Hispanic-American-Health Books

I love this book! It is written with the words both in English and Spanish. It is short, sweet and so comfortiing. It's also great for discussing diversity, even in one's own family. My daughter and I love to read this at bedtime.

I went to Barnes & Nobles and to my surprise, the children's section had a few Spanish/English books. I took home TOO MANY TAMALES, CHATO'S KITCHEN, TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA!, CARAMELO, and all of Sandra Cisnero's books. Finally, there are books that represent the diversity of Latino's in the United States... PELITOS and TOCA, CHAVI, TOCA! were my daughter's favorites. In both books you can hear, see, touch and smell the settings. One author is Cuban, the other Mexican and they both bring us into their culture in a beautiful way. Pelitos is lyrical beyond words. Sandra Cisneros is a poet. This treasure is a must!

Hairs- Pelitos, is a poetic short story about the various heads of hair in a family. Mama's is the most wonderful as it carries with it the odor of fresh baked bread, a smell the narrator associates with being close to mama. Difficult to capture in a short review, I recommend this book to those who appreciate poetry and lyricism within a short story for children. It is especially wonderful how appreciated the mother is in the story, and how cherished. My three year old finds it touching.

Hairs Pelitos by Sandra Cisernos is an excellent resource for early childhood educators and parents. It is a bilingual story that describes the differences between family members' hair. It offers children the experience of diversity within one's own family and how we can accept the differences within our own family. As a teacher, the concept of diversity can be extended from family to community and beyond. The language is beautiful and can be used to demonstrate to children how a writer uses descriptive language. The story captures an up-close look at one example of wonder..how simple things mean a lot. Children can pull from their own family rituals, similarities and differences to write their own story.

This is a picturesque and fun to read picture book. It depicts the hair diversity between each family member. I loved reading this dual language book in a very simple and enjoyable text.

I also enjoyed reading the sweet words and the very close relationship this girl has with her mother: "Mama's hair is the warm smell of bread before you bake,, it is the smell when she makes room for you on her side of the bed still warm with her skin". These beautiful and charming words create in the reader (at least on me) a very cozy, warm and delicious environment I can only enjoy when I am surrounded by my family and the people I love. Sandra Cisneros writes real works of art. She is an artist!

Without any doubt, this book is worth five stars. Even though this is a short book, I found myself very surprised when reading this creative picture book.

Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (11/08)

"The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy" is an amazing story of wonderment! As Al Rivera delves into his life and explains in such a matter of fact way for us, he didn't know. A small child who endures such vile treatment and has never experienced anything else but that treatment doesn't know what should be, thus living and making his own fun is a world that should not be. I know the following is a trivial comparison but to those of us who have not gone through the issues Al has, something similar will come to mind. My sister once told me her 2-year-old didn't like her McDonald's Happy Meal burger with mustard on it so she did the special order thing every time. Being a mom of four, quite honestly I didn't have but one response to that crap. How in the world would a toddler know there was even a choice other that what they were given. Life is way too short to make an issue each time you roll through the drive-thru.

A higher being was holding close the soul of Al Rivera as he was growing. He raised himself up into an honorable, successful man who learned many positive lessons from a life that began as something far from pleasant. Al's great outlook on life is something each of us should inhale. After each chapter you will be given the lesson Al highlights during the previous chapter. My favorite is: "Lesson 10 Sometimes bad experiences bring out the best in us. Whenever you get into a situation, either from an accident like I had or from some kind of illegal activity, always try to turn it into a positive experience that affects not only you but also others around you. In doing so, you might end up making one of the happiest memories of your life." I am in awe of the fact that he could make a lesson out of the events that happen and honestly come away from each negative situation with something positive.

I drew courage in my own life during my reading of "The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy" by Al Rivera and wish that no child would ever have to endure such treatment. As each reader closes the book and wipes their eyes dry, please pass the book on to continue this life-changing read.

It's important to show pride in one's work, and since Al Rivera insists that I be given credit as his ghostwriter, I want to take this opportunity to let readers know that his story is the genuine article! He told me these stories straight from his heart, and I was able to capture his honesty, joy, and candor on the pages of this book. Al Rivera was not the only boy who suffered from parental abuse and extreme poverty, but what makes his story unique was his daily determination to find food and shoeshine customers FUN. He didn't whine, cry, complain, or daydream. He cheerfully went about surviving in a real world. This book is a page-turner, and it will touch your heart, as it did mine. I have written it in easy English, so people of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels can read it, enjoy it, and learn from the life lessons it imparts.

