From Wikipedia, “National Hispanic Heritage Month is a period from 15 September to 15 October in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.” Our Spanish teacher invited us to bring some children’s books that highlight Latinx authors and artists to our classroom this month. With the librarian, language arts teachers and Spanish teacher, I brainstormed books to read to my classes. These are some of the books I am going to read to my different classes.
The book Maybe Something Beautiful is perfect to read to your students during Hispanic Heritage Month (and at any time throughout the year, because really we want to be reading books from diverse artists throughout the year).
Maybe Something Beautiful is a powerful book about how art can transform a neighborhood and bring communities together. Read the book with your classes and then reflect upon what beauty is. Where do your students find beauty? What is beautiful to them? Where in your community could you bring beauty and joy? What is a community?
This is a true story of murals in San Diego, California. It is inspired by the muralist Rafael López and how he transformed one community with artwork.
There is an extensive teacher’s guide to this book here.
This website has videos of the muralist at work with children painting murals!
This free handout is able to be used for distance learning where students can draw their own mural design.
A few other books I am planning on reading to my students this month for Latinx Heritage Month include:
The Sky Painter, Louis Fuertes, Bird Artist— pairs nicely with a study on Audubon and scientific bird drawings.
Funny Bones: Jose Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras– perfect for tying in with Dia de los Muertes and skeleton artworks. I am going to have students create Calaveras drawings doing modern day activities.
Duncan Tonatiuh is an amazing author with an interesting style of artwork inspired by the ancient Mixtec artwork. He combines hand drawing with digital textures to create richly layered compositions. Any of his books is worth a look to see his beautiful illustrations and stories of Hispanic culture. A few years ago he came to our school and we did profile view drawings like his illustration style.
Finally, I am reading Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos to another class.
For art making related to Frida Kahlo I am having the kids make a choice on what they would like to do for this artist study. I am showing them a slideshow on Frida Kahlo, her animals and her paintings that have animals in them.
- Use modeling clay or dough to create a sculpture of a beloved animal or pet.
- Try to recreate one of the paintings you see in this slideshow by Frida Kahlo. Look at the image closely as you draw it.
- Draw a picture of yourself with your favorite animals or pets.
- Draw a still-life (picture with things like fruit and vegetables) but include an animal or bird.
- Draw a pet portrait of your pet or pet you would like to have, complete with a fancy frame you draw yourself.
Affiliate links have been used at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds this month will go to buying more books by Latinx authors and artists for my classroom. Please leave suggestions in the comments of your favorite Latinx artists and authors!
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