Quickly, he set out to change that. He contacted a publisher friend, met with an illustrator friend, brainstormed a while and then came up with a way to use translated poems to communicate stories and impressions about the things that are important to Mexican Americans like himself. From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems , and Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems . He is working now on an illustrated book of winter poems. Recently, he discussed his new projects at the Art of the Wild writers conference in Squaw Valley in July.
Poetry is a good avenue for children to improve their reading skills and to open their imaginations.
The books also encourage Mexican American children to see stories about themselves, he said. And they make it possible for children of other ethnic backgrounds to better understand the Latino culture. Apparently, children everywhere are loving the books. During frequent visits to classrooms, Alarcon witnesses their enthusiasm as he reads poems aloud for them. Here he straightened up and slowed his speech while grasping the book Laughing Tomatoes in his hands.