You know, my Dad is the author of this book. I've heard these stories told since I was old enough to understand. But it wasn't until they were written down that they carried any weight. There is tenderness, and history, and a level of intimacy.

A friend gave me this book and I am so glad that he did. This book changed my life. I too grew up in a foster home and never knew what it felt like to belong. I always wondered what was the purpose of my screwed up life, but through his story Al showed me that it doesn't have to be screwed up- life can be great it's just a matter of perspective.

When I was reading his story it was like he was writing about me. Growing up poor and on welfare, having people you love die of drug overdoses or reject you. And I thought- he made it through. He got through it and so can I. The lessons at the end of each chapter really opened my eyes and I was like -wow, that makes sense.

I am giving this book to everyone I can think of because it had such a positive impact on me and I want to share that with everyone I meet. It really helped me put my own situation into perspective and gave me the push that I needed to move forward in my own life. Al if you ever read this I want to say thank you. I hope that one day I when I make it in my own life I will have the chance to meet you and shake your hand and tell you in person what a difference you sharing your story has made in my life.

I just finished this book and it is one of the best I have read in a long time. The things that this man experienced as a little child is just amazing. It's not full of fluff or tear- jerker moments; it's just real and raw. A great book and I highly recommend it.

As all women know, society has enveloped the idea that you must be anorexic to be beautiful in this world, but I think this book embraces the fact that we are all beautiful. Plus, gives wonderful and easy insights on how to bring our inner beauty to the outside! The introduction from Daisy Fuentes is a wonderful beginning of personal and endearing experiences. It also takes its time to describe every type of makeup that is out there and what is best for our skin. It explains different skin types and what would go better with different skin color. After reading this book I realized that more than half of the makeup that I have purchased over the years is wrong for my type of skin and tone! Thanks LATINA!

Attracted by the lovely cover model I picked "Latina Beauty" up at the bookstore. Just a quick glimpse through the pages and I a nonhispanic decided to splurge.

The book is a gem no matter what your ethnicity. Though geared to the Latina woman, the content is appropriate for every woman. Who doesn't want flawless skin, striking eyes and attitude! This book covers it all! You will learn everything from creating a sacred space to eating for optimum health.

I learned a lot from this book that is not covered in other beauty books. How to look for the glints of color in my eyes and using the color wheel, select an eyeshadow color that will pull out the shade I want to emphasize. How to create the illusion of plump, luscious lips without looking like a clown!

And the information in presented beautifully. Glossy pages and lovely pictures justify the price. It's oversized but not unweldy like many other beauty books.

Get this book and get gorgeous with attitude!

As a Latina, I take pride in my light/olive skin and I often find it difficult to find products that suit me. Latina Beauty has been quite helpful. It understands that Latin women come in various shades -- case in point: Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Christina Aguilerra, Penelope Cruz, etc. -- and how vital it is to make your skin look radiant and beautiful. It is a guide to wearing the appropriate make-up shades and following the correct beauty regime. I recommend this great book to Latin women everywhere!

This book gives you the basics for everything to hair care to makeup. It's very comprehensive and also enjoyable.

i bought this book because everywhere i looked there were beauty books and advice in magazines that didnt cater to my particular skintone (olive) not even bobbi browns book helped much.i loved this book from the start. it has beautiful pages and advice that one cannot find in the other beauty books out on the market. it encourages women to stay healthy and to have some sort of spirituality in their lives. what it didnt have was something like beauty when a woman is pregnant annd after childbirth;it didnt have anything like beauty throughout ones lifetime either. but maybe that canbe for a revised edition of latina beauty. it is too bad that this book went out of print. it is a one of a kind book that shows scrawny and pale shouldnt and isnt 'the perfect image'. all women of all colors and sizes are beautiful! i really loved this book and it helped me appreciate my culture and my skin coloring.it taught me a thing or two about taking care of my whole self-inside and out.

