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Reading Rainbow, one of the shows that first taught us to 1) love books and 2) learn English, will be airing its final episode this Friday. This show, along with Captain Kangaroo, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, 3,2, 1 Contact and Zoobilee Zoo, held a huge role in forming our interests, our aesthetic, our values and the way we learned. We simply, for better or worse, would be a different person had we not watched these shows during our preschool years.
Reading Rainbow premiered in 1983 and ran new episodes until 2006. The series' contract with PBS will expire this week, so all affiliated stations will no longer be able to run episodes of the show. Which is a shame, because it can teach so much.
We vividly remember sitting in our "cuarto oscuro" (Our TV room didn't get much light), clutching a Cabbage Patch doll or Pound Puppy while "big kids" with funny haircuts reviewed their favorite books and declared them great, but sagely advised us not to take their word for it. We'd run to our mom and ask if she could please add A Snowy Day to the list of books we'd check out on our weekly library trips.
In the spirit of remembering this show, here is a list of four Latin culture-influenced children's books we've read and loved. But you don't ha- Hm. You know the drill:
Kathryn Hitte
R.I.P. Reading Rainbow: Here Are 4 Latino Children's Books We'd Have Wanted To See On The Show
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Reading Rainbow, one of the shows that first taught us to 1) love books and 2) learn English, will be airing its final episode this Friday. This show, along with Captain Kangaroo, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, 3,2, 1 Contact and Zoobilee Zoo, held a huge role in forming our interests, our aesthetic, our values and the way we learned. We simply, for better or worse, would be a different person had we not watched these shows during our preschool years.
Reading Rainbow premiered in 1983 and ran new episodes until 2006. The series' contract with PBS will expire this week, so all affiliated stations will no longer be able to run episodes of the show. Which is a shame, because it can teach so much.
We vividly remember sitting in our "cuarto oscuro" (Our TV room didn't get much light), clutching a Cabbage Patch doll or Pound Puppy while "big kids" with funny haircuts reviewed their favorite books and declared them great, but sagely advised us not to take their word for it. We'd run to our mom and ask if she could please add A Snowy Day to the list of books we'd check out on our weekly library trips.
In the spirit of remembering this show, here is a list of four Latin culture-influenced children's books we've read and loved. But you don't ha- Hm. You know the drill:
Siempre Te Querré / Love You Forever
Robert N. Munsch
Para siempre te amaré, Para siempre te querré, Mientras en mi haya vida, Siempre seras mi bebé.We have cried over the book's ending at least 3,462 times. Oh. Make that 3,463. With it's pretty illustrations and use of repetition, this is an ideal book to read to a teeny little person who will "always your baby be."
Arroz Con Leche
Lulu Delacre
This beautifully illustrated book contained songs and rhymes from all over the Spanish-speaking world, including translations into English and its country of origin, making it an ideal introduction (or nostalgic journey back to) Latin culture for Latinos and non-Latinos alike.
Here's an example:
Mexicali Soup
Kathryn Hitte
Mmmm-mmm, Mexicali Soup!" Maria said. Then she looked thoughtful. Then she frowned. "But - Mama?" "Yes, Maria?" "Mama, there is such a lot of potatoes in your Mexicali Soup." "Of course," Mama said, smiling. "Marjorie doesn't eat potatoes. Her mother doesn't eat them. Her sister doesn't eat them. Potatoes are too fattening, Mama. They are too fattening for many people in the city. I think we should do what others do here. We are no longer in the mountains of the West, Mama, where everyone eats potatoes. We are in the city now. So would you--Mama, would you please leave out the potatoes?"Oh Maria. Someday you'll grow up, go away to college and you'll find yourself thinking how absolutely perfect your mother's sopa de lentejas Mexicali soup was. And then you'll be sorry you even mentioned those potatoes.
Rana Ranita
Hilda Perera
Reading Rainbow Soon To Be TV History [Cincinnati.com]
What do you think?
- LOL
- CHISPAS
- AY DIOS MIO
- QUE CUTE
- NERDO
- NACO
- CURSI
- QUE COOL
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Comments
I remember all of these books! I think I even ordered "Arroz Con Leche" through that little catalog from Scholastic that we'd get at school. It came with a cassette tape so you could sing along. This has nothing to do with Latino culture, but I wonder if Reading Rainbow ever featured "In a Dark, Dark, Room," the one that had a story about a lady who wore a green ribbon around her neck so that her head wouldn't roll off. Yup, that's what I was reading in first grade.
ReplyI had forgotten all about that catalogue! I really looked forward to getting those. And "In a Dark, Dark Room" made the 90s very difficult for me, since everyone and their mother wore chokers and I'd have to be reminded of that story.
ReplyDang, "Siempre te Querre" such a legit book. I also remember those scholastic book fairs at school, with their erasers, pencils and variety of ridiculous bookmarks. And then there were those book packs you could order where you would pay for a science kit or something but it only really came with one of those erasers you'd win at Shakey's.
ReplyOh and does anyone recall those choose your own ending Goosebumps?!
Replybest. post. ever. LeVar Burton was like my third parent.
ReplyI loved those!!!!!! (Even though, 9 times out of 10, my character ended up dying at a haunted carnival or somesuch.)
ReplyAwww goodbye Reading Rainbow. I don't remember if it was featured or not but One Foot then the Other by Tomie dePaola made me bawl in the third grade. Was Levar Burton the host all the way through?
Replyi also don't know if hers were featured or not, but i love carmen lomas garza's children's books. in our family, each new kid was introduced to them by my mama texican. calitexicans represent. i love CLG.
Replyoh tomie depaola! i remember seeing his books and being very touched by them. i also remember one of them being reviewed on reading rainbow. but don't take my word for it... god, that was such a good show.
ReplyWait, you didn't look ahead?! I know I cheated my ass off on those to choose the most appealing death. Oh and what about "Are you afraid of the dark?" I know that I'm touching on Nickelodeon territory but I think there was a Brown kid in there somewhere.
ReplyI also love CLG!! Her stories are so rich and delicious - just like the artwork. Several years ago, I was able to track down 3 of her prints in Austin. Turns out, it was Carmen's sister selling what was left of that stock! I hung them in my living room and admire them every day.
ReplyAnything by Robert Munsch is going to be fantastic. He didn't do a lot in Latino culture but his books are fantastic. Two Latino inspired books I love are "Jalapeno Bagels" and "Too Many Tamales." I also love Eve Bunting who wrote "A Day's Work" and "Josefina Finds the Prince" which are both Latino inspired. She also wrote "The Wednesday Surprise" which is used in classes for English Language Learners because of its inspiring message.
Replyhaha, jalapeno bagels... i read that book while this jalapeno was dating a bagel, and thought we might have some jalapeno bagel babies of our own one day. it was a really cute story of mixing cultures to make something new, as i'm sure all y'all can figure out from the title.
ReplyAw man... It sucked that I grew up in the Dixie south before the Latino population expanded...but I do remember reading la gallina roja and eres mi mama? Which was just translated
ReplyI loved this post.Que tierno.
ReplyMy sister and I definitely got "Arroz con Leche" from those scholastic book fairs! Fucking awesome post. I loved Reading Rainbow.
ReplyI am so sad that Reading Rainbow is going off the air. I still watch it every once in a while. My library card got worn out because of Levar. I LOVE Arroz con Leche, that was one of my favorite books. Dora.. I had the book In a Dark, Dark Room. that book is crazy!
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