Latino Literacy Now’s International
Latino Book Awards

Latino Literacy NowThe largest and most important Latino book awards in the USA, The 14th Annual International Latino Book Awards, were held June 5, 2012 at the Instituto Cervantes in New York City. During the evening 148 authors and publishers were honored for their hard work. The awards were sponsored this year by Premium sponsor Libros Publishing and Gold Sponsor Scholastic, and Bronze Sponsor Atria Books. Additional support comes from the University of Arizona Press and Arte Público Press. Each year the International Latino Book Awards are held during BookExpo America, the largest publishing trade show in the United States. The awards are truly an international event with authors and publishers from across the USA, 14 countries in Latin America, Spain and other countries.

Las Comadres para las Americas New York City Hostesses for the Awards Ceremony. These comadres were an incredible team who helped make the awards ceremony an event to remember. Mil gracias to all.

Julia Abrantes, Aurora Anaya-Cerda, Michele Carlo, Maria Ferrer, Marilyn Figueroa Clara Galvano, Carmen Genao Maria, Martha Genao, Marcela Hede, Nicole Ramos Beauchamp Eliana Reyes, Mirta Rinaldi, Maribel Trivino, and Tess Tobin.

 

The awards were presented by Latino Literacy Now in partnership with Las Comadres Para Las Americas and the Instituto Cervantes.

This year we had a great group of 55 judges including: Julia L. Abrantes, Ivelise Andino, Andrea Arroyo, Ruben Arvizu, Manuel Baca PhD, Maribeth Bandas, Nicole A. Ramos Beauchamp, Aurora Anaya Cerda, Roberto Chavez, Kathy A. Diaz, Tony Diaz, Daisy Dominguez, John Echeveste, Hector Ericksen, Miriam Fabiancic, Maria Ferrer, José Galvez, Arturo Garcia, Denice Garcia, Gloria Garcia, Ignacio Gomez, Wilma Gonzalez, Myriam Grajales-Hall, Reyna Grande, Marcela Hede, Dennis Hernández, Carol Solangy Jimenez, Virgie Kamhi, Abraham Larrondo, Mimi Lozano, Frida B. Marte, Jesus Menera, Ambassador Julian Nava PhD, Jess Nieto PhD, Alice Perez, Dora Przybylek, Steve Richer, Irene Romero, Sarah D. Amador Rusnak, Diana Sen, Herman Sillas, Andres Tobar, Luis Torres, John Valdez, Andy Valenzuela, Lorena Velástegui, and Magdalena Gonzalez Whisler. The awards were overseen by Kirk Whisler with major assistance from Nora de Hoyos Comstock PhD, Annie Perez, and Jim Sullivan.