I was extremely impressed with the insight and effectiveness of the advice provided by this book. It was very practical and the book was surprisingly fun and easy to read. I highly reccomend this book.

This book described my sister exactly! I read it and finally understood what she has and what she has to do. I gave it to her and she is reading it...sure my family isn't going to get it but I'm going to help her through this. Thank you for writing this, God bless you!

A friend of mine bought me this book as a gift because she was worried about me and it has opened my eyes to what clinical depression really is ...in a clear and kind way, along with solutions and choices. Thank you Drs. Belisa and Jorge for writing this gem.

A wonderful integration of a medical/psychological and holistic/spiritual understanding of depression in Latinas. The last chapters provide excellent recommendations. The first ones explain depression in a clear and interesting manner. I have suggested it to two patients already.

This book really spoke to me and my situation!
As the first generation of my family to be born and educated in the US I have trouble talking to my parents about mental health and Drs. Lozano-Vranich and Petit understood where I'm coming from and offered realistic advice. They covered a lot of ground and explained how to navigate through a Latina background. I'd strongly recommend this.

Dr. Delgado succeeds in providing an excellent "total health" guide for Latinas. The book is easy to read (also available in Spanish), comprehensive in scope and full of useful resources that readers can refer to. I particular like the fact that your mother, grandmother or sister would find it appealing and useful. Dr. Delgado's culturally sensitive approach to the subject matter makes this an indispensable book for anyone concerned with Hispanic women's health of mind and body.

Culture, conservative upbringings and sheer modesty have all been obstacles to Latinas in addressing their health needs and those of their families. Dr. Delgado defines, clarifies and demystifies the challenges particular to the Latina body, mind and spirit. And she does it all, somehow, without clinical coldness, but with great heart, common sense and uncommon sensitivity. Salud! will pull you in like an intimate conversation with a caring friend. With this book, Dr. Delgado may have singlehandedly pushed Latinas toward being proactive about health for themselves and their loved ones. She has done a great thing for women everywhere.

Written by women, for women, this book is an important reference for people who care for and about Latina women's health. Dr. Delgado does a tremendous job of presenting the both sides of the latest health care options for women. Her extensive interviews with Latina women and health professionals present this information in a 'real world' format. The women's stories and experiences were for me, especially helpful. This book is a 'must buy'!

This book is a must for any person in the health care field who cares for Hispanic women. Latina's needs encompass not only the physical, but the sociocultural, emotional and spiritual. It is very important to understand the multifaceted lives of this segmented patient base. This book covers it all in an easy to read and informative manner.

El alma no desaparece con la ausencia del cuerpo. Las hermosas palabras de Soraya reverberan con la belleza que sólo su corazón es capaz de impregnarle a la vida. Este libro respira su luz, su necesidad de vivir al máximo y su deseo de que el resto del planeta lo hiciera. Su sinceridad es el hilo conductor de cada idea y es esta honestidad la que llega tan dentro a quien lo lee. ¡¡Simplemente, precioso:)!!

This is a tremendously inspiring book about Hispanic-American singer-songwriter Soraya, who lost her life to breast cancer at age 37, in 2006. It's an incredibly inspiring memoir that has broken records for Spanish-language books. It is now available to order in English, with 100 extra pages of memories, filled with pictures and stories told by friends, family and fellow musicians. Through this alternate story we learn things the humble Soraya would not have said: that in the final years of her life she became a world-class humanitarian, and that she was one heck of a musician. Enjoy. Soraya: A Life of Music, A Legacy of Hope

A veces nos quejamos de un simple malestar o porque el dia por una tonteria no nos haya salido bien, pero una vez uno lee este libro, aparte de que cuando empiezas a leerlo no lo puedes dejar, es una gran enseñanza de que las cosas pequeñas que nos enfrentamos cada día son bien insignificantes. Hay que tener mucha fe y valor para pasar por lo que pasó Soraya y a la misma vez continuar viendo la vida de la maner que ella lo hizo. Este libro me enseño a que hay que darle la importancia a las cosas que realmente la tienen y dejarnos de darle importancia a las tonterias que nos pasan dia a dia. Lo recomiendo 100%, si todos actuaramos de la manera que ella lo hizo, poniendo su ejemplo en las cosas que nos toca vivir todos los dias, creo que tendriamos un mundo mejor. Que pena que personas como ella, de tanta fe y tanta perseverancia, tengan que dejarnos, quizas porque de esta manera han cumplido su proposito en la vida y nosotros podamos seguir su ejemplo. Gracias mil por este legado de esperanza.

