The Chatino language is a tonal, endangered language spoken in Oaxaca, Mexico and by Chatinos who have settled in large numbers in the southeastern United States including Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. There is a small Chatino community in Louisville. These books play with the extensive tonal melodies that characterize the Chatino languages. Literacy in the Chatino language is new.

In 2014, Professor Hilaria Cruz (University of Louisville, Department of Comparative Humanities) and a team of linguists at the University of Texas developed the alphabet featured in these books. Given that reading and writing in the language is in its infancy, these books will fill the void of materials for reading at all ages in the Chatino language. Chatino speakers are forced to learn Spanish in public schools in Mexico and their descendants in US public schools are not made aware of their languages.

A lack of materials in Chatino and in any other, minority languages, is especially detrimental for Chatino children, their language, and their community. Research has shown that when children read and have books in their lives their quality of life is enhanced. Additionally early literacy in the Chatino language also promotes the sustainability, continuation of the Chatino language and culture. In this way, these materials are empowering speakers and elevating the Chatino language in the eyes of speakers and society.

Read the UofL News story about the Chatino Tonal Books Project here:UofL professor shares endangered language books worldwide