Duncan Tonatiuh, Author/Illustrator
All About Duncan and His Books
Introducing Duncan Tonatiuh
From www.teachingbooks.net: My father's American and one of his grandfathers, my great grandfather, was Scottish. Duncan is a very Scottish name. I believe it means dark warrior or brown fighter. My mother is Mexican and I was born and grew up in Mexico. In Mexico, Duncan is pronounced, "Dooncan." I like being called 'Duncan' in English and 'Dooncan' in Spanish. Tonatiuh is the name of the Aztec God of the Sun. It is my middle name but I like to sign my books Duncan Tonatiuh because I feel it represents me better. My artwork is very much inspired by ancient Mexican art, like that of the Aztecs, Mayas and Mixtecs. My full name is Duncan Tonatiuh Smith Hernandez.
Website: http://www.duncantonatiuh.com/
We invite you to purchase books on your own and send them in to the school for the author to autograph. The books will be returned to the students the afternoon of his visit or the following day.
Duncan's books have won numerous awards: The Pura Belpré Award, The Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children's Book Award, and The Jane Addams Award.
News articles about Duncan Tonatiuh:
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale
The Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes
Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist
Danza!: Amalia Hernandez and Mexico's Folkloric Ballet
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin
Salsa: Un Poema Para Cocinar / A Cooking Poem
Diego Rivera: His World and Ours
Soldier for Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great War
José de la Luz Sáenz (1888–1953)—or Luz—believed in fighting for what was right. Although he was born in the United States, he and his family experienced prejudice because of their Mexican heritage. When World War I broke out, Luz volunteered to join the fight. Because of his ability to quickly learn languages, he became part of the Intelligence Office in Europe. However, despite his hard work and intellect, Luz often didn’t receive credit for his contributions. Upon his return to the US, he joined other Mexican-Americans whom he had met in the army to fight for equality. His contribution, along with others, ultimately led to the creation of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which is the oldest Latino civil rights organization. Soldier for Equality is based in part on Luz’s diary during the war. It includes a biography of Luz’s later years, an author’s note, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index.
Undocumented: A Worker's Fight
Labor rights and the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants are the focus of a fictional story about an undocumented Mexican immigrant who is working long hours in a restaurant for less than minimum wage. A Chinese immigrant who begins working there urges him to go with her for help at a workers’ center. There, the two are told that if they want change, they need to get their coworkers involved. Eventually they are able to convince their coworkers to file a legal complaint against their boss, even though many of them are afraid they might be deported as a result. Tonatiuh’s signature Native Mexican-inspired art style unfolds here in an accordion format that echoes the Mixtec codices that predated Europeans on the American continents.
Duncan's Schedule with HCPSS
Monday, March 16: Gorman Crossing ES/Talbott Springs ES
Tuesday, March 17: Hanover Hills ES/Laurel Woods ES
Wednesday, March 18: Clemens Crossing ES
Thursday, March 19: Pointers Run ES