Here are the winners

After the publisher in each listing is the country of origin for the author

A CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Best Educational Children’s Book - English
FIRST PLACE
The Dreamer, Pam Munóz Ryan & Peter Sis; Scholastic Books; USA
Best Educational Children’s Book - Spanish
FIRST PLACE
Letra a Letra, Angels Navarro; Editorial Combel; Spain
Best Educational Children’s Book - Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
The Oldest House in the USA/La casa mas antigua de los Estados Unidos, Kat Aragon; Lectura Books;
SECOND PLACE
1,2,3 Si! A Numbers Book in English and Spanish, Madeleine Budnick; Trinity University Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
The Ghost of Jose Luis Muñoz and The Day of the Dead, Joyce Prince; Laredo Publishing Company; USA
Best Children’s Picture Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Witches Handbook, Monica Carretero; Cuento de Luz; Spain
SECOND PLACE
The Word Collector, Sonja Wimmer; Cuento de Luz; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Goodbye, Havana! Hola, New York!, Edie Colon, Raul Colon illustrations; Paula Wiseman Books; Cuba, USA
HONORABLE MENTION
The Pet Shop Revolution, Ana Juan; Arthur A. Levine Books; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Waiting for the Biblioburro, Monica Brown; Random House Children’s Books; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Welcome to My Neighborhood! A Barrio ABC, Quiara Alegria Hudes & Shino Arihara; Arthur A. Levine Books; USA
Best Children’s Picture Book - Spanish
FIRST PLACE
Comportate, Pablo Picasso!, Jonah Winter/Kevin Hawkes; Scholastic Books; USA
SECOND PLACE
Que Cosas Dice Mi Abuela, Ana Galán; Scholastic Books; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Las Mil y una Noches, Lluis Farre and Merce Canals; Editorial Combel; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Manual de Brujas, Monica Carretero; Cuento de Luz; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
¿Puede pasarle a cualquiera?, Mar Pavon & Sonja Wimmer; Cuento de Luz; Spain
Best Children’s Picture Book - Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina, Monica Brown; Children’s Book Press; USA
SECOND PLACE
Relatividad/Relativity, Michael Smith; East West Discovery Press; USA
SECOND PLACE
Rubber Shoes... A lesson in gratitude/Los zapatos de goma... una leccion de gratitud, Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri; Big Tent Books; USA, El Salvador & Nicaragua
HONORABLE MENTION
Cantaba La Rana/The Frog was Singing, Rita Rosa Ruesga/Soledad Sebastian; Scholastic Books; Cuba HONORABLE MENTION
I Kick the Ball/Pateo el balón, Gwendolyn Zepeda; Arte Público Press;
Best Young Adult Fiction - English
FIRST PLACE
The Last Summer of the Death Warriors, Francisco X. Stork; Arthur A. Levine Books; Mexico
SECOND PLACE
Diego’s Dragon, Book One: Spirits of the Sun, Kevin Gerard; Crying Cougar Press; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Dancing Home, Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta; Atheneum Books; Cuba, USA
HONORABLE MENTION
You Don’t Have a Clue: Latino Mystery Stories for Teens, Sarah Cortez; Arte Público Press;
Best Young Adult Fiction - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El Soñador, Pam Munóz Ryan & Peter Sis; Scholastic Books; USA
SECOND PLACE
The Monster in the Mattress, Diane De Anda; Arte Público Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
El encuentro: coleccion alhambra joven, Rita Wirkala; Pearson Educación; Argentina
HONORABLE MENTION
El Vendedor de dulces, R. K. Narayan; Editorial Bambú; India
Best Young Adult NonFiction - English
FIRST PLACE
El Caracol: The Story of Alfonso, Labor Camp Child, Yolanda Espinosa Espinoza; Mill City Press, Inc.; USA
SECOND PLACE
Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them, Graciela Tiscareno-Sato; Gracefully Global Group LLC; USA
Best Young Adult Non!ction - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Vademecum Mujeres: Para que la vida no se te vuelva de cuadritos, María Villegas y Jennie Kent; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation - English
FIRST PLACE
Business of Pain, Araceli Martínez-Rose; RM Advisors Ediciones; Mexico
Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El negocio del dolor, Araceli Martínez-Rose; RM Advisors Ediciones; Mexico
Best Young Adult eBook English/Spanish
FIRST PLACE
When I Am Singing to You, Rebecca Burke; ; USA