Pensado para las costumbres y peculiaridades de los latinos, pero ademas un libro que piensa en detalles muy necesarios que a veces a los padres no se les ocurre (especialmente a los primerizos como a mi esposo y a mi)muy bueno, facil de leer y consultar, respondio a muchas de mis tantas preguntas.

Es un excelente libro que ha dado respuesta a muchas de mis inquietudes y cada ves que necesito saber de algo corro y busco en el indice y preciso que encuentro la razon a mis dolores lo he disfrutado mcuho.

Gracias

My wife is an avid reader and a loving mother, this was the perfect gift for such a person, demistifies and educates, this is a wonderful gift, we actually bought 2 of them as gifts for pregnant friends.
GUIA PERFECTA PARA LA MUJER EMBARAZADA, NO DUDES EN COMPRARLO, NOSOTROS COMPRAMOS 2 EXTRAS PARA REGALAR. FELICIDADES!

The Latino Patient: A Cultural Guide for Health Care Providers by Nilda Chong was an excellent introduction to the principles of understanding and communicating with the Latino patient in the U.S. The author had a difficult task, but I feel that she succeeded especially well in acknowledging the diversity of the Latino population while still focusing primarily on the similarities that are of practical importance to the well-intentioned but inexperienced health care provider. While the book does contain a good amount of Latino-specific information, I estimate that 2/3 of its content would be equally applicable to quality care for any type of patient. This could be disappointing to the more experienced provider, but to a young person such as myself, I found the basic review of respectful patient care to actually be useful.

The book is well organized, with five chapters of background information followed by five more chapters that chronologically outline the patient visit.

Overall, the author does an excellent job of achieving her intentions of raising awareness and creating a guide for culturally competent care of the Latino patient.

Exellent, comprehensive approach to better understand Latinos in the USA.

This is a much needed resource that is finally available. The strength of this book is the focus on health care practice, and the vignettes illustrating Latino cultural values in the clinical setting. The first part provides valuable insight into the familistic Latino culture. The second part is a gem, translating this information into practical vignettes in realistic situations. It will be an invaluable tool in my practice.

"A hero doesnot have to win. A hero doesnot have to be larger than life. A hero can be an ordinary person who overcomes extraordinary events with dignity and grace".-Soraya. This is the introduction Soraya offers to her book. This is a book worth reading by everybody as it offers much needed advice from how to enjoy life to how to prepare for our own mortality. After Soraya's passing to breast cancer complications I have become proactive in breast cancer prevention and awareness. I hope others can recieve inspiration by reading this book.

I have always admired Soraya for her incredible songwriting ability and her book just inspired me more. Her down to earth writing is an inspiration to all humans fighting breast cancer or just trying to deal with this life that can give us so many good and bad things all at once. I recommend this book to everyone!

I am a huge fan of Sorayas music. This book is very inspirational for all, especially for those batteling cancer.

Thanks for my book, I got it in no time...Im really happy with the service

Drs. Santiago-Rivera, Arredondo, and Gallardo-Cooper have produced a very handy guide to working with Latinos. These well-respected Latina psychologists focus their chapters on practical guidelines useful for any clinician or student in training. The book covers issues with Latinos in both broad and specific ways, including ethnicity-specific information on Latino subgroups where relevant, but also providing general information helpful with Latino clients of any background. Chapters focus on multicultural competencies, historical contexts relevant to understanding Latino families, and various counseling interventions. Appendices are offered at the end of the book, including a list of acculturation measures useful with Latinos, a glossary of terms, a culture-centered clinical interview, and bibliotherapy resources. The clinical interview provided is particularly useful for anyone looking for a culturally sensitive tool to use in clinical practice. This book is clearly written and well-organized, so that one may read through it from cover to cover or focus on those chapters most relevant to their work. I highly recommend this book to both novice and seasoned clinicians alike! It is also a great teaching tool.