A love of Mexican culture and art inspired fourth-grade teacher Jeaninne Kato to write a children’s book.

Kato, who has taught fourth-grade at First Street Elementary School since 2001, started writing “Manuel’s Murals” in 2003.

The book was published in Dec. 2011 by 3L Publishing and released in January, Kato said.

“I have two passions, the art of Mexico and the children of Mexican culture. That’s what inspired it,” Kato said. “The whole book is inspired by Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo, two (Mexican) artists.”

The teacher also was inspired by her students since the school has a “70 percent Hispanic culture.”

“When I started teaching at First Street School, I wanted to get closer to the community,” Kato said. “I began Spanish lessons in Mexico and I go every summer (and take lessons).”

In spring 2003, Kato was visiting Mexico City when the idea to write “Manuel’s Murals” came about.

“I was sitting in front of the mural in Mexico City at the National Palace. It’s the ‘History of Mexico’ mural painted by Diego Rivera in the 1930s,” Kato said. “I was sitting there all day amazed at this mural and what he painted. I heard this little voice, figuratively, saying, ‘Teach the children about the history of Mexico.’”

Kato wrote the book to educate her students about the Mexican culture.

“I thought these children need to know who they are, no matter where they are,” Kato said.

The book is about a little boy named Manuel, who lives in Mexico City, according to Kato, and Manuel “loves painting murals like his hero Diego Rivera.”

“He loves Rivera so much that he paints murals on the walls of his apartment building to be like his hero,” Kato said.

Calling the mural graffiti, the apartment landlord evicts Manuel and his family.

“He feels so humiliated and feels bad for his parents so he runs away,” Kato said.

Manuel visits the National Palace in Mexico City, is inspired by Diego Rivera’s mural and returned home to paint the history of the Mexican culture on the apartment building wall, Kato said.

“Downstairs, he hears all these people yelling and clapping, and you see the whole community looking at his mural,” Kato said. “He painted everyone he knew. They (neighbors) said if you evict this family, we are going to leave, and this edifies his culture.”

The book has a Spanish-to-English dictionary in the back and is “peppered with Spanish terms.”

Rachel Smith, an Oakland artist, illustrated the book.

As she wrote the book, Kato said, she would read it to her students over the years.

“It fits in with the fourth-grade curriculum because of the missions, which were started in Mexico,” Kato said.

The book has “come full circle,” according to Kato.

“My ROP student was in the first class when I began writing the book in 2003, and then she’s the ROP students for the year that I published it,” Kato said. And then she’s the ROP students for the year that I published it doesn’t make sense

Dani Hart, 17, is that ROP student, Kato was “one of my favorite teachers,” Hart said.

“She really got me into writing,” Hart said. “I love reading and writing because of her and my

fifth-grade teacher.”

Hart said she admires Kato for writing the book.

“She had this whole idea for the book when I was in fourth grade nine years ago and it’s evolved completely different,” Hart said.

The News Messenger asked some of Kato’s students about the book.

Martina Ortega, 9, and Irene Sanchez, 9, said they both liked being in Kato’s class the year she finished the book.

“None of my other teachers have ever written a book,” Martina said.

Irene said Kato “did a good part in (creating) the characters.”

“I like that Manuel gets to learn his Mexican history and that he has a great time painting,” Fernando Zepeda, 10, said. “He thinks of others, too.”

Jacob Campas, 10, talked about how dedicated Manuel was to his paintings.

“When Manuel paints, he gets so caught up with it. When Manuel’s dad tells him what to do, he doesn’t do it because he’s so caught up into painting,” Jacob said.

Fernando said he looks forward to getting an autographed copy of the book and Jacob mentioned the future.

“It’s cool, because when we grow up and our sons get a copy of the book, we’ll be able to say that’s my teacher,” Jacob said.