B NON-FICTION

Best Arts Book - English
FIRST PLACE
L.A. Xicano, Chon Noriega, Terezita Romo, Pilar Tompkins Rivas; UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center; USA
SECOND PLACE
Malaquias Montoya, Terezita Romo; UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Birds in Colombia, Murray Cooper; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Arts Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Pedro Ruiz, William Ospina/Javier Gil; Villegas Editores; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
Alejandro Obregon, Benjamin Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
De la sombra a la luz: Imágenes del secuestro, Mario Ayerbe-Gonzalez and Fernando Soto-Aparicio; Jose Marcelino Triana Perdomo;
Best Biography - English
FIRST PLACE
Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon, Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, MD & Mim Eichler Rivas; University of California Press; Mexico
SECOND PLACE
Business of Pain, Araceli Martínez-Rose; RM Advisors Ediciones; Mexico
SECOND PLACE
Crossing Borders: Personal Essays, Sergio Troncoso; Arte Público Press; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
The Riots, Danielle Cadena Deulen; University of Georgia Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, Luis Carlos Montalvan; Hyperion Books; USA of Cuban & Puerto Rican ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
Words Were All We Had, Maria de la Luz Reyes; Teachers College Press; USA
Best Biography - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Francisco de Miranda ¿Soñador de Absolutos?, Victor Paz Otero; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Business Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them, Graciela Tiscareno-Sato; Gracefully Global Group LLC; USA
SECOND PLACE
Human Resources Guide to Social Media Risks, Jesse Torres; Createspace;
Best Gift Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Birds in Colombia, Murray Cooper; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Gift Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Setenta Dias De Noche, Dr. Emma Sepulveda; Editorial Catalonia; Argentina/Chile
SECOND PLACE
Una Navidad en Familia, Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
El Mejor Regalo para Mama/The Best Gift for Mom, Alma Renteria; Education and Leadership Press; Mexico
Best History/Political Book - English
FIRST PLACE
No Word For Welcome: The Mexican Village Faces the Global Economy, Wendy Call; The University of Nebraska Press;
SECOND PLACE
Latino Los Angeles in Film and Fiction: The Cultural Production of Social Anxiety, Ignacio López-Calvo; University of Arizona Press; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Chicanas of 18th Street: Narratives of a Movement from Latino Chicago, Leonard G. Ramirez; University of Illinois Press;
Best History/Political Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Setenta Dias De Noche, Dr. Emma Sepulveda; Editorial Catalonia; Argentina/Chile
Best Reference Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Immigration Law and the US-Mexican Border, Kevin R. Johnson and Bernard Trujillo; University of Arizona Press; USA
SECOND PLACE The world of art in San Agustin, Efrain Sanchez; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Reference Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Vademecum Mujeres: Para que la vida no se te vuelva de cuadritos, Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent; Villegas Editores; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
El Libro de los libros II, Fabio Ramirez/Juan David Giraldo; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Criminalistics for Spanish/English Interpreters, Desiree Baker Millikan; Cantemos; Venezuela
Best Health Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Compañeros: Latino Activists in the Face of AIDS, Jesus Ramirez-Valles; University of Illinois Press;
Best Health Book - Spanish or Bilingual
SECOND PLACE
En Buena Salud, Rafael Canabal; Qwonder LLC; Venezuela Best Parenting/Family Book - English
SECOND PLACE
An Egg and A Cigarette, Shari Harris-Dunning; Wasteland Press; USA
Best Parenting/Family Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El Mejor Regalo para Mama/The Best Gift for Mom, Alma Renteria; Education and Leadership Press; Mexico
SECOND PLACE
Una Navidad en Familia, Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Religious Book - English
SECOND PLACE
Oath of God, Yzabelle Jimenez Martinez; Tate Publishing;
Best Religious Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
La Segunda Venida de Cristo: La resurección del Cristo que mora en tu interior, Paramahansa Yogananda; Self Realization Fellowship; India
Best Self-help Book - English
FIRST PLACE
You Are More Than Good Enough, Gloria Rodriguez; DeAlmas Press; USA, Puerto Rico ancestry
Best Self-help Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Traspasando Limites, Carlos Torres Molina; Carlos A. Torres Molina; Uraguay
SECOND PLACE
¿Qué hago con el Sexo?, Flavia Dos Santos; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Spiritual/New Age Book - English
FIRST PLACE
You Are More Than Good Enough, Gloria Rodriguez; DeAlmas Press; USA, Puerto Rico ancestry
SECOND PLACE
The Book of Light: Ask and Heaven Will Answer, Alexandra Solnado; Atria Books;
Best Spiritual/New Age Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
La Segunda Venida de Cristo: La resurreccion del Cristo que mora en tu interior, Paramahansa Yogananda; Self Realization Fellowship; India
SECOND PLACE
El Libro de la Luz: Pregunta, y el cielo respondera, Alexandra Solnado; Atria Books;
Best Travel Book - English
FIRST PLACE
An Egg and A Cigarette, Shari Harris-Dunning; Wasteland Press; USA
Best Travel Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Cundinamarca: Corazón de Colombia, Benjamín Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Women’s Issues Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Finding Fernanda, Erin Siegal; Cathexis Press; USA
SECOND PLACE
You Are More Than Good Enough, Gloria Rodriguez; DeAlmas Press; USA, Puerto Rico ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
In Memory of a Saint: Lessons from My Mother I Didn’t Pay Attention to Until She Died, Sandra Elaine Scott; Createspace; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Oath of God, Yzabelle Jimenez Martinez; Tate Publishing;
Best Women’s Issues Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Vademecum Mujeres: Para que la vida no se te vuelva de cuadritos, Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Abuso Escondido Detras De La Placa, Rosaura Torres; Torres Publishing Group, LLC; USA
Best eBook - Non!ction - English
FIRST PLACE
Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them, Graciela Tiscareno-Sato; Gracefully Global Group LLC; USA

