Title: Too Many Tamales

Author: Gary Soto

Illustrator: Ed Martinez
ISBN: 9780698114128
Copyright date: 1993
Age group: ages 4 to 8
Description: In this story, young Maria
is very eager to help her mother make
tamales for their familys Christmas
dinner. While cooking, Maria notices
that her mother has taken off her
diamond ring. Maria has always wanted to try on her mothers ring and cannot resist when she
sees it. Maria and her mother continue making the tamales. It wasnt until the tamales were
cooking in the oven, when Maria realizes her mothers ring is no longer on her finger. She
quickly devises a plan with her cousins to eat all the tamales so they can find the ring before her
mother notices. Unable to find the ring after consuming twenty-four tamales, Maria has to
confront her mother about her ring. As Maria is about to tell her mother, she notices her diamond
ring back on her finger. With the ring back and no tamales left, the three generations of the
family join together to make more tamales.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

X
X
X
X

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

X
X

Does it use intrusive language?

N/
A

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

No

X
Hispani
c
X

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls
Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

X
X
X

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one person
who may be a different race; no uniqueness among
characters)?
Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights, facial
features?
Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

Title: Abuela
Author: Arthur Dorros
Illustrator: Elisa Kleven
ISBN: 014062257
Copyright date: 1997
Age group: ages 4 to 8
Description: In this story,
Rosalbas imagination takes
Abuela (her grandmother) and
herself up into the sky flying over
New York City. Each stop on
their journey together brings back
a significant memory for Rosalbas grandmother. Rosalba is able to learn about her ethnic
culture and the life of her immigrant Abuela. Their journey in New York City brings the two
together while teaching Rosalba about her culture. This book also incorporates Spanish words
and phrases into the English text.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

No

N/
A

X
X
X
X

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

X
Hispani
c

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls
Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

X
X
X

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one person
who may be a different race; no uniqueness among
characters)?
Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights, facial
features?
Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

Title: The Upside Down Boy

Author: Juan Felipe Herrera
Illustrator: Elizabeth Gomez
ISBN: 0892392177
Copyright date: 2000
Age group: ages 6 to 9
Description: Juan and his family moved to
the city and he had to begin at a new school.
On his first day he just didnt seem to
understand what was going on. When he
was supposed to be at recess, he ate his
lunch. When he was supposed to be eating
lunch, he went to play at the baseball fields. Juan just seemed like he couldnt do anything right,
like he was flipped upside down. It wasnt until he went to music class and found his place in
school. Juan became a leader to the other students making school easier for him.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

X
X

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

X
Hispani
c

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls

No

X
X

N/
A

Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one person
who may be a different race; no uniqueness among
characters)?

Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights, facial

features?

Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

Title: The Cazuela That the Farm

Maiden Stirred
Author: Samantha R. Vamos
Illustrator: Rafael Lopez
ISBN: 1580892434
Copyright date: 2013
Age group: ages 5 to 8
Description: The farm maiden begins
to cook with help from her animal
friends. Each animal and each
ingredient is introduced in Spanish.
With repetition of the animal and the
ingredient phrase, the maiden stirs her
homemade rice pudding (Cazuela). When the Cazuela is finished everyone who helped make it
comes together give thanks and eat it. This book even includes a recipe for Arroz Con Leche.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

N/
A

X
X
X
X

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

X
X

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

X
Hispani
c

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic

No

-Gender rolls
Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

X
X

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one person
who may be a different race; no uniqueness among
characters)?
Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights, facial
features?
Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

Title: What Can You Do With a Rebozo?

Author: Carmen Tafolla
Illustrator: Amy Codova
ISBN: 1582462208
Copyright date: 2008
Age group: ages 3 to 7
Description: A rebozo is a Mexican shawl
and
can be used for much more than just a shawl.
With a little imagination, the rebozo can be
used to keep you warm, to carry a baby, to
tie
your hair, and to keep you warm. The little
girl
loves to use the rebozo while dancing the most. She loves the rebozo and its importance to her
culture.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

X
X
X
X

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

X
X
X
Hispani
c

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls

X
X

Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

N/
A

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

No

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one person
who may be a different race; no uniqueness among
characters)?

Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights, facial

features?

Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

Title: Manuela, Color of Cinnamon

Author: Elena Dreser
Illustrator: Marisol Fernandez
ISBN: 9681645723
Copyright date: 1994
Age group: ages 6 to 9
Description: Manuela loves the color of
her skin so she enjoys sitting outside in the
sun to watch it darken. Author Elena Dreser
uses descriptive language to describe the
deep, rich color of her brown skin while
Illustrator Marisol Fernandez uses collages
of nature around Manuela. This book could
promote negative self-image for students.
Although Manuela loves the color of her skin, she is still trying to change it by making in darker.
This book could be more beneficial to students if Manuela loved her skin color for the way it is,
not by changing herself in anyway.
Question

Is it free of racial stereotypes?

Ethnic stereotypes
Sexual orientation stereotypes
Disability stereotypes
Derogatory language

Yes

X
X
X
X

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

X
X

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed

positively?
-Name the various races

X
Hispanic/Latin
@

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

N/
A

Can students relate themselves to this book?

Does it use intrusive language?

No

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls
Does it promote a positive self-image for students?
Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one
person who may be a different race; no uniqueness
among characters)?

X
X
X

X
X

Do the characters have a variety of sizes, heights,

facial features?
Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?