Lori Martinez Conticelli
'Red or Green' ... The Colors of a Family Tradition, is an educational story for young children about the harvesting of chile in New Mexico. The story is told within the context of a mother teaching her own children about chile harvesting, particularly as it relates to her Spanish-American ethnicity and cultural background, as well as the traditions she learned from her grandparents. This book will target children all over New Mexico and the United States, since it represents the transferring of traditions and customs from one generation to another. This book provides children an opportunity to learn about another cultural group and also provides parents a framework to begin exploring their own heritage with their children. In addition, this book was written for children of Hispanic origin, particularly of a traditional Spanish culture who are at risk of losing their sense of cultural identity and pride. It is also a book that contributes to preservation of traditions and customs of our Spanish-American ancestors. There is limited published work about the history of Spanish-American’s in New Mexico and the Southwest, and to date, there are no known children’s books about the history of growing chile in New Mexico, which has been an integral part of the culture and community. Today in New Mexico, chile not only represents a tradition for Hispanics, but also has become an important aspect of our State’s identity, as well as a staple in most homes throughout New Mexico.
