Side by Side/Lado a Lado The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez: La Historia de Dolores Huerta Y Cesar Chavez (Bilingual Spanish/English)

This bilingual picture book tells the story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, who organized migrant workers in the 1960s. Brown begins by sketching their upbringings: Huerta, an activist from the start, "raise money for soldiers fighting in World War II," while Chavez and his family were forced to become migrants themselves. Meeting later, they joined forces to fight for better working conditions--the first of many successes during decades of activism. Cepeda's highly textural paintings--using oils, acrylics, and collage--never put the duo on a pedestal, and instead emphasize the power and impact of ordinary but dedicated citizens. Ages 48. (Sept.) Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Gr 2-5--How many children knew that behind the 1960s National Grape Boycott was a woman named Dolores Huerta, alongside famous activist Cesar Chavez? Not only did Huerta coin the United Farm Workers' mantra, "Si, se puede! Yes, we can!" but she also worked tirelessly with Chavez to create change for countless migrant farmworkers. Brown describes the widely different upbringings for Huerta and Chavez. As soon as they met, however, it was evident that together they were an unstoppable force. For 30 years, their momentum carried them through many important triumphs in the fight for social justice. The English and Spanish texts on each page are complemented by Cepeda's expressive, painterly illustrations done in a saturated color palette. While the vocabulary, pictures, and length of the story lend themselves to reading aloud to younger audiences, the subject matter is suited to older audiences as well. This piece of literature is a great way to introduce young people to topics such as civil rights, Cesar Chavez Day, immigration, and, of course, International Women's Day, to celebrate the life and achievements of a community activist and feminist who continues to play an active role within the Latino communities. A must-purchase for schools and libraries.--Shannon Dye, Peoria Public Library, AZ

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Offers an important perspective on family displacement. The illustrations by Jose Cepeda welcome readers into the story."—Latinx in Kid Lit