My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders/ Mis zapatos y yo: Cruzando tres fronteras

Written by René Colato Laínez

Illustrated by Fabricio Vanden Broeck

My Shoes and I is back! Now in a bilingual edition published by Piñata Books an imprint of Arte Público Press. The publication date in May 31, 2019.

This book is very important to me because it is my real journey from El Salvador to the United States. I am very happy that the book is back in print and now it is also en español.

The first review was a Starred Review from Kirkus. 

"Inspired by the author’s own story, this tale of a young boy’s arduous escape serves as a crucial, insightful, and timely light shone on a sensitive, highly relevant subject."

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About the Book

René Colato Laínez The experiences of young migrant children traveling to the United States are poignantly portrayed in this bilingual picture book.

Young René’s mother has sent him a new pair of shoes from the United States. He loves his new shoes. “They walk everywhere I walk. They jump every time I jump. They run as fast as me. We always cross the finish line at the same time.”

René—with his new shoes—and his father set off on the long journey to meet his mother in the United States. He says goodbye to his friends in El Salvador, and “Uno, dos, tres, my shoes and I are ready to go.” The trip is difficult. They take buses and walk across El Salvador, into Guatemala and then into Mexico. His brand-new shoes lose their shine, turning dirty and gray. They become elephants, pushing against the wind; race cars, fleeing hungry dogs; swim shoes, escaping floods; and submarines, navigating through sticky mud. When holes appear on the soles of his shoes, his father won’t let him give up. “René, my strong boy, we want to be with Mamá.”

Sharing his own experiences, René Colato Laínez’s moving bilingual picture book brings to life the experiences of many young children who make the arduous journey from Central America to the United States in search of a better life.

You can visit the My Shoes and I website for more information at https://myshoesandi.weebly.com

Book Trailer

My Shoes and I and From North to South

Lorraine from Vamos a Leer, Teaching  Latin America Through Literacy reviewed My Shoes and I and From North to South.  

Here is a peek:

Hello there, readers: This week’s ¡Mira, Look! is a double header! I’ve reviewed two wonderful children’s books regarding one of January’s theme’s- immigration. These books, written by the same author, offer two beautifully crafted stories that bring to light the tragic reality that many first- and second-generation immigrant children must deal with: family separation.

In these stories, the protagonists cross the border in order to be reunited with their mothers. The two books complement each other and reflect the diversity of immigrant experiences and legal situations.

To read the entire post visit 

https://teachinglatinamericathroughliterature.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/mira-look-my-shoes-and-i-from-north-to-southdel-norte-al-sur/

La Bloga's Best Book of 2011

La Bloga's contributors present the list of best books of 2011. The guidelines were short and simple - name the book that, for whatever reason, you consider your favorite read this year. No restrictions on genre, ethnicity, or year of publication. Below are the results. There is no ranking among these books - they are listed in order of days of the week since we have different contributors each and every day.

Check out the entire list at http://labloga.blogspot.com

My Latest News

René Colato Laínez

I found this videobiography on youtube. Thank you Georgie Doherty for creating this video.

The information was taken from my critical thesis "Living To Tell the Story: The Authentic Latino Immigrant Experience in Picture Books"

I wrote this critical thesis during my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College. It was a recipient of the Jane Resh Thomas Award.

You can read the complete thesis at My Shoes and I Website.

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In November, I had the opportunity to visit my country El Salvador, for The 2nd Children's Poetry Festival. It was celebrated from  Nov. 16-18, 2011 at the National Library in San Salvador. I created this little tribute for this amazing festival.

Entrevistas/ Interviews

Bloguera Lydia Gil interviewed me for EFE. This article had appeared in many websites and newspapers.

Por LYDIA GIL

Denver, 23 nov (EFE).- René Colato Laínez se destaca entre los escritores de libros infantiles por abordar temas difíciles con sutileza, humor y esperanza par sus jóvenes lectores como en su nuevo libro, "Del norte al sur", sobre la deportación.

Pero no es la primera vez que el también maestro salvadoreño radicado en California se enfoca en el tema de la inmigración indocumentada a EE.UU. desde la perspectiva de un niño.

