Gloria Félix

As a young girl in Cuba, Alicia Alonso practiced ballet in tennis shoes. Within a few years, she was in New York City, with a promising ballet career. But her eyesight began to fail. When Alicia needed surgeries to save her vision, dancing was impossible, but she wouldn't give up her dream. She found the strength and determination to return to the stage and become a prima ballerina. This is the true story of a woman who overcame her challenges, mastered her art, and inspired others to dance and dream.

Cristina is excited to celebrate Día de los Muertos with her brother, Carlos, and their family. Young readers can follow along as everyone gets ready to remember their loved ones who are no longer with them. Vibrant illustrations will express the festive, yet poignant, spirit of the celebration as everyone decorates their home, dresses up for a costume parade, decorates an altar, cooks tamales and sweet treats, and much more. At the end, there are additional facts about Día de los Muertos to reinforce the significance of all the traditions depicted in the book.

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.