Art Crush Wednesday: René Colato Laínez
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 9:48AM 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.
My journey was unforgettable. On my long and tiring trip, my father, my shoes and I sneaked across three borders. At the Mexican/ Guatemalan border, my father lost his money. In Mexico City, he and I became homeless. An old trailer became our home for two months. During this time, my mother collected more money for our trip. Then, my nightmare began: I had to cross the American border illegally. For two days, I walked, ran and climbed big mountains without food or water. The brand new shoes that Mamá sent me for Christmas were all torn up and without soles. I reached the United States practically without shoes at all.
My Shoes and I is a recount of my long and tiring trip from El Salvador to the United States. I wrote the manuscript during my MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adult at Vermont College. When I was ready to start writing, I stared at the computer’s screen listening to the Los Tigres del Norte song, “Tres Veces Mojado”. Then I wrote, “My shoes will take me anywhere.” I smiled and could not stop typing. I wrote the first draft in an hour. The writing was easy because I was telling about my real journey but it was also hard to relive my fears and the uncertainty if we would be able to make it to the United States. My Shoes and I is such an important book because it is an authentic story. It is not only my story but the story of many children who had crossed borders in search of better opportunities. I’ve also used my immigrant experience as inspiration in many of my books such as Waiting For Papá, I Am René, The Boy, René Has Two Last Names and my forthcoming book, From North To South.
Thanks to the opportunities brought by working in this country, I have accomplished my dreams. I am an elementary teacher at Fernangeles Elementary School and an author of many award-winning children’s books. My goal as a writer is to produce good multicultural children's literature; authentic stories of Latin American children living in the United States, stories where minority children are portrayed in a positive way, where they can see themselves as heroes, and where they can dream and have hopes for the future.
Many thanks to René for sharing his story! My Shoes and I is available in bookstores everywhere. You can follow René's blog book tour tomorrow at his next stop: Mama Latina Tips. Stay tuned to my blog this Sunday when I’ll be posting my formal review of the book.
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Reader Comments (6)
Thanks to you and Rene Colato Lainez for this wonderful stop on his blog tour for My Shoes and I.
Mil felicitaciones...
Zulmara
Thanks for adding the illustrations. I will be visiting and commenting in the blog today. If readers have questions, feel free to ask.
saludos,
Rene
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