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Nuestra América: 30 latinas/latinos inspiradores que han forjado la historia de Los Estados Unidos
Celebrate 30 influential Latinas/Latinos/Latinxs in U.S. history with Nuestra América, a fully-illustrated anthology from the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Nuestra América highlights the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs throughout history and their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States.
The stories in this book cover each figure's cultural background, childhood, and the challenges and opportunities they met in pursuit of their goals. A glossary of terms and discussion question-filled reading guide, created by the Smithsonian Latino Center, encourage further research and exploration. Twenty-three of the stories featured in this anthology will also be included in the future Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first national gallery dedicated to Latina/o/xs at the Smithsonian.
This book is a must-have for teachers looking to create a more inclusive curriculum, Latina/o/x youth who need to see themselves represented as an important part of the American story, and all parents who want their kids to have a better understanding of American history. Featuring beautiful portraits by Gloria Félix, this is a book that children (and adults) will page through and learn from again and again.
Nuestra América profiles the following notable figures:
Sylvia Acevedo, Luis Álvarez, Pura Belpré, Martha E. Bernal, Julia de Burgos, César Chávez, Sandra Cisneros, Roberto Clemente, Celia Cruz, Olga E. Custodio, Óscar de la Renta, Jaime Escalante, Macario García, Emma González, Laurie Hernández, Juan Felipe Herrera, Dolores Huerta, Jennifer Lopez, Xiuhtezcatl Martínez, Sylvia Méndez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, C. David Molina, Rita Moreno, Ellen Ochoa, Jorge Ramos, Sylvia Rivera, María Elena Salinas, Sonia Sotomayor, Dara Torres, and Robert Unanue.
Nuestra América highlights the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs throughout history and their incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States.
The stories in this book cover each figure's cultural background, childhood, and the challenges and opportunities they met in pursuit of their goals. A glossary of terms and discussion question-filled reading guide, created by the Smithsonian Latino Center, encourage further research and exploration. Twenty-three of the stories featured in this anthology will also be included in the future Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first national gallery dedicated to Latina/o/xs at the Smithsonian.
This book is a must-have for teachers looking to create a more inclusive curriculum, Latina/o/x youth who need to see themselves represented as an important part of the American story, and all parents who want their kids to have a better understanding of American history. Featuring beautiful portraits by Gloria Félix, this is a book that children (and adults) will page through and learn from again and again.
Nuestra América profiles the following notable figures:
Sylvia Acevedo, Luis Álvarez, Pura Belpré, Martha E. Bernal, Julia de Burgos, César Chávez, Sandra Cisneros, Roberto Clemente, Celia Cruz, Olga E. Custodio, Óscar de la Renta, Jaime Escalante, Macario García, Emma González, Laurie Hernández, Juan Felipe Herrera, Dolores Huerta, Jennifer Lopez, Xiuhtezcatl Martínez, Sylvia Méndez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, C. David Molina, Rita Moreno, Ellen Ochoa, Jorge Ramos, Sylvia Rivera, María Elena Salinas, Sonia Sotomayor, Dara Torres, and Robert Unanue.
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2020
10 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Sabrina Vourvoulias
30 books63 followersMy novel, Ink, was published by Crossed Genres in October of 2012. (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...)
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand -- the daughter of a Mexican-Guatemalan artist and an American businessman. I grew up in Guatemala, and moved to the United States when I was 15. I studied filmmaking and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., which -- it has to be said -- suited me for none (and every one) of the occupations I've plied since.
I've done stints as everything from art gallery assistant to the director of a historic opera house, but eventually found my way, permanently, to newspapers. I've been staff writer, production coordinator, editor and managing editor at a string of local weekly newspapers in New York and Pennsylvania; I briefly edited a monthly magazine as well. I'm currently the managing editor at Philadelphia's largest Spanish-language newspaper, Al Día news.I'm something of a social media enthusiast, at both work and play, and habitually haunt the Latinos in Social Media twitter party (#latism) and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Chat (#sffwrtcht).