Read more at http://ar.noticias.yahoo.com

Corina Martinez Chaudhry interviewed me for thelatinoauthor.com
 

This week, TheLatinoAuthor.com is featuring the critically acclaimed children’s author René Colato Laínez. Mr. Colato Laínez was born in Salvador and thus far has successfully accomplished his dream of becoming a teacher and writer. He earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University at Northridge and did his MFA program in writing at Vermont College. 

Read more at http://www.thelatinoauthor.com

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I am happy to present the cover of this great anthology. I collaborated with my essay SURVIVING. I wrote about my experience growing up in El Salvador during the civil war.

 That Mad Game

Growing Up in a Warzone

An anthology of essays from around the globe edited by J.L. Powers

Cinco Puntos Press, May 2012

Coming-of-age during a time of war: fighting, dying, surviving. First-person accounts from around the world.

Seventeen writers contribute essays about children enduring the insanity of war. Essays focus on conflicts of recent history but take no sides. Vietnam (North and South). Bosnia. The Gulf War. Rwanda. Juárez. El Salvador. The list goes on and on.

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I have two new picture books under contract with Santillana USA and Holiday House. I will reveal more details in 2012.

Saludos,

René Colato Laínez 

René Has Two Last Names New Recognition

Congratulations to all the authors who were recognized by the International Latino Book Awards. My bilingual book René Has Two Last Names/René tiene dos apellidos received Honorable Mention in the Best Children's Picture Book (Bilingual) category. ¡Ajúa!

I received the great news at my Facebook page. My friend Yuyi Morales posted the link of 2010 International Latino Book Awards Winner List. My friend Linda Rodriguez also congratulated me for the honorable mention. This was a great birthday present for me.


René Has Two Last Names/ René tiene dos apellidos has received three recognitions this year. Thanks to all the readers and award committees.

• Honorable Mention: Best Bilingual Children's Book- International Latino Book Awards
• 2010 Skipping Stones Honor Award
• 2010-2011 Tejas Star Book Award List

To learn more about René Has Two Last Names visit the book's website at www.renesbooks.com

Also my new books have their own websites. Take a look at The Tooth Fairy Meets El Ratón Pérez and My Shoes And I websites and learn more fun facts and ideas for the classroom and home.

My Shoes and I

My Shoes and I by Rene Colato Lainez illus. by Fabricio Vanden Broeck

Mario and his father are making their way to the U.S. from El Salvador. They will be reunited with Mario's mother. Mario is wearing new shoes that were sent by his mother. This is a look at their long journey through Mario's shoes.

Uno, dos, tres, my shoes and I are ready to go.

I say good-bye to my house in El Salvador.

Read more at The Happy Nappy Bookseller.

Welcome to My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour

BronzeWord Latino Virtual Book Tours Presents MY SHOES AND I by René Colato Laínez

~School Library Journal
K – Grade 3 — In this story of an arduous journey, Mario and his father leave their home and friends in El Salvador for a reunion in the United States with Mamá... They cross deserts, mountains, and rivers—and three borders. Mario’s shoes become soiled, torn, and water-logged, but with each setback, he croons a lullaby: “Sana, sana, colita de rana” and reassures himself that everything will be okay...This inspiring tale soars with real emotions, even as it celebrates the resiliency of children. Vanden Broeck’s color-drenched illustrations on weathered backgrounds add immediacy and detail. This moving, heartfelt tale of courage and perseverance will be embraced by a wide audience of readers, young and old.
~Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Follow the schedule at http://sententiavera.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 1

When immigrant children come to the United States, they experience a variety of emotional and cognitive adjustments in the new country. They have left behind a language, a culture and a community. From one moment to another, their familiar world changes into an unknown world of uncertainties. These children have been uprooted from all signs of the familiar and have been transported to an unfamiliar foreign land. In the process of adaptation, immigrant children experience some degree of shock.

Read more at http://www.examiner.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 2

Mario is leaving his home in El Salvador. With his father by his side, he is going north to join his mother, who lives in the United States. She has sent Mario a new pair of shoes, and he is thrilled. He will need good shoes because the trip will be long and hard. He and his father will cross the borders of three countries. They will walk for miles, ride buses, climb mountains and wade a river.

 Mario has faith in his shoes. He believes they will take him anywhere. On this day, he wants to go to the United States, where his family will be reunited.

René Colato Laínez’s inspiring story, dramatically illustrated by Fabricio Vanden Broeck, vividly portrays a boy who strives to reach a new land and a new life.

