Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for writing up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
HISPANICS BELONG HERE: New Children’s Book Honors Hispanic Hero from the American Revolution and Teaches Big Lessons to Small Kids
In ‘Get to Know Bernardo de Gálvez,’ celebrated Spanish radio personality and author, Guillermo Fesser, tackles multicultural issues with charm and offers insight into obscure historical facts
If you follow my blog, then you know that I homeschool my girls. And, now that they are getting older and in second/third grade I am now incorporating my history into their learning. My girls are part Salvadorian as my husband was born and grew up in El Salvador. So, in addition to teaching them Spanish, I am also teaching them about Spanish culture, traditions and heroes. If you have tried to teach about Hispanic heroes to your children, then you have probably found it hard to find books just for them in English. I spent the past few months looking for books to include in this month's lesson plan I created, and had a hard time. I was so happy when I was sent an email sharing news about Get to Know Bernardo de Galvez by Guillermo Fesser. I was so excited to see this book and that it was in English, but also because I was familiar with Bernardo de Gálvez after doing research on Hispanic heroes and seeing a post online at the Washington Post about it taking over 200 years to get his portrait displayed in the Capitol...230 years to be exact.
We received a review copy of this book the other day and I couldn't wait to share it with the girls. At first, they were like "There are too many words on the pages". But, then as I started to read about Bernardo de Gálvez, they were intrigued and wanted to see what happened next and learn all about him. Both of my girls, like myself were surprised that this Hispanic hero was not being talked about more in history. I don't ever recall hearing about him back in school and in college where I studied Spanish and took history classes. Thanks to this book, and being able to homeschool my girls and teach things they would otherwise not learn in public schools, my girls and I now know about Bernardo de Galvez and all that he did to help with the American Revolution and what an asset he was to George Washington.
If you are celebrating/observing Hispanic Heritage month this month and want to share a wonderfully written story with your children about an unsung Hispanic hero, then you will definitely want to pick up a copy of Get to Know Bernardo de Galvez by Guillermo Fesser. Yes, there are a lot of words on each page. But, once you begin and start learning about Bernardo de Gálvez and all that he did to help America, you will find yourself lost in the pages and eager to turn the page and hear more about him.
We have only had this book for about a week, but have already read it a handful of times. And, whenever we are out and about for school classes with the girls, I am always hearing them tell their teachers and classmates about Galvez and what they learned about him from reading this new children's book. This is one book we will be enjoying for years to come, and will be letting friends and family borrow so that they too can learn about Bernardo de Gálvez.
More about this book:
"Did you know George Washington turned to a Hispanic governor for help in defeating the British during the American Revolution? Bernardo de Gálvez, the Hispanic governor of Louisiana at the time, prevented the British from attacking Americans from the South and sent medicine, weapons, uniforms, and other goods to Continental Army troops on the Mississippi River. In a nod toward Hispanic Heritage Month and the new school year, Spanish journalist, radio host, and author, Guillermo Fesser, has penned GET TO KNOW BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ (Santillana USA – Loqueleo; $13.93) to honor the little known hero and shine a spotlight on the influence Hispanics have had on American culture.
“Hispanics have made significant contributions to the formation of the United States and we belong here,” said Fesser. “I want children from all cultures to go to school and hold their heads high. It’s particularly important given the world today that young people know we all make up America and we are all worthy of respect.”
Whimsically illustrated by Alejando Villén, GET TO KNOW BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ, follows a spunky woman activist on her quest to have Congress honor its 230-year old promise to hang a portrait of Gálvez in the Capitol. As the story progresses, readers learn that:
- The first American cowboys were called vaqueros, which is where the term ’buckaroos’ comes from and why Spanish words like lasso, corral, and rodeo, are still used today
- Louisiana was mostly Spanish before it was reacquired by France (much architecture of the French Quarter is Spanish)
- Hispanic citizens (from Málaga) sent money to George Washington to help fund the Battle of Yorktown
- Galveston, Texas, is named after Gálvez
- Former President Barack Obama granted Gálvez Honorary U.S. citizenship (2014)
The 32-page book is intended for children ages 7 through 10. It’s published in English and separately in Spanish. Fesser is working on getting the book into American classrooms and is developing a digital platform so that teachers may foster discussions with interactive tools."
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About the Author:
Guillermo Fesser is a Spanish journalist from Madrid known throughout Spain for his innovative morning radio talk show, Gomaespuma, which ran 25 years and had over 1 million listeners. He is the author of several titles: RUEDAS Y EL ENIGMA DEL CAMPAMENTO MT, GET TO KNOW BERNARDO DE GÁLVEZ (available in English and Spanish), and ONE HUNDRED MILES FROM MANHATTAN (available in English and Spanish). He has also written and directed films; edited and hosted television news programs; and published articles in the major Spanish newspapers El Pais and El Mundo. Fesser lives with his family in Rhinebeck, New York, where he is a TV correspondent for El Intermedio in Spain, broadcasts weekly stories on life in small-town America to Onda Cero Radio in Spain and blogs for The Huffington Post.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for writing up an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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