Arturo O Martinez, author of Pedrito's World passes away

Hoboken author, Arturo O. Martinez passed away on Wednesday, April 27th, 2016. 

His obituary in the Star Ledger reported:

Born in Rio Grande City, Texas, he was a graduate of Rio Grande City High School and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1959. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Arturo spent more than 40 years in journalism-as a reporter, editor, critic and columnist. Prior to joining the staff of The Star-Ledger in New Jersey in 1968, he was a reporter for The Alamo Messenger in San Antonio and The Lafayette Advertiser in Louisiana. During three decades at The Star-Ledger, he held a variety of posts, including Entertainment and Features Editor for 20 years prior to his retirement in 1998. He continued to write a column on Latino arts and entertainment until 2003. While entertainment editor, Martinez served as a voter for Broadway's annual Tony Awards, a position he held for almost 18 years. His interest in the theater continued into his retirement; two of his one-act plays were produced in Hoboken. Also in his retirement, he wrote "Pedrito's World," a fictive memoir based on his recollections and family stories from South Texas. The book, published by Texas Tech University Press, received an award from the Texas Institute of Letters. A sequel was published in December. - See more at: http://obits.nj.com/obituaries/jerseyjournal/obituary.aspx?n=arturo-o-martinez&pid=179818008&fhid=17066#sthash.uULmkjaN.dpuf

Martinez had given a reading from his acclaimed memoir, Pedrito's World,(Juv. M3852p) at New Jersey City University in  February, 2008.

Pedrito's World wins Honor!

Pedrito’s World by Arturo O. Martinez, a local Hoboken author,was selected by the Texas Institute of Letters as the best children’s book for 2007.

Founded in 1936, the Texas Institute of Letters is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to stimulate interest in Texas letters and to recognize distinctive literary achievement. Members of the Texas Institute of Letters include Pulitzer Prize authors Cormac McCarthy and Lawrence Wright.

The Texas Institute of Letters awards annual prizes for individual literary works in several categories. Eligibility for awards is generally that the work is done by a resident of Texas or the work is relevant to the state. Pedrito's World was awarded the Friends of the Austin Public Library Award for Best Children's Book.

Recently, the author, Arturo O. Martinez gave a reading at New Jersey City University. The Guarini Library has a copy of the book in its Juvenile Collection (Juv.M3851p). The book has also garnered excellent reviews in The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Book and Booklist.

Pedrito's World Book Reading- 2/12/08-3PM

Author Arturo O. Martinez to Read Excerpts from Pedrito’s World on February 12 at 3pm.

Author Arturo O. Martinez will read excerpts from his middle school novel, Pedrito’s World, at New Jersey City University on Tuesday, February 12 at 3:00 p.m., in room 202 of Hepburn Hall, 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City. Mr. Martinez will also autograph copies of the book, which will be sold at the free program. The community is welcome.

Meet six-year-old Pedrito, who lives on a South Texas farm with his mother, father, and younger sister. The year is 1941, and except for a trip to the big city of San Antonio, five hours away, Pedrito's life is the farm and the school he attends in a village a few miles away. Pedrito's father has the papers he needs to work legally in the United States, but that doesn't stop the Border Patrol from harassing him and his son. Pedrito speaks only Spanish and is frightened on his first day of school when he learns that he must speak English. Luckily his teacher, Miss Garcia, is patient with her students, and soon Pedrito is sharing his new English words with his family. Pedrito also relates his opinion of outhouses versus indoor plumbing and tells of a happy Easter decorating cascarones. Pedrito's World is a window on the lives and culture of a Mexican family living and working in South Texas.

Sponsored by NJCU’s Federacion de Estudiantes Latino-Americanos, Council on Hispanic Affairs, Latino Cultural Center, and the Department of Modern Languages, the program will also feature an introduction by Dr. Grisel Lopez-Diaz, an NJCU associate professor of modern languages.