The accolades keep coming.
First, the book “No Estás Solo: Recetas Para Obtener ÉXITO de Padres Para Padres” was chosen as the “guide for Latino parents” by “Despierta América,” the most popular morning TV show in Spanish in the nation.
And recently, the Spanish book, co-authored by Dr. Margarita Machado-Casas, received the Best Parenting/Family Book Award at the International Latino Book Awards.
“I feel honored to be part of the community initiative that brings the voices of parents and their needs, in addition to scholars, and community partners who work with families across the state of California and the United States,” said Machado-Casas, chair and faculty in the College of Education’s Department of Dual Language and English Learner Education.
The book, which in English translates to “You Are Not Alone: Recipes for Success by Parents for Parents” was also written by several other authors and edited by Dr. Lettie Ramírez. It provides a first-person account of what it is like to navigate the American school system. It also gives readers the "what to dos and what not to dos" from those who have been through that process.
“It also connects families with resources and programs in our communities,” said Machado-Casas, who is co-editor for the “Handbook of Latinos in Education” that was awarded the American Education Studies Association Critics Choice Award. “The rest of the authors decided that it was necessary to uplift families and their needs, using their own voices.”
Machado-Casas’ research interests include immigrant, indigenous and Bilingual/Multilingual education, transnational communities, and minority agency in the fields of education, literacy, assessment/evaluation, parent/family involvement and social cultural foundations. She indicated, she and the other authors, were delighted by the distinction given by “Despierta América.”
“We felt honored that this book was highlighted, and we hope to continue to expand it,” she said. “We are now currently working on two other books—one working with high school students and the other with college students.”