E27 - The Language of Home: Authentic Representation in Multilingual Children’s Literature
Meg Medina served as the 2023-2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She is the author of many notable and award-winning works for young readers of all ages, including the Newbery Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling book Merci Suárez Changes Gears, the first in a trilogy. Her most recent novel, Graciela in the Abyss, was a 2026 ALSC Notable Children’s Book and a CCBC Choices 2026 selection. Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso, the novel was also awarded the prestigious 2026 Hamilton King Award by the Society of Illustrators.
Meg Medina’s work examines how cultures intersect through the eyes of young people. She brings audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and qualities that are universal. Her newest middle-grade novel is Graciela in the Abyss. The daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia.
In this episode, Meg unpacks the power of storytelling, bilingualism, authentic representation, and the important role books play in helping children connect to their identities, families, and communities. Meg also shares the inspiration behind her latest novel, Graciela in the Abyss —an atmospheric underwater fantasy filled with unforgettable characters, bioluminescent mysteries, and profound questions about community, grief, and hope.
Key Takeaways:
- Books can position multilingual children as experts in the classroom. Familiar words, expressions, traditions, and experiences give students opportunities to contribute knowledge that teachers or classmates may not have.
- Authentic representation depends on getting culturally specific details right. Language, vocabulary, family relationships, history, and lived experience all contribute to whether a story feels true.
- Reading can strengthen relationships within families when books become part of family life. Sharing stories and talking about books can create meaningful connections across generations and different reading preferences.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Welcome to Literacy Across Languages!
(01:30) Meet Meg Medina, Award-Winning Children's Book Author
(06:37) Growing Up Bilingual in Queens
(09:49) Authentic Latino Representation in Children's Literature
(13:15) Bilingual Books and Spanish-Language Editions
(19:17) Mango, Abuela, and Me / Mango, Abuela y yo
(22:37) Graciela in the Abyss / Graciela en el abismo
(31:34) National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
(36:54) What Kids Really Want to Read
(39:58) Multilingualism, Identity, and Connection
(42:03) Takeaways for Teaching Multilingual Learners
Episode Resources:
- Explore Meg Medina’s Cuéntame! Let’s Talk Books videos from her time as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
- Visit Meg Medina’s website to learn more about her books and work with young readers.
- Discover Graciela en el abismo, the Spanish edition of Meg’s newest novel.
Stay Connected:
- Visit us at literacyacrosslanguages.com and follow Mary and Katherine on LinkedIn.
- Enjoying the podcast? Follow, leave a review, and share your favorite episodes with fellow educators to keep the learning going.
Keywords: multilingual learners, multilingual readers, multilingual children’s literature, kidlit, own voices, bilingual children’s literature, authentic representation, Latino children’s literature, Latino representation, bilingualism, multilingualism, Spanish language books, bilingual books, language of home, heritage language, cultural identity, linguistic identity, family storytelling, intergenerational storytelling, culturally responsive literature, literary translation, translation and culture, reading identity, reading choice, reading joy, student agency, family literacy, belonging