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
Can students relate themselves to this book?

Yes

No

X
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

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?

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

N/A

X
X

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

Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

X
X

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
Can students relate themselves to this book?

Yes

X
X
X
X
X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

X
Hispanic

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-Family dynamic
-Gender rolls

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

N/A

Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

Does it promote a positive self-image for students?

No

X
X
X
X

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

Do the characters have a variety of ethnicities?

X
X

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
Can students relate themselves to this book?
Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

Yes

X
X
X

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male

Illustrations: Are the various races portrayed positively?

-Name the various races

X
Hispanic

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

-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

No

N/A

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?

X
X

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
Can students relate themselves to this book?

Yes

N/A

X
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

Does it use intrusive language?

Are there stereotypes among family relationships?

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

No

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?

X
X

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
be used for much more than just a shawl. With a
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
Can students relate themselves to this book?
Is the author qualified to write this book?

Illustrator

can
little

Yes

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
Hispanic

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

Are the illustrations free from gender stereotypes?

-Female
-Male
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
Can students relate themselves to this book?

Yes

No

X
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@

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?

Does it show tokenism (all look alike except for one

N/A

X
X

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?