Travel from the ancient hidden city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, past Mayan ruins over 2,000 years old, to the bustling modern cities of São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Learn about the vibrant cultures and innovations of Latin America—rodeo, carnival, chocolate, coffee, piñata, tango, and salsa, to name only a few. Many of these have become part of the daily lives of people all around the world.

Latin Americans Thought of It features a rich array of photos along with informative text divided into sections, including:

• Clothing • Architecture • Communication • Arts and Crafts • Sports

This fifth book in the We Thought of It series describes the traditions and innovations that are the result of thousands of years of civilization in Latin America, across two continents and nearly 20 countries. Within the region, there are many similarities (for instance, except for Brazil, the countries are all Spanish-speaking) and also many differences: in the mountainous Andes region, terrace farming was invented so that crops could be planted on steep hillsides, while in the marshy areas of Mexico and Bolivia raised fields called chinampas were devised so that crops could flourish in lowlands.

Eva Salinas is a journalist who has worked for The Times of London, the BBC, the Globe and Mail and the CBC, and is a former editor of the Santiago Times (Chile). Latin Americans Thought of It is her first book. She lives in Canada.

Eva Salinas' profile page

• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• Joint winner, Recommended Reads List, Canadian Toy Testing Council

“I like the series and love that it brings our attention to technological advancements that developed in other places and times outside of North America. Good introductions that could lead into deeper discussions and research.”

Doucette Library of Teaching Resources, 02/12

“This wonderful resource could be used to introduce students to the Latin American culture and would provide a good starting-off point for children working on projects or essays.”

Canadian Children’s Book News, 07/12

“An excellent resource and a must-buy for any school library.”

CM Reviews, 03/12