Author Spotlight: Stephen Briseño
Stephen Briseño
Stephen Briseño is the author of The Notebook Keeper, which received the Pura Belpre Author Honor Award. He has taught middle school English for 15 years, and writes, reads, and drinks a ton of coffee with his wife and daughter in San Antonio, TX.
Tamales For Christmas By Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Sonia Sánchez
Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is hard at work, making thousands of tamales to sell so she can buy gifts for her family! This heartwarming tale, based on a true story, explores a grandmother's boundless generosity, and the irresistible magic of tamales.
A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
When the weather changes, but way before the Christmas tree is decorated, Grandma begins her preparations. With so many children and grandchildren in her family, she finds a way to put gifts under the tree-- she sells as many tamales as she can! Masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, Grandma’s just getting started. 15 dozen tamales. As Halloween passes, and Thanksgiving, Grandma is still toiling away in the kitchen: 150 dozen tamales, 700 dozen tamales, 850 dozen tamales. When it’s time to string the lights for Christmas, she’s inching closer to 1000 dozen tamales! Enough to give some to those in need and enough to sell to earn money for Christmas gifts.
Based on the author’s own grandmother, who was the heart of the familia, here is a warm story about Christmas, generosity, and, yes, tamales.
Tamales para Navidad (Tamales for Christmas Spanish Edition) By Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Sonia Sánchez; translated by Maria Camila Correa
Antes de que se encienda la primera luz navideña, Abuela está en la cocina, preparando miles de tamales para asegurar regalos para su familia. Este cuento conmovedor, basado en una historia real, explora la generosidad ilimitada de una abuela y la irresistible magia de los tamales.
Cuando llega el frío, pero mucho antes de que se decore el árbol de Navidad, la abuela se prepara. Con tantos hijos y nietos en su familia, encuentra una manera de poner regalos debajo del árbol: ¡vendiendo tamales!
Con masa en una mano y hojas de maíz en la otra, la abuela comienza. 15 tamales. Cuando pasa Halloween y el Día de Acción de Gracias, la abuela sigue trabajando duro: 150 tamales, 700 tamales, 850 tamales. Cuando llega el momento de colocar las luces, ¡ha hecho casi mil tamales! Lo suficiente para ayudar a los necesitados y además llenar el árbol con regalos para sus seres queridos.
Basada en la propia abuela del autor, quien era el corazón de la familia, esta es una cálida historia sobre la Navidad, la generosidad y, sí, los tamales.
Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is hard at work, making thousands of tamales to ensure gifts for her family. This heartwarming tale, based on a true story, explores a grandmother's boundless generosity, and the irresistible magic of tamales.
When the weather changes, but way before the Christmas tree is decorated, Grandma prepares. With so many children and grandchildren in her family, she finds a way to put gifts under the tree-- she sells as many tamales as she can! Masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, Grandma’s just getting started. 15 tamales. As Halloween passes, and Thanksgiving, Grandma is still toiling away in the kitchen: 150 tamales, 700 tamales, 850 tamales. When it’s time to string the lights for Christmas, she’s inching closer to 1000 tamales! Enough to give to those in need and pack the tree with gifts for her loved ones.
Based on the author’s own grandmother, who was the heart of the familia, here is a warm story about Christmas, generosity, and, yes, tamales.
The Notebook Keeper By Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Based on true events, this inspiring story follows a mama and her daughter who are denied entry at the U.S. border, and must find the refugee in charge of “the notebook,” an unofficial ledger of those waiting to cross into the U.S.
Before, the sun drenched the yard. Our neighbor's laughter danced in the streets. Now, the streets are quiet. Papa is gone, and we are no longer safe here. We are leaving, too.
In this moving and stunningly-illustrated picture book, Noemi and Mama flee their home in Mexico, and head for the US border. There, they look for "The Notebook Keeper"-- the person in charge of a ledger for those waiting to cross, and they add their names to the book. As the days turn into weeks, and hope dwindles, the little girl looks for kindness around her-- and inside herself. One day, when the Notebook Keeper's own name is called to cross, Noemi and her Mama are chosen--for the generosity in their hearts-- to take her place.
La guardiana de la libreta By Stephen Briseño; illustrated by Magdalena Mora; translated by Polo Orozco
Una edición en español de LA GUARDIANA DE LA LIBRETA, la historia inspiradora de una mamá y su hija que han sido negadas entrada en la frontera estadounidense y tienen que conseguir una refugiada a cargo de «la libreta», un registro no oficial de todos aquellos que esperan a cruzar hacia los Estados Unidos.
Antes, el sol bañaba el patio. Las rizas de los vecinos danzaban por las calles. Ahora, solo hay silencio. Papá se ha ido, y ya no estamos seguras aquí. Nosotras nos vamos también.
En este libro impactante y bellamente ilustrado, Noemí y su mamá huyen de su hogar en México y viajan hacia la frontera de los Estados Unidos. Ahí, buscan «la guardiana de la libreta», una refugiada que escribe los nombres de las familias que buscan asilo, y añaden sus nombres a la lista. Mientras los días pasan a ser semanas, y la esperanza se desvanece, la niña busca la bondad alrededor de ella, y dentro de sí misma. Un día, cuando el nombre de «la guardiana de la libreta» es llamado para cruzar, Noemí y su mamá —por la generosidad de sus corazones— son elegidas a tomar su lugar.
