Like many other Mexicans at the time, Francisco X. Alarcon's grandparents moved to the U.S. following the Mexican Revolution (1910-917). They returned to Mexico after the Big Depression. Alarcon's U.S. born mother and uncles returned to the U.S. in the 40s during the war effort. For Alarcon, who was born in the U.S. but also lived in Guadalajara, Mexico as a child, the border doesn't really exist. Francisco Alarcon is a bi-national, bi-cultural, bilingual poet and educator. His children's books vividly paint pictures of Latino culture, family, fun, and flavor. Alarcón currently directs the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California, Davis.
Books by This Author
Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems
Celebrate city life, school, and family while sharing loss, earthquakes and even Ángeles del mar (sea angels) in vivid illustrations and short poems presented in both Spanish and English. Though some poems are distinctly southern Californian, all resonate with universally recognizable emotions.
Animal Poems of the Iguazú
Inspired by a visit to the Iguazú National Park in South America, Francisco X. Alarcón celebrates its animals, skies, waterfalls, and more in these short and vibrant bilingual poems. Each page holds pulsating paintings that swirl and move, further vivifying each poem.
Family Poems for Every Day of the Week/Poemas familiares para cada día de la semana
Children spend Sunday visiting their grandparents, play with school friends on Monday, daydream on Tuesday, eat popcorn at the local market on Wednesday, and more, until we arrive at Saturday, when they get to play nonstop all day. Along the way, we also learn how the names of the seven days came to be. Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcón's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States.
From the Bellybutton of the Moon and other Summer Poems
The poet remembers summers growing up in Mexico in poems presented in both English and Spanish. Readers meet his family and join them in the everyday joys of the sunny season. Illustrations are as colorful and evocative as the words.
Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems
Francisco X. Alarcón describes in this book many of his winter experiences growing up in the city of San Francisco, California. He has taken many of his childhood experiences to create fun, creative poems. Bilingual text.
Laughing Tomatoes and Other Spring Poems
Vivid images combine with lively language to present a sunny season with its foods, fun and family in short poems in both English and Spanish.
Poems to Dream Together
Dreams are for the day and the night. Children dream for themselves as well as their community and their world. Short poems, richly imagined and vibrantly illustrated appear in English and Spanish and are firmly rooted in a child's experience.
