Central America Books

A great presentation of what I expected to be an unexciting topic. Examines the workings of the political system in a highly readable way. I was not only well-informed after I read the book, but entertained as well!

This is excellent material if you are conducting any kind of serious research on NAFTA and its negotiations' development and outcome. It provides with a huge theoretical framework, every step of the process. If your line of work is game theory, this book will really help you (or at least it worked wonders for me). This is mandatory reference material for anyone interested in studying NAFTA.

Mayer rivals Grisham. He enfolds the strategy of NAFTA like a good murder-mystery. More proof that reality is more entertaining than fiction. It's a thriller, a nail-biter. I couldn't put it down!

My husband and I wanted to do some time in "wine country" during our 1 year stay in France. We picked up this book at a local "english language library" and it was great! It really gives a lot of good information about the regions, the wineries, and the traveller's perspective on wine country in general. We've also used it extensively to document our pictures after the fact -- you know how you can forget the names of the 20 chateaux and 12 towns you visited! Well, this book provides enough information to put it back together when you are looking at a picture of a very pretty building which you cannot remember the name of.

It doesn't cover particular wines in detail (mentioning only a few), but for wineries, its a great guide.

The Wine Atlas of France by Hubrecht Duijker (with support from Hugh Johnson) is the best way to start exploring the various famous French wine regions by car. After presentation of the history and a description of a particular wine region, the book lists the address and describes the important wine estates of the region. Suggested routes for driving as well as listings of the top regional restaurants and hotels, in order to recover from the wine tasting. Besides excellent maps of different scales to find your way round the book has superb pictures so that you know what to expect. Alternatively, you may first want to use the book to browse through the various wine regions. Even without using the book as a travel guide it is very useful in locating wines and their vineyards.

This books contains informative descriptions, combined with detailed maps, and beautiful pictures, covering all the major wine producing regions of France. In addition, the author includes his favorite vineyards for each region. This book is a must for anyone travelling to France or just interested in learning more about the wine producing regions of France. Included in each section are a few selections on where to eat and where to stay as well. Having personally taken this book on my most recent trip, I can give it my hearty endorsement.

This wonderful picture book covers all the Americas: from A is for the Americas to Z is for Zuñi. The book explores the English alphabet as well as letters that the Spanish alphabet has in common with English, and it has informative entries for the Spanish Ch, Ll and ñ. Including the three letters the Spanish alphabet has but the Enlish does not is a nice touch;however, the text is only in English with excellent illustrations by Enrique O. Sánchez supporting the text. Spanish words and concepts are explained in English making this a good book for a child who is aquiring Spanish. A child who is acquiring English should also enjoy this text.

This wonderful picture book covers all the Americas: from A is for the Americas to Z is for Zuñi. The book explores the English alphabet as well as letters that the Spanish alphabet has in common with English, and it has informative entries for the Spanish Ch, Ll and ñ. Including the three letters the Spanish alphabet has but the Enlish does not is a nice touch;however, the text is only in English with excellent illustrations by Enrique O. Sánchez supporting the text. Spanish words and concepts are explained in English making this a good book for a child who is aquiring Spanish. A child who is acquiring English should also enjoy this text.

This wonderful picture book covers all the Americas: from A is for the Americas to Z is for Zuñi. The book explores the English alphabet as well as letters that the Spanish alphabet has in common with English, and it has informative entries for the Spanish Ch, Ll and ñ. Including the three letters the Spanish alphabet has but the Enlish does not is a nice touch;however, the text is only in English with excellent illustrations by Enrique O. Sánchez supporting the text. Spanish words and concepts are explained in English making this a good book for a child who is aquiring Spanish. A child who is acquiring English should also enjoy this text.

A Wish For Miguel was cool! In this book, Miguel, a worker on Isabella's rancho is called to work in the mines! Things are terrible in the mines! Workers often die and get hurt in rock slides, poisonous gasses soffocate the workers and many of them die of terrible diseases! Isabella must reach the Viceroy to tell him Miguel must be exused from the mines! To do that, she must play the guitar. Mama played the guitar and died last year. Isabella must find the courage to play the guitar.

Meet Isabella, the newest Girlhood Journeys character! Isabella is from Peru, in South America, in 1820. Her mother is no longer alive. She doesn't want to play music anymore since that's what her mother did. But now she found out her servant Miguel will have to go to a mine! The living conditions are horrible there! Isabella must never give up and go to the capital herself! And she does what she truly loves.

This was a great book. It is about Isabella, a young girl living on a rancho in 1820s Peru with her Papa. Mama died last year, and life hasn't been the same. Isabella can no longer play the guitar now that Mama has died. But now one of her father's employees, Miguel, is going to be sent to work in the mines, and Isabella must find the courage to play the guitar - for Miguel's life depends upon it.

In doing research for our Sunday School mission project on Haiti, I borrowed this book from the local library. I was so impressed with the story line and illustrations that I purchased a copy for the Church library. It brings awareness to the fact that education is a priceless gift and not a guarantee in many countries.

