino children's books in the classroom and lists several suggested children's books about the Latino people and subcultures.

New Mexico State University Library Internet Resources for Latin America: Resources for Latin American news, organizations, and searchable databases.

Latin American Network Information Center: A great place to start looking for any resources related to Latin America--economy, education, geography, science, library & reference, media & communication, and more, found here.

Lesson Plans and Curriculum Resources

Latin American School & Educational Resources (LASER), Michigan State University: This web site is for middle and high school teachers and students who are learning about Latin America in social sciences and humanities classes.

World View: An International Program for Educators, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Latin American reources for educators, general area resources, and links to information on cultual traditions and history.

California Language Teachers Association (CLTA): This site has many examples of excellent internet activities for foreign language classes.

National Latino Children's Institute: Activity ideas and suggestions for Latino literacy and cutlure.

Digame un cuento/Tell Me A Story: Bilingual Library Programs for Children and Families: Created by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, this useful online manual suggests bilingual story hour programs for Latino children and their familes.

El dia de los Ninos/El dia de los libros (Day of the Child/Day of the Book) Toolkit: A 100 page online document describing booktalks, author visits, storytelling, and other programming ideas that can be used to celebrate El dia de los Niños/El dia de los libros on April 30th.

What Works For Latino Youth (2000): A 62 page document published by the U.S. Department of Education which details over 60 successful programs for Latinos youth across the nation, noting the effectiveness of each one.

According to Connections and Commitments: A Latino-based Framework for Early Childhood Educators (2002): There are four values in the Latino culture: familia (family), pertenencia (belonging), educación (education), and compromiso (commitment). This framework, which can be modified for libraries, discusses each of these values and how it relates to an early childcare program.

El dia de los Ninos/El dia de los libros: Program information and planning guides.

PBS Independent Lens Series Presents 'Latinos in America': The United States is the hub for a large Latino community, with an increasing number of Latino immigrants arriving each year. A closer look at immigration rates and data that reflect Latino immigrant status in America gives broader perspective on this growing population. Visit this site for prepared lesson plan on 'Latinos in America.'

PBS Teacher Source: Use keywords Latino, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, for a variey of lesson plants int he areas of art & literature, social studies, etc. Sample Lesson Plan: Soldados: Soldiers' Stories. Conduct an oral history interview to gain insight into what it is like to be a soldier, to gain knowledge about the Vietnam War and to understand the Chicano experience in the United States.

Zona Latina: Latin American Newpapers organized by region.

Resource Centers

Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives

Inter-University Program for Latino Research-Notre Dame

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection

The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection

Available through CLACS:

Indiana University's Global Speakers Service (GSS): GSS is designed to enhance international topics and activities in Indiana's schools and civic organizations: K-12, college, and adult education classes, government organizations, churches, businesses, social clubs, libraries, museums, service clubs, and retirement communities. Within 50 miles of Bloomington, IU faculty, advanced graduate students, and international students are available to make presentations, free-of-charge, on a wide range of international topics to add a global component to any curriculum or program.

International Studies for Indiana Schools (ISIS): ISS is an innovative distance learning program which uses interactive video technology to connect K-12 schools and community groups in Indiana and other states with Indiana University international students, scholars, and specialists.