85255 article
NEIGHBORS
September/October 2005, page 27

Latin Literature

Neighborhood mom captures national attention with home-grown Spanish children’s magazine.
By Kevin Sheh

Grayhawk- As a second grade teacher at Garfield Elementary in Phoenix, Christianne Meneses Jacobs, a native of Nicaragua, was constantly on the lookout for quality children’s literature in Spanish. She found some translations of Dr. Seuss and other popular American titles, but no original Spanish literature that celebrates the Latino culture. As a parent, she decided to do something about it.

" Being bilingual is an asset. Our kids should have something to help them celebrate their culture," says Meneses Jacobs, who along with graphic designer husband Marc Jacobs, publish Iguana magazine, a Spanish magazine geared for children.

Filling a Need
Since hitting libraries and bookstores in May, the inaugural 32-page magazine has caused a buzz nationwide. Written in standard Spanish, it includes short stories, poetry, educational features, arts and crafts, puzzles and other kid-friendly features. (Think Highlights for Latino kids.)

" I want kids to learn about our people, take ownership about who they are and what they can aspire to be, "says Meneses Jacobs, who attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut where she majored in government/international relations before earning her teaching certificate and moving to Arizona.

Grassroots Effort
The birth of Isabelle, their first child, inspired the Jacobs’ to launch their dream publication last August. The biggest problem for the fledgling publisher was finding quality literature.

" I couldn’t write it all myself, so I put an ad on the Internet," says Meneses Jacobs. Hundreds of writers responded, enabling the couple to launch the inaugural May/June issue. One thousand copies were distributed to bookstores and libraries in Los Angeles, san Jose and Arizona.

" The Jacobs’ are answering a call that no one before them has done,’ says Claudia Nuñez de Ibieta, bookseller at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe. "I grew up in Chile and it reminds me of magazines I read as a child."

Meneses Jacobs is already hard at work on future issues of the bi-monthly magazine which cost $4,000 an issue to produce. However, Meneses Jacobs insists in keeping Iguana free of advertising to maintain its integrity. "We want the kids to be bombarded with literature, not advertising, " she says.

*EXTRA, EXTRA!
Iguana magazine is available at Changing Hands Bookstore located at 6428 S. McClintock Drive in Tempe. Subscriptions are also available by calling (480) 206-5474 or by visiting www.iguanamagazine.com.

© 2005 Republic Magazines & Custom Products. Reprinted with permission.

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