An engaging collection of texts offers students of Spanish the opportunity to read works by thirteen contemporary Hispanic writers and then view those authors on DVD as they talk about their life and work. The authors come from different regions in Latin America and Spain, and one is a Latino from the United States. A variety of genres are represented in the book (narrative texts, plays, poems, and a chapter on oral narration), as well as a range of styles and themes. In addition to information on each author, the book includes useful activities, questions, and ideas for discussion or writing assignments.

The innovative multimedia approach of Caleidoscopio enables students to hear the actual voices-and accents-of the authors and to gain an awareness of the cultural milieu in which the texts were created. [Edit review] [Delete review]