La Casa Azul, an all-Latino bookstore, opens in East Harlem

Aurora Anaya-Cerda has achieved her dream of opening her own independent book store dedicated exclusively to selling works by Latino authors.

Originally from East Los Angeles, Anaya-Cerda has had a love for reading and learning more about her culture from a young age. As a teacher she realized the need for her Latino students to read works by authors who communicated like them and told familiar stories. After moving to New York City, she began a campaign on IndieGogo from September – November 2011 and raised $36,000 to open her store! This was the realization of 6 year long dream and a lifetime of passion for Latino literature.

Casa Azul will feature approximately 3,000 English and Spanish-language Latino books and art by local artists, jewelry, clothing and accessories from Guatemala and Mexico. Anaya-Cerda describes the great void that her bookstore is trying to fill: “In my store, every single bookshelf will be books by Latinos - giving us the recognition that we have not gotten. So many of us are great writers and have great stories to share.”

www.lacasaazulbookstore.com

(via maddylouboo)