LibraryCall is pleased to announce, as part of its ongoing effort to reflect and honor the diversity of all children and families, a new partnership with San Diego-based publisher Tolteca Press. Tolteca Press is dedicated to preserving and teaching the cultural heritage of Chicano-Mexicano communities of the Southwestern region of the U.S.
Through this partnership, LibraryCall has licensed Am I Blue or Am I Green? / Azul o verde. ¿Cuál soy yo?, a bilingual English-Spanish picture book written by Beatrice Zamora and illustrated by Berenice Badillo. In this poetic and uplifting story for children, the flags of Mexico and the United States serve as a metaphor for the resilience and beauty of bicultural life. Complex themes, including identity and the challenges of being a family with mixed citizenship/immigration status, are presented in a way that is empowering and child-sensitive.
English, Spanish, and bilingual versions of the story, each recorded by the author, are available to LibraryCall clients in the Storytime Commons, a shared repository of audio stories created and licensed by LibraryCall and its partner libraries. Stories and other audio content in the Storytime Commons is available for use by all libraries that participate in the LibraryCall Dial-A-Story program.
“Tolteca Press is pleased to be working in collaboration with Library Call because they are providing an important service that strives to include all children with the opportunity to hear stories and learn about the world around them,” says Zamora. “They give access to children and families who might not be able to easily walk into a library, or may be remotely located and not have access to the web, so this LibraryCall service can become an important part of a child's ability to access stories, develop creative thinking skills, and learn about their world.”
“We’re thrilled to make Am I Blue or Am I Green? available to libraries and the communities they serve,” says Madeline Walton-Hadlock, LibraryCall’s Content Development Manager. “This story is a great pick for libraries to share with all families, but it may especially resonate with communities that have experienced immigration and the complexities of cross-cultural identity.” Zamora adds, “The story also helps others to better understand their neighbors who might be experiencing these challenges and to also learn to appreciate the beauty of a bi-cultural life.”
LibraryCall provides affordable phone and web app technologies to help libraries connect with patrons outside the library. LibraryCall services include Storytime Direct, Dial-A-Story Studio, Community Calendar, and Resource Hotline. For more information, visit www.librarycall.com