Set in rural Haiti, JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK provides a snapshot of life for children in a very different culture. Josias doesn't attend school, instead, it is his job to maintain the family garden. The garden is vital to the survival of his impoverished family because it provides them with food and some of the excess crops provide additional income. His parents work very hard, and have entrusted him with the care of the crops. Josias takes his responsibility seriously, and rises early in the morning to work. Each day he sees many of the children in the community walking to school. His friends often ask him when he will "hold the book," which refers to when he will begin attending school. Each day he waves them off, knowing his responsibilities at home take precedence over school.

One day Josias notices that the garden isn't thriving. After several attempts at remedying the problem, he decides to ask the friends if they can find the answer to the problem in a schoolbook. It is then he realizes the value of an education. After talking with his parents they all agree that sacrificing to send him to school now, may benefit the family more in the long run.

JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK is a warm and enlightening story. The muted tones in the illustrations mirror the warmth of the story and add considerable detail. I enjoyed the fact that Josias discovered the importance of education on his own, and then shared the realization with his family and convinced them he was right. He was truly an example of a child leading the family. I also appreciated the fact the author presented rural Haitian culture in a thoughtful way. The parents were not depicted as inadequate because they didn't send their son to school; even the youngest readers can recognize that the parents were doing the best they could under the circumstances. In addition, Josias and his family found a way to compromise; his going to school meant some sacrifice, but once he finished his school day he would still maintain some of his responsibilities in the garden. At the same time, he intended to use the things he learned in school to help his family, reinforcing his commitment to family. Josias is a wonderful example because he demonstrates persistence and the value of hard work. JOSIAS, HOLD THE BOOK is a thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated book that teaches children about a life vastly different from their own and helps them appreciate education; something many children in the U.S. take for granted.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This is the story of Josias, a Haitian boy whose family depends on him to tend the garden, which is vital to their survival, instead of attending the local school. When the garden doesn't thrive, Josias and his family realize learning is vital to success with the garden and with life. Author's Note describes a schoolchild's day in Haiti.

I loved the simplicity of the writing. Yet any child that hears this tale will identify with the hero, who dutifully tries to help but fumbles every job. Truly an enjoyable book.

I always enjoy reading different versions of fairy and folk-tales. This a fun Puerto Rican version of the Lazy Jack stories. Actually, I like the ending better than in Lazy Jack. It bothered me that some poor girl would be stuck marrying a fool like Lazy Jack simply because he made her laugh. That could make for a very looooong, trying marriage! But a useful reward, that seems quite appropriate. Anyway, the illustrations are cheery and charming. A nice addition to a folktale collection!

I am a Spanish teacher at the elementary school level and have read this book to children from 5 to 9 years of age and they all adore the ridiculous Juan Bobo. Unlike any other books I've read to them, kids will look for Juan Bobo books in the library and ask to borrow mine. We call each other "silly vaca" like Juan calls the cow that he thinks has turned to stone but which is immobile because Juan has tied his legs together. He was just doing as he was told, tying up the cow before he milks it.

This is one of the best books about the Northwest. Corr does a great job blending the story of an activist family with the rise of Seattle after World War II. Next to "Skid Road," my favorite on Seattle. Should be a movie. A great female lead character in Dorothy Bullitt.

Corr's book is more valuable than the narrow title suggests. More than a history of a powerful Seattle family and its TV-Radio empire, Corr's larger theme is the post-war growth of Seattle, the price of its progress and the universal tension between idealism and commerce. This story is interesting because Dorothy Bullitt did not set out to make money in the new medium of TV. Rather, she and her son, Stimson, created a new media force that shook up the sleepy newspaper-dominated local media. Well into the 70's KING-TV scooped many big stories. Corr does a masterful job of tracing the early deviations from the "King ideal"--Dorothy's dumping of her son in favor of Ancil Payne, the shift from hard news to TV celebrities, and the ultimate cash out by Payne and Dorothy's daughters. Along the way Corr paints many colorful portraits--the Machiavellian Payne, Dorothy's hopelessly dysfunctional grandchildren, the bright and attractive Jean Enersen--the lone remaining link to the glory days, the irasicble Don McGaffin--a throwback to the hard drinking, hard working, macho muckrakers of the turn of the century, and the glib, shallow Jim Foreman--the self-described "ratings machine" and low water mark for KING's television journalism. There is much to savor in this well written and colorful book. One hopes that Corr will soon devote his considerable talent to a subject with broader appeal.

Corr has done lovers of radio, and television, specifically those of us in the Pacific Northwest a tremendous favor, capturing the drama of the Bullitt family. His writing is lively and the story is compelling in its narritive detail. You'll learn of the struggles, gambles and tremendous paybacks the Bulletts made as they began and grew their broadcasting kingdom. If I had any criticism, it would be that the book is a little short of details concerning KING-AM and KGW-AM's heydays as Top 40 Rock N Roll outlets. The author completely fails to include, KINK-FM, one of the most interesting and hybrid FM radio stations in the country. If you are at all interested in radio, television or Northwest business history, this is definately a book worthy of purchasing.

