It's All In the Frijoles

May 1, 2000
Emmy-award-winning journalist Nava has produced a collection of poems, old sayings, personal stories, folktales and short quotations drawn from an eclectic array of sources that is guaranteed to be a constant resource for parents who wish to instruct their children in traditional virtues. ("Blood is inherited," Nava's mother told her, "but virtue is acquired.") Divided into chapters with titles such as Responsibility, Respect, Hard Work, Faith, Courage, Justice and Chastity, each section features a host of historical figures, contemporary writers, directors, producers, political figures, artists, actors and entrepreneurs--a veritable who's who of international Latinos that demonstrates the immense influence of this group on American culture. Laced through it all is Nava's commentary on her own life, which, coming as it does from a highly successful journalist and businesswoman (she owns the Ponce-Niacasio Broadcasting Co.), is worth consideration. Despite a tendency to rely on celebrity status as intrinsic proof of virtue, Nava pulls off her lessons of Latino life with charm and old-fashioned grace.

June 1, 2000
Nava didn't understand why her terminally ill mother said that frijoles ("beans") were the source of her strength until after her death. "[T]he virtuous life," Nava writes, "is the product of constantly weeding out flaws and weaknesses, just like preparing a good pot of beans." This excellent anthology gathers more than 100 stories, proverbs, poems, speech excerpts, remembrances, and folktales--organized under 14 themes of loyalty, honesty, faith, courage, charity, and more. Nava, an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist living in California, believes that las virtudes ("the virtues") convey the essential collective wisdom taught to Hispanic children through the ages. The tone is upbeat and positive throughout, never demanding or moralistic. Short biographies of all 93 contributors (who go back as far as Teresa de Avila and up to present-day politicians, poets, and writers) appear at the end. Far meatier than most chicken soups, this is an excellent choice for family reading that transcends all cultures. In fact, the dichos ("proverbs") would make a delightful book by themselves. Highly recommended for all public libraries.--Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.