Manuela “Mani” Semilla wants two things: To get her period and to thwart her mom’s plan of taking her to Guatemala on her thirteenth birthday. If her mom’s always going on about how dangerous it is in Guatemala, and how much she sacrificed to come to this country, then why should Mani even want to visit?
A collection of oral histories that tell the stories of young refugees fleeing their home countries in Central America and traveling hundreds of miles, across multiple borders, to seek refuge in the United States.
The story of Arnovis, a young Salvadorian man, whose family’s search for safety shows how the United States — in concert with other Western nations — has gutted asylum protections for the world’s most vulnerable.
This bilingual picture book tells the true story of how Don Margarito planted trees throughout his life, despite the ridicule he faced by some villagers, planting a forest that proved beneficial to the community, including being the perfect hiding place that saved his family during an attack on his village.
Capturing the essence of nature while telling the mythical story that unites Central American countries around the importance of corn, this enchanting bilingual picture book introduces children to the Mayan origin story of a people made of maize.
Teenager Sergio is caught between two countries. He has lived in Los Angeles since the age of six, when he emigrated from Central America with his parents. But in a country far away from his birthplace and birthright, he finds himself coming of age without any sense of a “homeland.”
This moving, poetic story by award-winning Salvadoran author Mario Bencastro touches on the difficult journey north many Central American children make in hopes of finding their parents and a better life.
From swimming in the sea in Panama to smelling abuela’s cafecito in Costa Rica, there are so many things to love about Central America! This fun and rhythmic book, inspired by Brown Bear, Brown Bear, was written by young mothers who wanted to celebrate their Central American heritage with their children.
Sixteen young people from the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C., came together to tell their own stories of immigration and transformation in comics form.
Thirty-four stories by award-winning Uruguayan author on the elemental struggle of the forgotten and the dispossessed for simple human dignity.
NACLA
NACLA Report on the Americas: Winter 2020 issue This NACLA Report reflects on Central America’s past, present, and uncertain future.
Teachers — Share Your Teach Central America Story
Please tell us how you teach about Central America in your classroom. In appreciation for your time and your thorough answers, we will send you a book of your choice, from the list above.
Share Teach Central America Story: Receive a Book
In support of Teach Central America Week, a number of publishers donated titles by Central American authors and/or about Central America as gifts for educators who share teaching stories.
We extend our appreciation to the following publishers for their generous support of Teach Central America Week.
Levine Querido
Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice
by Anna Lapera
Manuela “Mani” Semilla wants two things: To get her period and to thwart her mom’s plan of taking her to Guatemala on her thirteenth birthday. If her mom’s always going on about how dangerous it is in Guatemala, and how much she sacrificed to come to this country, then why should Mani even want to visit?
Haymarket Books
Solito, Solita: Crossing Borders With Youth Refugees From Central America
edited by Steven Mayers and Jonathan Freedman
A collection of oral histories that tell the stories of young refugees fleeing their home countries in Central America and traveling hundreds of miles, across multiple borders, to seek refuge in the United States.
The Long Honduran Night: Resistance, Terror, and the United States in the Aftermath of the Coup
by Dana Frank
A narrative that recounts the years in Honduras following the June 2009 military coup that deposed President Manuel Zelaya.
Verso Books
The Dispossessed: A Story of Asylum and the U.S.-Mexican Border and Beyond
by John Washington
The story of Arnovis, a young Salvadorian man, whose family’s search for safety shows how the United States — in concert with other Western nations — has gutted asylum protections for the world’s most vulnerable.
Hard Ball Press
Margarito’s Forest/ El Bosque de Don Margarito
by Andy Carter
This bilingual picture book tells the true story of how Don Margarito planted trees throughout his life, despite the ridicule he faced by some villagers, planting a forest that proved beneficial to the community, including being the perfect hiding place that saved his family during an attack on his village.
Arte Público Press
El niño de maíz / The Boy of Maiz
by Mario Bencastro, illustrated by Christina Rodriguez
Capturing the essence of nature while telling the mythical story that unites Central American countries around the importance of corn, this enchanting bilingual picture book introduces children to the Mayan origin story of a people made of maize.
A Promise to Keep
by Mario Bencastro
Teenager Sergio is caught between two countries. He has lived in Los Angeles since the age of six, when he emigrated from Central America with his parents. But in a country far away from his birthplace and birthright, he finds himself coming of age without any sense of a “homeland.”
Un Tren Llamado Esperanza / A Train Called Hope
by Mario Bencastro, illustrated by Robert Casilla
This moving, poetic story by award-winning Salvadoran author Mario Bencastro touches on the difficult journey north many Central American children make in hopes of finding their parents and a better life.
Shout Mouse Press
Central America: ¡mira, mira, mira!
by Araceli Figueroa, Edith Lopez, and Juliana Loza-Espinoza
From swimming in the sea in Panama to smelling abuela’s cafecito in Costa Rica, there are so many things to love about Central America! This fun and rhythmic book, inspired by Brown Bear, Brown Bear, was written by young mothers who wanted to celebrate their Central American heritage with their children.
The Adventures of Guz & Goz
by Mich Hernandez and Yenner Rengifo Chaverra
This bilingual story uses whimsy and adventure to explore a challenging subject – migrating by foot to the United States.
Voces Sin Fronteras: Our Stories, Our Truth
by the Latino Youth Leadership Council of LAYC
Sixteen young people from the Latin American Youth Center in Washington, D.C., came together to tell their own stories of immigration and transformation in comics form.
W.W. Norton
We Say No: Chronicles 1963-1991
by Eduardo Galeano
Thirty-four stories by award-winning Uruguayan author on the elemental struggle of the forgotten and the dispossessed for simple human dignity.
NACLA
NACLA Report on the Americas: Winter 2020 issue
This NACLA Report reflects on Central America’s past, present, and uncertain future.
Teachers — Share Your Teach Central America Story
Please tell us how you teach about Central America in your classroom. In appreciation for your time and your thorough answers, we will send you a book of your choice, from the list above.
Posted: October 1, 2021