When San Mateo County Poet Laureate Jorge Argueta emigrated to the United States from El Salvador in the ‘80s at the age of 19, he faced a challenge: He’d grown up loving storytelling and poetry, and wanted to be part of the literary world in the Bay Area. But first, he had to learn English.
His experience of becoming bilingual is the inspiration behind his new book, “Bilingual Superhero/Bilingüe Superhéroe,” published by Arte Público Press. It’s one of three new bilingual children’s books that will be celebrated Saturday, May 4, at Argueta’s shop in Bernal, at Luna’s Press & Bookstore.
Argueta said his new book is a tribute to young migrants. In it, readers meet a young bilingual superhero named Geronimo whose superpower is the ability to communicate in different languages. Argueta calls it a celebration of Spanish and English that commemorates both the hardship and the joy of that learning process.
“It’s [about] the happiness of being able to move easily in two languages. I believe our kids are heroes, not only because they are in charge of two languages but because of all the struggles they are going through to come to the United States,” said Argueta. “We have to celebrate them as true heroes.”
The book’s illustrator, Elizabeth Gómez, will also attend the launch party.
The two other books are also celebrations of Salvadoran folklore and the Latinx experience. “La Piedra Mágica de la Chinchintora/The Chinchintora Snake and the Magic Stone,” by award-winning Salvadoran author Manlio Argueta, was also published by Luna’s Press. It’s a story about Salvadoran tradition and culture, said Jorge Argueta, that delivers a “beautiful” message. (Manlio Argueto’s novel for adult readers, “Un Día en la Vida/One Day in Life,” will be turned into a movie next year.) The book is a commentary on the life of Salvadorans facing destruction and political persecution as a result of the civil war.
While Manlio Argueto will not be in attendance, the book’s illustrator, Male Cuéllar, is making the two-thousand-mile trip from El Salvador to San Francisco.
The third book, “Juguemos en el Parque/Let’s Play in the Park,” is a celebration of Latinx-American heritage by veteran children’s author René Colato Laínez, and published by Holiday House Publishing. Laínez is from El Salvador, but now resides in Los Angeles; he will attend the event this Saturday.
Also in attendance on Saturday will be children from the Room to Grow preschool, Luna’s Press’ neighbor on Mission Street. The event, which will include kids’ arts and crafts, is an example of the impact Argueta hopes the small bookstore can have in the community.
“We celebrate these types of events to promote reading among our children in the community,” said Argueta. “They [the books] celebrate our culture and our history as Latino and Indigenous writers in this country. They also celebrate the beauty and the magic of words.”
“I believe writers are special, no matter where they come from. As long as we become the voice of our people,” Argueta added, when asked what made Salvadoran writers special. “As long as we become the loudspeakers for our culture, for our kids, for our youth and for our cause.”
Argueta has also a very clear message to all children about the importance of writing.
“It is beautiful to dream, and our dreams can come true. If a child puts such a dream in his/her heart, that dream belongs to that child and no one can take it away,” said Argueta. “That’s the beauty of reading and writing and our children are beautiful dreamers. Indigenous dreamers. Magical dreamers.”
The release party will take place this Saturday, May 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Luna’s Press & Bookstore (3790 Mission St.) and the adjacent preschool the Room to Grow. It will include arts and crafts, food and book signing.