In addition to news, I write speculative fiction and poetry. My poetry has appeared in Dappled Things, Graham House Review, We'Moon, La Bloga's Floricanto online and Scheherezade's Bequest at Cabinet des Fees. My fiction has appeared at Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Crossed Genres #24 and in the Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History; The Many Tortures of Anthony Cardno; Menial: Skilled Labor in Science Fiction; Fat Girl in a Strange Land and Crossed Genres Year Two anthologies and is slated to appear in an upcoming issue of GUD magazine and in the anthology Latino/a Rising.
Though my favorite place in the world is a small log cabin in the Central New York woods, I live in a charming, dilapidated old farmhouse about an hour outside of Philadelphia, with my husband (a diehard Minnesota Twins fan) and a brilliant and cantankerous teenage daughter who refuses to speak Spanish though her pronunciation is perfect.
I was born in Bangkok, Thailand -- the daughter of a Mexican-Guatemalan artist and an American businessman. I grew up in Guatemala, and moved to the United States when I was 15. I studied filmmaking and creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., which -- it has to be said -- suited me for none (and every one) of the occupations I've plied since.
I've done stints as everything from art gallery assistant to the director of a historic opera house, but eventually found my way, permanently, to newspapers. I've been staff writer, production coordinator, editor and managing editor at a string of local weekly newspapers in New York and Pennsylvania; I briefly edited a monthly magazine as well. I'm currently the managing editor at Philadelphia's largest Spanish-language newspaper, Al Día news.I'm something of a social media enthusiast, at both work and play, and habitually haunt the Latinos in Social Media twitter party (#latism) and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Chat (#sffwrtcht).
In addition to news, I write speculative fiction and poetry. My poetry has appeared in Dappled Things, Graham House Review, We'Moon, La Bloga's Floricanto online and Scheherezade's Bequest at Cabinet des Fees. My fiction has appeared at Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Crossed Genres #24 and in the Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History; The Many Tortures of Anthony Cardno; Menial: Skilled Labor in Science Fiction; Fat Girl in a Strange Land and Crossed Genres Year Two anthologies and is slated to appear in an upcoming issue of GUD magazine and in the anthology Latino/a Rising.
Though my favorite place in the world is a small log cabin in the Central New York woods, I live in a charming, dilapidated old farmhouse about an hour outside of Philadelphia, with my husband (a diehard Minnesota Twins fan) and a brilliant and cantankerous teenage daughter who refuses to speak Spanish though her pronunciation is perfect.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 22, 2020
In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m super excited to share this wonderful book with you. I love these types of compilation books that feature people that kids can look up to and learn about history at the same time. There were so many people featured in this book that I didn’t know anything about, while others were at the forefront of my mind when I am thinking of influential Latino/Latinas.
An obvious Latina that came to my mind was Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice. She was born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents. Her grandmother inspired her to stand up for her beliefs and that determination spurred her on to the Supreme Court. She grew up with type 1 diabetes, learning early in life to manage her insulin. She pursued her dream of becoming an attorney, creating an extensive history of court cases. Her time as a federal judge and now a Supreme Court justice has left a paper trail of ground-breaking cases and decisions to her credit. Justice Sotomayor is also a children’s author and has appeared several times on Sesame Street.
Each bio features a full-page illustrated photo of the person with two to three pages of history and their current influence in America. Those featured include physicist Luis Walter Alvarez, baseball player Roberto Clemente, and educator Jaime Escalante whose past influence has left a legacy. Other living Latina/Latinos include Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez, actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, and astronaut Ellen Ochoa just to name a few. There are features from various careers and interests to offer inspiration to kids with all kinds of dreams.
This book is top-notch with heavy paper and bright, vivid colors reminiscent of the Latino culture. Every school should have a copy and is a must for teachers in elementary and middle schools, especially those that teach history or Latino culture. With thirty biographies, they could share one a day for a month. I’ll be sharing my copy with our Spanish teachers to use in the classroom.
The Smithsonian Institution’s Latino Center has supported ongoing research, education, and publications that interpret the Latino experience in the United States. They were thrilled to partner with Running Press in sharing these inspiring stories.
