César: ¡Sí, se puede!/Yes, We Can!

By staff -- Críticas, 6/15/2006

Gr 2-6–In this inspirational must-read for all children, the author pays homage to the activist. A Pura Belpre Honor book, this collection of poems takes readers into the life and times of César Chávez, the disenfranchised farm worker who became the leader of one of the largest workers movement. This poetic prose sprinkled with direct quotes captures the man’s voice as he turns his personal hardships–poverty, discrimination, substandard housing, underemployment and lack of educational opportunities–into a grassroots crusade he called La Causa. Diaz’s delicate, folk-art illustrations depict the daily life of the workers who eventually became part of the United Farm Workers union. The book includes a glossary of Spanish terms, a brief biographical essay, a life chronology, bibliographic sources, and a list of quotes by Chávez. Highly recommended for all grade schools and public libraries.—Gisela Norat, Agnes Scott Coll., Decatur, GA