A new series of children’s books was recently launched that celebrates the lives and careers of famous Latinos who have made a huge impact on American culture and serve as an inspiration to future generations.
Published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan’s Children’s Publishing GroupThe Hispanic Star biography series kicked off Tuesday (September 6) with the release of the first two books on Celia Cruz and Roberto Clemente in English and Spanish.
Written by Claudia Romo Edelman and William Alexander and illustrated by Alexandra Beguez, Hispanic Star: Celia Cruz tells the story of a young singer from Havana, Cuba who would grow up to become the Queen of Salsa and an artist who performed for six decades and recorded more than 70 albums.
“Her soulful voice, compelling charm and unstoppable determination led to her meteoric rise to fame, opening the door for Latinx performers everywhere,” a press release said. “Celia’s influence still has an undeniable influence on today’s music.”
Book Hispanic star: Roberto Clemente it was written by Claudia Romo Edelman and Sarah Echenique. She follows Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente, who grew up in Loíza, Puerto Rico, where playing street baseball led him to 18 seasons in the Major Leagues. Clemente was the first player from the Caribbean and Latin America to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Clemente’s legacy as a two-time World Series champion paved the way for generations of Latino athletes to realize their greatest dreams on and off the field.“, says a press release.
More books in the series will be published next year, including ones about LGBTQ activist Sylvia Rivera, singer and actress Selena Gomez, NASA astronaut Ellen Ochoa and US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