An obvious Latina that came to my mind was Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice. She was born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents. Her grandmother inspired her to stand up for her beliefs and that determination spurred her on to the Supreme Court. She grew up with type 1 diabetes, learning early in life to manage her insulin. She pursued her dream of becoming an attorney, creating an extensive history of court cases. Her time as a federal judge and now a Supreme Court justice has left a paper trail of ground-breaking cases and decisions to her credit. Justice Sotomayor is also a children’s author and has appeared several times on Sesame Street.
Each bio features a full-page illustrated photo of the person with two to three pages of history and their current influence in America. Those featured include physicist Luis Walter Alvarez, baseball player Roberto Clemente, and educator Jaime Escalante whose past influence has left a legacy. Other living Latina/Latinos include Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, civil rights activist Sylvia Mendez, actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, and astronaut Ellen Ochoa just to name a few. There are features from various careers and interests to offer inspiration to kids with all kinds of dreams.
This book is top-notch with heavy paper and bright, vivid colors reminiscent of the Latino culture. Every school should have a copy and is a must for teachers in elementary and middle schools, especially those that teach history or Latino culture. With thirty biographies, they could share one a day for a month. I’ll be sharing my copy with our Spanish teachers to use in the classroom.
The Smithsonian Institution’s Latino Center has supported ongoing research, education, and publications that interpret the Latino experience in the United States. They were thrilled to partner with Running Press in sharing these inspiring stories.
April 18, 2022
A collection of short introductions to a wide variety of Latine people. There were familiar names and others less so, people still living and others farther back in our collective history. Each portrait was presented with a narrative description of the person's lives and contributions.
#ReadAcrossAmerica2022
#ReadAcrossAmerica2022
May 23, 2025
*I got an arc of this an embarrassingly long time ago*
Note: I am Latine (first gen Canadian on my paternal side) but I am not American & pretty disconnected (not by choice) from that culture. So definitely don't value my opinions more than my counterparts with lived experiences!
First off, I searched the book for the word "trans" and was pleased by the inclusion of Sylvia Rivera. I am however a bit disappointed that she appears to be the only queer person listed? While I understand that the book is limited by people who influenced the United States, I find it really unlikely that she is the only one worth mentioning. While I will admit that I am quite ignorant of famous Latine people (one of the reasons I got this book!), I did find this oversight to be a bit of a disappointment. The introduction mentions "LGBTQ advocacy" but this seems to be limited to Rivera and Lin Manuel Miranda (who is not queer to the best of my knowledge)
I'm writing this review as I go through the book, and I am impressed at the information that Sabrina Vourvoulias manages to fit in each small section! However I am a little uncomfortable with the tragic deaths that are included especially considering it is inconsistent and the deaths do not appear to be relevant to why the chosen people are famous?? I think maybe the short format just isn't the right medium to include this.
Sylvia Acevedo's work in both engineering & Girl Scouts was interesting to read about & I will have to look more into this!
However, I feel a bit uncomfortable with the inclusion of Luis Walter Alvarez given he apparently "was one of a number of scientists who were a part of the Manhattan Project"?? If the book was just about people who shaped the United States (positively and negatively) then I feel like this would be fair enough. But the fact that his work on atomic bombs was addressed for under two sentences feels a bit gross.
Pura Belpré seems like a super cool lady that I need to know more about-- I love librarians!
The discussion of Julia de Burgos's death seems a bit callous??
I'm grateful for the inclusion of Xiuhtezcatl Martínez since I feel like Latine culture (at least the parts I am in) are pretty trash about acknowledging the different privileges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (even if both are PoC).
Note: I am Latine (first gen Canadian on my paternal side) but I am not American & pretty disconnected (not by choice) from that culture. So definitely don't value my opinions more than my counterparts with lived experiences!
First off, I searched the book for the word "trans" and was pleased by the inclusion of Sylvia Rivera. I am however a bit disappointed that she appears to be the only queer person listed? While I understand that the book is limited by people who influenced the United States, I find it really unlikely that she is the only one worth mentioning. While I will admit that I am quite ignorant of famous Latine people (one of the reasons I got this book!), I did find this oversight to be a bit of a disappointment. The introduction mentions "LGBTQ advocacy" but this seems to be limited to Rivera and Lin Manuel Miranda (who is not queer to the best of my knowledge)
I'm writing this review as I go through the book, and I am impressed at the information that Sabrina Vourvoulias manages to fit in each small section! However I am a little uncomfortable with the tragic deaths that are included especially considering it is inconsistent and the deaths do not appear to be relevant to why the chosen people are famous?? I think maybe the short format just isn't the right medium to include this.
