Support near & far

No one will say a library is a bad idea. In fact, not 1 person would disagree with the effort to reopen the Fair Oaks Library. Here are 2 published articles, local & national, in our support; Stockton's local newspaper The Record and ELLA Institute's Latinas Think Big. The latter is a national platform "showcasing Latina innovation and ambition". Let's continue this momentum and ask our Stockton government to take the Fair Oaks Library off of the surplus list!

Book by book building your personal library

I know all too well the bilingual section at popular book stores, i.e. Barnes & Noble, is extremely small not to mention pricey. Please take a look below at a good list of Children & Teen Latino books under $10, in paperback and available now! These will encourage your young ones to start reading about characters & places they can relate to.

Where the Flame Trees Bloom by Alma Florada

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau

Brujas, Lechuzas y Esparitos by Alonso M Perales

Ice Dove and other stories by Diane De Anda

Benito Runs by Justine Fontes

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Winner Takes All by Jenna Santana

The Maldonado Miracle by Theodore Taylor

Cruzando de Pacifico by Gary Soto

Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Saldana Jr

Nerlandia by Gary Soto

Esparanda Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Long Shot by Mike Lupica

Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio by Tony Johnson

Abuelita’s Heart by Amy Cordova

These affordable books can be purchased online bookstores such as http://www.valorebooks.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/. 

Take a peek....

I was so excited to have a look inside the Fair Oaks Library building! My worst thoughts were all put to rest when I walked in and looked at the awesome condition this 9,900 sq ft building is still in. It seems to be quietly waiting for the day it can reopen its doors to families again.

Of Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library

After asking many questions among my family and friends, I was introduced to another person here in Stockton who also shares the idea of a bilingual library. Richard Soto, not only has an extraordinary collection of Latino Chicano historical books, but also valuable artifacts, music and movies. His long time vision is shared through his website - Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library

It is a wonderful learning experience working with Mr Soto. He explains the library name "Biblioteca San Joaquin Murrieta Library" is a play with words combining our County name "San Joaquin" and the historical figure "Joaquin Murrieta".

With his help, not only can we begin to build a bilingual library, we can also share our Latino history through art and music in a museum-like atmosphere.

I am grateful he has agreed to being a partner in reviving the Fair Oaks Library!

Abuelita Storytime

One of the ideas to incorporate into a bilingual library has to be Storytime! And who better to tell stories than a loving Abuelita? I get excited thinking how we can encourage the community to come together in this way. 

These past two weeks have been spent writing down an action plan, forming a business plan & gathering support. Step by step, a bilingual library & technology resource center will happen! 

Do you dream in Spanish?

When my mother told me she sometimes dreams in Spanish, I was jealous! Why I have never dreamt in Spanish?! I was reminded of her when I came across “Trilingual poems” video by ¡Colorín Colorado! with Francisco Alarcón, bilingual poet and author.

Youtube Video by ¡Colorín Colorado! For more information: http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Francisco Alarcón explains when writing "Snake Eyes", a unique collection of trilingual (Spanish, English, Nahuatl) poems, he found using these different languages allowed for better representation and expression.

How wonderful to go back and forth with various languages; in a dream or in thought!

"We want more! We want more!" Languages!

Thanks to ¡Colorín colorado! for the video, “Two Languages at a Time”. It has wonderful examples of how Ms. Gonsalves 2nd grade teacher at Webster Elementary, Long Beach, California, 'gives equal time to both her native English and native Spanish speakers.'

Youtube Video by ¡Colorín Colorado! For more information go to: http://www.colorincolorado.org/

Perfect example of how bilingualism is possible and should be encouraged at a young age. I love the example of helping a young girl understand the word dinosaur. Why not have the resources to help continue this learning outside of the classroom? This is the vision of Revive Fair Oaks Library!