Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States

A project of the Smithsonian Latino Center, this collection, also released in a Spanish edition, features 30 biographies of men and women who have made their mark in entertainment, sports, education, politics, advocacy, music, science, and social justice. Skillfully rendered short portraits introduce readers to influential figures such as Pura Belpré, the first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Public Library, who wrote children’s books retelling Puerto Rican folktales after seeing a need for wider cultural representation. Familiar figures such as labor leader Dolores Huerta and baseball player Roberto Clemente appear alongside lesser-known subjects such as military pilot Olga Custodio and climate activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. Highlighted by Gloria Félix’s lush, realistic art, the book’s message, “Latino history is American history,” rings out on every page. Ages 8–12. [em](Sept.) [/em]