Ahora más que nunca, cuando Cuba aparenta cambios político/económicos en un futuro cercano, la importancia de conocer su historia es fundamental. Porque solo cuando las personas conocen la historia es que pueden aprender de ella para evitar los errores del pasado. El autor recoge con ejemplar claridad este panorama que se vivía en la Cuba desde principios de siglo hasta el año 1959. "La Semilla" nos muestra como todo hecho no ocurre espontáneamente sino que sus causas se pueden trazar a través del tiempo. Y es así que transcurre la trágica historia de nuestro país, ya destinado a fracasar desde que su semilla fue mal plantada y a través de los años aquellos con poder para remediarlo no lo hicieron, ya fuera por ignorancia o por beneficio propio. Este libro no es solo para aquellos interesados por Cuba sino para todo aquel interesado en el futuro de su propio país.

¿Qué relación tuvo la Guerra Fría con la prematura muerte de un líder azucarero y congresista cubano?¿Qué hizo el estudiante Fidel Castro el día que asesinaron a Manolo Castro, el ex presidente de la Federación Estudiantil Universitaria (FEU)? ¿Qué papel desempeñaba en el escenario político de Cuba el Ministro Plenipotenciario (y, más tarde, embajador) Benjamin Sumner Wells: el carismático estadounidense de trajes impecables confeccionados por un sastre londinense?

Las respuestas a esas preguntas (y a muchas otras) se encuentran en este libro cuyo tema es un análisis crítico que abarca desde 1902, año del nacimiento de la república cubana, hasta principios del año 1959, cuando triunfó la Revolución en ese país. Economía, política y sociedad en un devenir de medio siglo que conoceremos más y comprenderemos mejor gracias a esta obra.

Desarrollada con rigor, inteligencia y honestidad, La semilla (I) se destaca además por un sostenido interés narrativo que combina crónica, testimonio y reflexión analítica.

Escrito con un estilo fluido de novela de acción, este libro presenta una enorme cantidad de información de la historia de Cuba, combinando un enfoque detallado de eventos con el entorno político/social/económico de los mismos.

ELLIOT TIEGEL HAS THE ULTIMATE MASTERPEACE. HE TELLS FOR THE FIRST THE ENTIRE OF THE LATIN MEGA INFLUENCS IN ALL OF OUR LIVE.IT IS A BRILLIANT MAP OF THE HISTORY OF THIER INFLUENCE IN EVERY FIELD.THIS BOOK IS AS UNIQUE AS IT IS BRILLIANT.

Latinization of America -
The book is a real eye opener. It's astounding to learn the impact that the Hispanic population growth is having on the entertainment industry (as well as corporate America). Eliot Tiegel has a command of the subject matter; the book comes across as meticulously researched and gives a real education on the growing influence of this segment of the population.

Full of personal accounts, hard facts and solid news reporting, the book gives the reader an understanding on how the changing demographics translate into more radio stations switching to Spanish formats, increased budgets for advertising aimed at this audience, the emergence of more crossover artists, etc, and the effect this is all having in every area of show business.

Who better than an entertainment journalist who's had a front row seat to all things film, music, radio & television to chronicle the history & inroads of Latin entertainment in the US? And it's the readers who reap the benefits of his 45 years in the business. This book is an important first of its kind, certain to be the go-to reference for years to come.

Living in Southern California, the "Latinization" of Los Angeles was probably the beginnings of what Eliot Tiegel has so eloquently waxed poetic in his new book. From all areas of entertainment, to sports to business...this is the "must-read" bible for anyone interested in how Latin culture and its people have blended into the American melting pot and influenced everyone...everywhere! No other resource has covered the genre so brilliantly and so completely. Grab a Mojito, your favorite cigar and a hammock it's gonna be a long, very enjoyable read.

This book, while serving as an excellent and colorful children's fairy tale, also has some layers that are invisible to the untrained eye, but satisfying for the person with a little knowledge of modern Salvadoran history. Although the concept of the cadejo goes back a long way in Central American culture, Argueta has hidden a subtle commentary on the political history of El Salvador inside this fun-loving tale. It's no coincidence, for instance, that the number 14 occurs in the description of the landowners who send the lead soldiers to teach a lesson to those workers who have the nerve to think they should get to rest once in a while, or eat; look up the reference "fourteen families" (catorce familias in Spanish) to make the allusion emerge clearly within this charming tale.

Don't get me wrong -- if you want your child simply to read this story as a fairy tale, that will be possible, even easy to accomplish. The story stands on its own two (four?) feet without any need to introduce the allegorical aspects. All the same, there's a good reason this story was excerpted for an intermediate college Spanish textbook ... there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

i'm currently living in El Salvador and found this book online when looking for traditional Salvadorean legends on which to base a drama production. I was delighted by the story, which is accessibly presented in both English and Spanish, and which features enchanting details to make adults smile as they read to their children. The beautiful illustrations add to the enjoyment of this story - I intend to buy a copy to send to my 2 year old godson in England - he will adore it.

This is an excellent story, well told with colorful illustrations. It opens children's eyes to compassion, offering a story of hope and reconciliation. Excellent for children and for adults, too - it went over well in a class in Hispanic culture at Wofford College.