"Hands-on activities, games, and crafts introduce children to the diversity of Latino culture and teach them about the people, experiences, and events that have shaped Hispanic American history. This book is broken down into sections covering the American descendants from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Central and South America. Topics include Spanish colonial history, the missions, and early settlements in Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Texas, the Santa Fe Trail and the United States-Mexican War of 1848, immigration and the plight of migrant farm workers. Sidebars focus on famous Latinos, language lessons, and activities highlight arts, games, food, clothing, unique celebrations, and folklore. Kids can fill Mexican cascarones, or confettifilled eggs, for Easter, learn to dance the meringue from the Dominican Republic, write a short story using "magical realism" to learn about the literature of Colombia, make a Cuban sandwich, and create Guatemalan worry dolls. A time line, glossary, teacher's guide, and recommendations for Latino books, movies, museums, and Web sites round out this multicultural excursion."--