I’m honored to be a stop on the My Shoes and I blog tour and had the wonderful opportunity to ask René Colato Laínez about his inspiration and his own personal journey…

Read more at http://loricalabrese.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 3

My guest this week for Art Crush Wednesday is bilingual children’s book author, René Colato Laínez. In his own words, Rene describes his experience as an immigrant from El Salvador, the hardships of his journey, and how his past inspired his new book, My Shoes and I:

I was born in El Salvador. As a child, I went to school, recited poetry, played with my friends and won a hula-hoop contest on national television. I had a dream to become a teacher and an author.

The world turned upside down when El Salvador's civil war broke out. My family and I fled to the United States. My mother arrived first but it was a year before my father and I could join her. Mamá had a job for my father and an apartment where we could feel secure.

Read more at http://www.christinarodriguez.com/blog

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 4

In December of last year, I had the pleasure of introducing you to René Colato Laínez, a Salvadorean, award winning author and a bilingual teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School in California. He gave me an interview and showed us some of his beautiful books, you can read it all in here, you don't want to miss it!

Today I'm happy to welcome René to Mama Latina Tips for a second time. René is presenting one of his newest books, "My Shoes and I," and he will be visiting my blog today to answer your questions. So please feel free to write him a comment or ask him a question, and when you do, you will automatically be entered in a giveaway for one copy of Rene's book. One lucky winner (US resident) will be randomly chosen, so start commenting!

Read more at http://www.mamalatinatips.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 5

Today, we are proud to host BronzeWord's Latino Virtual Book Tour.

And we are especially eager to sing the praises of one of the LBBC's regular contributors, René Colato Laínez. We have announced the recent release of René's book, My Shoes and I, a touching story about a young boy's journey to a new home in a new country. If you have been keeping up with the book tour, or this blog, you will already be familiar with the story.

So our treat to you is the story of René's craft and where he receives his inspiration. Most authors will just give you the noncommittal (and somewhat bland) answer that they find inspiration "everywhere." But for many, the seeds of each story is a story in itself. Below is a synopsis of René's unusual way of finding inspiration and the unique story behind each of his books.

Read more at http://www.latinbabybookclub.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 6

I have known Rene' Colato Lainez for years.  We met in a writing class and I was struck by his kindness and his sensitive writing on the immigrant experience. His many published stories detail this and fill a void for all the children who come to this country with their parents looking for a better life. His new book, My Shoes and I, tell the scary and wondrous tale of Mario on his journey to the United States. I asked Rene' a few questions about the book.

Read more at  http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 7

Two recent Los Angeles Times columns by the paper’s book blogger Carolyn Kellogg talk about the fast-disappearing publisher-sponsored author book tour, and new ways authors are solving the marketing challenge of helping a book find its audience.

With Kellogg’s column in mind, and my own passion for oracy, I am happy to participate in René Colato Laínez’ Virtual Book Tour, with the following interview of Mr. Colato.
 
Read more at http://labloga.blogspot.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 8

Today we have with us a very special guest – Rene Colato – a writer of books for children! It’s a change of pace, I know, but nothing is more important than getting your children to read.
I was an avid reader as a child and some of my fondest memories are of walking to the library with my grandmother or eagerly waiting for the bookmobile to stop at the corner so I could pick up my latest horde of books to read. My parents also provided lots of books for us and to this day I have a box filled with my favorites that I read to my daughter as a child.

So please give a big welcome to Rene and learn a little about him and his latest release, MY SHOES AND I.

Read more at http://www.caridad.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 9

Today, I am hosting author, Rene Colato, and his book, My Shoes and I.

If you have been following this tour, then you have a good idea of what the book is about. But just to recap.

It is all about a little boy’s journey across land. And what do you think accompanies him on this journey? You guess it, his shoes

Read more at http://sandrasbookclub.blogspot.com

My Shoes and I Virtual Book Tour- Day 10

This was a wonderful read about a boy, his travels, and of course his shoes. His shoes take him everywhere… Throughout the book Mario goes through many travels and trials. Each page shares Mario’s story along with beautifully illustrated pictures of course, including the shoes.

I feel that sharing this lovely book with a young child would be fun as we turn page after page. I imagine the child would be excited to hear the story and follow the pictures. I cant wait for the chance to so just that!

read more at  http://bookjourney.wordpress.com