C FICTION

Best Popular Fiction - English
FIRST PLACE
Traces of Bliss, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
SECOND PLACE
Retribution, Carmen Rodriguez; Women’s Press Literary; Chile, now living Canada
HONORABLE MENTION
Outside the Bones, Lyn Di Iorio; Arte Público Press; Puerto Rico
HONORABLE MENTION
Say Her Name, Francisco Goldman; Grove/Atlantic, Inc.; USA, Guatemalan ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
The Book of Want, Daniel A. Olivas; University of Arizona Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
The Map of Time, A Novel, Felix J. Palma; Atria Books;
Best Popular Fiction - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
La Zarza De Los Recuerdos, Jose Alvarez; Editorial Voces De Hoy; Cuba
SECOND PLACE
America Nuestra: Antologia de narrativa en espanol en Estados Unidos, Fernando Olszanski & Jose Castro Urioste; LinkGua USA;
HONORABLE MENTION
Más Alla De La Justícia, María de Lourdes Victoria; EntreLineas, libros y palabras; Mexico
Best Novel - Adventure/Drama - English
FIRST PLACE
The Lost Angel: A Novel, Javier Sierra; Atria Books;
SECOND PLACE
Cross Over Water, Richard Yañez; University of Nevada Press; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Barrio Bushido, Benjamin Bac Sierra; El Leon Literary Arts; USA, Guatemalan ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
From This Wicked Patch of Dust, Sergio Troncoso; University of Arizona Press; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Sweet Kyra and the American Dream, Onin Age-Iron; Xlibris; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
The Name Partner, Carlos Cisneros; Arte Público Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
Traces of Bliss, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
Best Novel - Adventure/Drama - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El Angel Perdido: Una Novela, Javier Sierra; Atria Books;
SECOND PLACE
Del suelo al cielo, Virginia Gift; Palibrio;
HONORABLE MENTION
Más Allá De La Justícia, María de Lourdes Victoria; EntreLineas, libros y palabras; Mexico
Best Novel - Historical - English
FIRST PLACE
The Time in Between: A Novel, María Dueñas; Atria Books; Spain
SECOND PLACE
A Song in my Heart, Roma Calatayud-Stocks; Beaver’s Pond Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
Gathering the Indigo Maidens, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
HONORABLE MENTION
Ocotillo Dreams, Melinda Palacio; Bilingual Review Press;
Best Novel - Historical - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El Tiempo Entre Costuras: Una Novela, María Dueñas; Atria Books; Spain
FIRST PLACE
Francisco de Miranda ¿Soñador de Absolutos?, Victor Paz Otero; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Convocando a las Doncellas Del Indigo, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
Best Novel - Mystery - English
FIRST PLACE
On Hallowed Ground: A Willie Cuesta Mystery, John Lantigua; Arte Público Press;
Best Graphic Novel - English
FIRST PLACE
Mi Barrio, Robert Renteria; Writers of the Round Table Press; USA
Best Poetry Book - English
FIRST PLACE
The Trouble Ball, Martin Espada; W.W. Norton & Co; USA, parents from Puerto Rican
SECOND PLACE
Conversations with my Skin, Peggy Robles-Alvarado; Createspace; USA, Puerto Rican & Dominican parents
SECOND PLACE
Me No Habla with Acento, Emanuel Xavier; Rebel Satori Press & El Museo del Barrio; USA of Ecuadorian & Puerto Rican ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
Empire, Xochiquetzal Candelaria; University of Arizona Press; USA
HONORABLE MENTION
Injuring Eternity, Millicent Borges Accardi; Mischievous Muse Press;
Best Poetry Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
Soluna en Bosque: conjuros para invocar el amor, Antonieta Villamil; Caza de Libros; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
My Ducky Buddy/Mi Amigo El Pato, Michael Smith; East West Discovery Press; USA
Best eBook - Fiction - English
FIRST PLACE
The Map of Time: A Novel, Felix J. Palma; Atria Books;
HONORABLE MENTION
As Happy As Ling, Carlos Aleman; ; USA

