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Dual Language Harmony

Del Campo al Escenario – the Spanish subtitle of a new Wisconsin Historical Society Press biography – notes the bookends of the continuing life journey of migrant farmer turned musician, Cris Plata. Author Maia A. Surdam shares Plata’s inspiring story of hard work and great music with young readers in the first dual language addition to the Society Press’s Badger Biographies Series.

Cris Plata: From Fields to Stage/Del Campo al Escenario follows the Plata family from farming in Texas to the Astico farm in Wisconsin. It also discusses hardships that the Mexican-American family faced along the way, from poor working conditions and low wages to racial prejudice, and explains how music uplifted them. After long hours in the field, the family sang songs from Mexico, and Plata learned to play the guitar, accordion, and mandolin as early as age five. He now writes his own songs and performs throughout the Midwest.

Like his biography, Plata’s life has been written in two languages. Plata grew up speaking Spanish and playing Mexican music with his family and friends, but he also spoke English, went to school with mostly white children, and embraced both cultures. For more information or to order a copy, visit shop.wisconsinhistory.org.