“Whether in nature or in human relationships, few images are more compelling than that of an encounter; a butterfly and a flower blended together in a brief burst of color, a mother reaching out for her newborn child, two hands clasped in friendship—and surely among the most meaningful encounters, the one between a child and a book.”
Alma Flor Ada, Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco, has devoted her life to advocacy for peace by promoting a pedagogy oriented to personal realization and social justice. A former Radcliffe Scholar at Harvard University and Fulbright Research Scholar she is an internationally renowned speaker.
Her professional books for educators, include A Magical Encounter: Latino Children’s Literature in the Classroom, and Authors in the Classroom: A Transformative Education Process co-authored with F. Isabel Campoy, about their work promoting authorship in students, teachers, and parents.
Alma Flor’s numerous children’s books of poetry, narrative, folklore and non-fiction have received prestigious awards; among many: Christopher Medal (The Gold Coin), Pura Belpré Medal (Under the Royal Palms), Once Upon a World (Gathering the Sun), Parents’ Choice Honor (Dear Peter Rabbit), NCSS and CBC Notable Book (My Name is María Isabel), Marta Salotti Gold Medal (Encaje de piedra). In 2012 she received the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award in recognition of her body of work for children.
She is also the author of a book of memoirs, Vivir en dos idiomas, and two novels for adults, En clave de sol and Apesar del amor. Alma Flor Ada has been awarded the Distinguished Professor Award at the University of San Francisco, the American Education Research Association [AERA] Hispanic Issues Award for Research in Elementary, Secondary and Postsecondary Education; the California Association for Bilingual Education [CABE] Life Long Award; the California Council for Higher Education 2011 Award and the 2012 Literary Award of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education among much more recognition for her contribution to education.
Five questions with Alma Flor Ada at Reading Today Online.
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