Laughing out loud, I fly: poems in English and Spanish

From U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, here are stirring poems that read like music.

Awarded the Pura Belpr Honor for this book, Herrera writes in both Spanish and English about the joy and laughter and sometimes the confusion of growing up in an upside-down, jumbled-up worldbetween two cultures, two homes.

With a crazy maraca beat, Herrera creates poetry as rich and vibrant as mole de ol and pineapple tamales . . . an aroma of papaya . . . a clear soup with strong garlic, so you will grow not disappear.

Herreras words are hot peppery, good for you. They show us what it means to laugh out loud until it feels like flying.