D DESIGN

Best Cover Design
FIRST PLACE
De la sombra a la luz: Imágenes del secuestro, Jose Marcelino Triana-Perdomo and Caliche Impresore; Jose Marcelino Triana Perdomo; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
Alejandro Obregon, Benjamin Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Aves en Colombia, Benjamin Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Cover Illustration
FIRST PLACE
Historia de una Cucaracha, Carmen Gil & Sonja Wimmer; Cuento de Luz; Spain
SECOND PLACE
Cocorina en el Jardin de los Espejos, Mar Pavon and Monica Carretero; Cuento de Luz; Spain
HONORABLE MENTION
Una Navidad en Familia, Julian De Narvaez; Villegas Editores; Colombia
Best Interior Design
FIRST PLACE
Alejandro Obregon, Benjamin Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
Jesus’ Birthday Gift, Adalucia; Cholita Prints and Publishing Company; Peru
Best Use of Photos
FIRST PLACE
Santa Cruz de Mompox: Cantos Populares de mi Tierra, Sylvia Patino; editorSPatino; Colombia
SECOND PLACE
Colombia Campesina, Benjamin Villegas; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Aves en Colombia, Murray Cooper; Villegas Editores; Colombia
HONORABLE MENTION
Colombia Solidaria, Santiago Escobar Jaramillo; Villegas Editores; Colombia

F THE MARIPOSA AWARDS

Mariposa Award: Best First Book - English
FIRST PLACE
Ocotillo Dreams, Melinda Palacio; Bilingual Review Press; USA
SECOND PLACE
A Song in my Heart, Roma Calatayud-Stocks; Beaver’s Pond Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
Gathering the Indigo Maidens, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
HONORABLE MENTION
The Bolero of Andi Rowe: Stories, Toni Margarita Plummer; Curbstone Books/Northwestern Univ Press;
HONORABLE MENTION
Under the Mesquite, Guadalupe Garcia McCall; Lee & Low Books, Inc.; Mexico
HONORABLE MENTION
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, Luis Carlos Montalván; Hyperion Books; USA of Cuban & Puerto Rican ancestry
HONORABLE MENTION
Vida, Patricia Engel; Grove/Atlantic, Inc.; USA, Colombian ancestry Mariposa Award:
Best First Book - Spanish or Bilingual
FIRST PLACE
El Tiempo Entre Costuras: Una Novela, María Dueñas; Atria Books; Spain
SECOND PLACE
El Mejor Regalo para Mama/The Best Gift for Mom, Alma Renteria; Education and Leadership Press; Mexico
HONORABLE MENTION
Convocando a las Doncellas Del Indigo, Cecilia Velástegui; Libros Publishing; Ecuador
HONORABLE MENTION
Rubber Shoes... A lesson in gratitude/Los zapatos de goma... una leccion de gratitud, Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri; Big Tent Books; USA, El Salvador & Nicaragua

For more information, please contact Kirk Whisler, Latino Print Network, 760-434-1223