Award-winning author and educator Nicholas Solis visited several Bryan ISD elementary schools to share his stories as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
While visiting Mitchell Elementary School, he read his book The Littlest Grito and talked about being a teacher, dad and husband. His book is about the history of the grito, a high-pitched rallying cry that is commonly heard in Hispanic and Mexican culture.
His book talks about the history of how the grito began. Some student volunteers even had the chance to try to make the sound. While in Bryan, Solis also visited students at Fannin Elementary, Henderson Elementary and Navarro Elementary.
Solis said he enjoys working with children throughout the state and country. He first started writing books when he was 8-years-old, and he published his first book when he was 41-years-old.
“I didn't have a lot of books back then, so when I write a book it's about trying to help kids understand that they have a lot of power,” he said, “and that they have a lot of power in their voice and how they use that.”
The Littlest Grito, he said, is about finding your voice and then how to use your voice.
“It's about finding kindness and empathy,” Solis said. “A lot of my books are about trust and love, and so how do we build that environment? How do we put that back into the world?”
Solis grew up in Austin, and teaches fourth grade in Del Valle ISD. He has spent multiple summers teaching abroad in different countries, including Tanzania, Morocco and India. Throughout his career, he encourages families to make reading time a daily activity.
Solis’ books can be found on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. Learn more about Solis on his website here
.