Elevating Latino Stories
Each Rising Voices Library shines a spotlight on those whose contributions and potential are often overlooked.
We can change the scope of education across the country by committing to the following goals:
Positive Representation We will elevate school communities with engaging, authentic books that are representative of the multifaceted identities of our students.
Culturally Responsive Instruction We will equip teachers with the tools to implement robust literacy instruction and the supports to increase their cultural competency.
Unifying Students We will guide the development of students’ social-emotional learning, so they can learn empathy and understanding while broadening their world.
ENHANCE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC LEARNING In partnership with ALAS, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Scholastic has created Rising Voices: Elevating Latino Stories. Featuring a mix of authentic fiction and nonfiction texts, this library celebrates the accomplishments and potential of some of the most historically underrepresented voices in children’s literature: people of the Latin diaspora. Rising Voices: Elevating Latino Stories showcases positive images of diverse Latino protagonists across a variety of backgrounds, supported by instructional materials and digital resources that help teachers build literacy skills and social-emotional awareness with each story.
LIBRARY COMPONENTS
Each grade-level library includes:
Each Rising Voices Library provides students with high-interest, culturally relevant texts that give context to today’s world while celebrating the stories of the historically underrepresented. These books, paired with innovative teaching materials aligned to the CASEL framework, build a classroom community that broadens the perspectives of students from all backgrounds and enables deep discussions about inclusivity, respect, and empathy for others.
50 books (25 titles including 5 anchor texts, 2 copies each)
Teaching Cards (1 per anchor text)
Teacher’s Guide
Access companion resources online
Storage bins
Labeling stickers
Digital resources include:
Lessons at a Glance
Reading Log Form
Family Letter in both English and Spanish
Videos and articles for continued learning
Discussion prompts to initiate important conversations and to model excellent writing C omprehension graphic organizers, theme charts, and standards correlation charts organized by theme and anchor text
Yes, I am the first Latino poet laureate in the United States. But I’m also here for everyone and from everyone. My voice is made by everyone’s voices.
—Juan Felipe Herrera 21st U.S. Poet Laureate (2015-2017), Educator, Author, and Activist
Authentic Culturally Relevant Texts
The books selected for this library expose learners to rich language that motivates them, captures their interest, and builds the historical, social, and linguistic knowledge they need to better understand their world.
Elevating Latino Stories Elevating
Teacher’s Guide
The Teacher’s Guide gives educators the tools to implement whole-class read-alouds, book clubs, and independent reading with the texts in this library. Prompts for conferring and connecting with students and families are included to increase engagement.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
GRADES K–2
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GRADE 3
Digging for Words written by Angela Burke Kunkel; illustrated by Paola Escobar
Teaching Cards
AT A GLANCE José Alberto Gutiérrez, the so-called “Lord of the Books,” gained worldwide recognition for creating a library in his home in an underserved barrio of Bogotá, Colombia. A resourceful garbage collector and lifelong bibliophile, José began with one book and soon was “rescuing” stacks of thrown-away books every night as he made his rounds through wealthier neighborhoods. He found all sorts of books, offering the children of La Nueva Gloria adventures in both imagination and information as they discovered new areas of language and knowledge. Genre/Text Type: Biographical Fiction/ Picture Book Strategy Focus: Self- Management Social-Emotional Focus: Compare and Contrast INTRODUCE THE BOOK Display the front cover to the students. Explain that this story is about two people named José—one who is real and one who is fictional. Guide them to notice the stacks of books surrounding the two characters, as well as the other images floating above them. Ask: Where do you think these images come from? What do you think the title Digging for Words might mean? Let’s read to find out! DURING READING As you read the book, pause to discuss the questions below. Encourage students to turn and talk with partners or share their thinking with the whole group. pp. 2–5 Little José dreams of a place he thinks of as Paradise and realizes it is almost Saturday. Why do you think he is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Saturday? (make predictions) pp. 6–13 This second José lives in the same neighborhood, or barrio. In what ways is he different from the first José? How did “el primer libro,” the first book, spark José’s love of books? (compare and contrast, make inferences) pp. 14–17 Señor José takes his “precious cargo” home with him. How does he feel about books? How do you know? What does the author mean when she says that he “revisits Macondo”? (picture clues, make inferences) pp. 18–25 At first, little José hesitates to dig among the “rescued” books, but Señor José comes to help. What do you find out that the two Josés have in common? How does the place they read about compare with the familiar streets and hills of their barrio? (analyze plot, compare and contrast) pp. 26–31 Little José chooses a book and reads it that evening. How does he feel
Each grade-level library includes five Teaching Cards that offer culturally responsive, in-depth options for exploring each anchor text as an interactive read-aloud, building vocabulary, practicing high-utility reading strategies, and extending literacy through writing, discussion, and other creative activities.
Rising Voices Theme Heroes and Role Models Note to the Teacher • Read-Aloud Tip Throughout the book, there are detailed illustrations of specific settings in Bogotá and scenes evoked from stories. As you read, be sure to pause and point out these details. • Language Support The author uses vivid verbs to convey the excitement and joy of reading a book. Help children understand that to “devour” a cuento , or story, as José did means to read quickly and eagerly. • Background Señor José’s library is just one of many unique libraries in the world. In Colombia, Biblioburro brings books on the back of a donkey, and there are camel libraries in Kenya. In Beijing, you can rent a book from a vending machine. There is a man in the Philippines who brings books by bicycle, and there is a boat library that floats along the coast of Norway. Vocabulary Paradise (p. 4) an ideal place wealthier (p. 9) having more money; richer rumble (p. 14) a deep humming sound hesitant (p. 22) cautious devour (p. 27) to eat or take in quickly and hungrily
when he wakes up the next morning? How do you know? How does this help you understand why Señor José’s work is so important to the barrio? (point of view, author’s purpose) The author’s note provides more information about the real José Alberto Gutiérrez. How does the author’s note help you better understand the kind of person José Alberto Gutiérrez is? Have you ever known a person like him? How has Señor José’s story affected the way you think about books? (make connections)
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MEET Our Latino Stories MENTORs
Dr. Maria Armstrong Dr. Maria Armstrong has spent her 25-year educational career focused on the role of Latino social networks, leadership, and educational policy. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS).
Sulma Arzu-Brown Sulma Arzu-Brown is a proud Garifuna, Afro-Latina, award-winning author, and lifelong champion for Diversity & Inclusion. Sulma utilizes her platform to honor the global Black and Afro-Latin diaspora, showcase the infinite possibilities for girls and boys of color, and help end hair discrimination nationwide in schools and corporations.
John Leguizamo John Leguizamo is a multifaceted creator with an established career that defies categorization—he has garnered numerous professional accolades, including an Emmy Award, a Special Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award as well as nominations for Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
Developed in partnership with
For more information, call us at (800) 387-1437 or visit scholastic.com/risingvoices
Item# 750614 4771-12 9/22
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