Sylvia Acevedo's work in both engineering & Girl Scouts was interesting to read about & I will have to look more into this!
However, I feel a bit uncomfortable with the inclusion of Luis Walter Alvarez given he apparently "was one of a number of scientists who were a part of the Manhattan Project"?? If the book was just about people who shaped the United States (positively and negatively) then I feel like this would be fair enough. But the fact that his work on atomic bombs was addressed for under two sentences feels a bit gross.
Pura Belpré seems like a super cool lady that I need to know more about-- I love librarians!
The discussion of Julia de Burgos's death seems a bit callous??
I'm grateful for the inclusion of Xiuhtezcatl Martínez since I feel like Latine culture (at least the parts I am in) are pretty trash about acknowledging the different privileges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (even if both are PoC).
September 19, 2021
This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
Hello, friends! Hispanic Heritage Month begins today, and to kick things off, we’re reviewing Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States, written by Sabrina Vourvoulias and illustrated by Gloria Félix.
This collection of mini-biographies, published in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute’s Latino Center, features thirty Americans of Latin descent – immigrants and native – who have made major accomplishments in the fields of art, entertainment, science, business, activism, the military, and more. Readers can learn about community leaders César Chávez and Emma González; entertainers like Jennifer Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Celia Cruz; athletes like Laurie Hernández and Roberto Clemente; scientists like Luis Walter Álvarez and Ellen Ochoa, and dozens more.
An awesome collection. This compendium of notable Latinx Americans features a wonderfully wide range of backgrounds and fields of achievement. Each mini-biography is about one to two pages long, and features a brief summary of its subject’s early life, accomplishments, legacy, and a featured quote from the luminary themselves. I was particularly pleased to see trans activist Sylvia Rivera, a figure who is often overlooked in both LGBTQ+ and Latinx history. The portraits by Félix are gorgeous, featuring each subject against bold colorful backgrounds; indeed, nearly every page features colors traditionally associated Hispanic heritage. It’s a fascinating and informative read for middle-graders of any background, and a lovely tribute to Hispanic-American heritage. JJ enjoyed the few biographies we read through together, and she loved the portraits. Overall, a fantastic book, and Baby Bookworm approved!
(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
December 5, 2025
Well curated, well organized, thoughtful. I did find the very minimal illustration choices to be a bit lackluster. There was plenty of blank space to include a bit more. It made what should have been a vibrant collection into mostly just text. One large image of each person may have been "fair" but it wasn't exciting. The illustrations could have been used to enhance the story and words. And this isn't a criticism of the illustrator, but of the design choice to style the entire book in this minimalist way.
January 19, 2021
This is a well-researched, contemporary anthology of 30 Latinas and Latinos from kids to adults. Learn about their trials, tribulations, and successes of these individuals involved in almost 20 different fields. 23 of these stories have additional resources in Smithsonian’s Latino Center divided into these subjects: Civil Rights & Activism, Entrepreneurs, Fashion & Popular Culture, Literacy & Literature, Sports, and Public Service. https://latino.si.edu/
October 14, 2020
This book would make a great addition to any classroom or home library. It introduces the reader to a diverse array of Latinx heroes who have shaped the United States in important and often under-appreciated ways. The short biographies in this book are detailed and interesting and always leave you wanting to know more about these amazing individuals.
September 10, 2021
I really loved this books. The only issue I have is adding Jennifer Lopez... She was made famous by portraying Selena. Selena should have been added to this book instead of her.
That is my only issue but everything else is great!
That is my only issue but everything else is great!
November 9, 2021
Quick blurbs, wide range of influences past and present--perfect for upper elementary/ middle school readers
September 1, 2024
Fun educational book that highlights stories also present at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino.
December 17, 2020
I ENJOYED THIS BOOK .
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews