Business
How a Chicago Business Owner is Helping Kids Access Bilingual Books
Laura Romaní said that as a child she felt most at home when surrounded by books.
“The library was our safe space where we could get help from the librarians for homework, use the computers,” Romaní said.
Now she’s opening her own book haven. Los Amigos Books is a bilingual bookstore in Bucktown.
“We make sure that all our bilingual books are written by Latino authors and that they speak to our experiences,” Romaní said.
Before owning a business, Romaní spent five years as a dual-language teacher, instructing students in both English and Spanish.
“As a teacher I noticed the need,” Romaní said. “But then I saw the same problem and need for myself when I become a mom and I had those goals of having my son know how to speak Spanish, how to read Spanish. … He’s the big inspiration for this space.”
Her passion for books also led her to study to become a school librarian, where she learned about international purchasing.
“The main assignment in the course was to go down to the international book fair in Guadalajara and source some books for a customer that may be in need, and luckily my customer was our school’s librarian, and we were a dual-language program,” Romaní said. “I asked her what she needed. I went and sourced it and brought it back. So that experience really left a mark on me.”
The life-changing experience set Romaní on a new path. With her background in purchasing books, she now serves as a vendor for Chicago Public Schools, making sure schools have access to bilingual books.
“School districts are finally realizing what we always knew: that bilingualism is our greatest asset, and they have a responsibility of helping us develop,” Romaní said. “So we are seeing that shift, and with that shift comes a greater need for the resources.”
Romaní said she wants children to feel represented by the books in her store.
“It feels really good to have a space for the community, to take up space, to show people that we are here, that we belong here and that our experiences and our language matter,” Romaní said.
The bookstore offers a selection of Spanish and bilingual children’s books, as well as a collection of literature tailored for adult readers.
For more information, visit losamigosbooks.com.
