{"product_id":"who-is-rita-moreno-isbn-9780593891063","title":"Who Is Rita Moreno?","description":"\u003cb\u003eHow did a girl growing up near the rainforests of Puerto Rico become a Hollywood star and the first Puerto Rican woman to win an Academy Award? Find out in this addition to the Who HQ library!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore she was Rita Moreno, Rosita Dolores Alverío emigrated to New York City from Puerto Rico with her mother when she was five years old. With a talent for dancing and performing, she started her career on the stage at age nine. By the time she was thirteen, Rita made her Broadway debut! Best known for her role in \u003ci\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/i\u003e, Rita became the first Puerto Rican woman to win an Academy Award and eventually the first Latina woman in history to win an EGOT, all four of the major entertainment awards.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter thriving in Hollywood and on Broadway, Rita found joy in children’s television, and became a regular cast member with \u003ci\u003eThe Electric Company\u003c\/i\u003e and a guest star on \u003ci\u003eThe Muppets\u003c\/i\u003e. While sharing her love for music, dancing, and performing, she also focused on political activism in the 1960s, supporting Martin Luther King Jr. and the idea that by working together, change can be made for the better. Learn all about the career and life of the inspirational Hollywood and Broadway star Rita Moreno in this biography for young readers!G. M. Taboas Zayas is a writer and editor living in New York City. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she is an MFA graduate who writes young adult fantasy and horror and loves chocolate, not-too-scary movies, and cartoons.\u003cb\u003eWho Is Rita Moreno? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eDuring the Academy Awards ceremony on April 9, 1962, a talented Puerto Rican actress named Rita Moreno sat and waited with her friends. She’d been nominated for the award of best supporting actress for her role as Anita in the movie \u003ci\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/i\u003e. The Academy Awards celebrates people in the film industry for their outstanding work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRita had flown all the way to Los Angeles, California, from the Philippines, where she was working on a film called\u003ci\u003e Cry of Battle\u003c\/i\u003e. She was so excited just to be attending the awards ceremony that she didn’t even have a speech prepared.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey announced the first few winners: Maximilian Schell won best actor for \u003ci\u003eJudgment at Nuremberg,\u003c\/i\u003e George Chakiris won best supporting actor for \u003ci\u003eWest Side Story\u003c\/i\u003e, then Sophia Loren won best actress for \u003ci\u003eTwo Women\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinally, it was time to announce who won best supporting actress. Rock Hudson, an American actor, was presenting the award. He read out the names of the other nominated actors: Judy Garland, Fay Bainter, Lotte Lenya, and Una Merkel, all talented and famous women—-but Rita was the only Puerto Rican person and the only woman of color nominated for the award. When Rock Hudson announced Rita as the winner, she was speechless! She was the first Puerto Rican woman to win an Academy Award! When she walked to the stage to accept her award, Rita didn’t quite know what to say. She’d been performing since she was a little girl, dancing and acting in front of her family and friends, auditioning and acting in movies for the chance to be a star. On that stage, Rita felt like her dream was finally coming true.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I can’t believe it!” she said, grinning from ear to ear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat same night back in New York City, where Rita lived for most of her childhood, people throughout the city celebrated her win. Puerto Ricans in El Barrio—-meaning “neighborhood” or “district” in Spanish—-also known as Spanish Harlem because of the large Hispanic and Latin communities who lived there, cried out, “She won! She won!” From their windows and out on the streets they yelled: “She did it!”","brand":"Penguin Workshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233854861541,"sku":"NP9780593891063","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593891063.jpg?v=1767744171","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/who-is-rita-moreno-isbn-9780593891063","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}