Six from Mexico

-- School Library Journal, 8/29/2007

Highlight Hispanic Heritage month with these glimpses into the history, culture, and daily life of our neighbor to the south.

ANDREWS-GOEBEL, Nancy. The Pot That Juan Built. Lee & Low. 2002. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58430-038-0.

K-Gr 5–Juan Quezada is one of the best-known potters in Mexico. Using only natural materials to form and paint his pots, he is responsible for creating a vibrant folk-art economy in his small town of Mata Ortiz. This unusual book is set up to allow for differing levels of reading expertise, presenting information about Quezada in such a way that it can be read as a story or as an informational book, part biography, part fine-arts discussion. One page contains a catchy cumulative rhyme modeled on "This Is the House That Jack Built," which outlines the process of making a pot. The facing page offers a clearly written prose presentation, laying out the story of the potter's life and his method of constructing pots in the classic style of the Casas Grandes Indians. Diaz's arresting illustrations, rendered in Adobe Photoshop, use yellows, oranges, and reds in a layered effect that seems to glow with an inward light. The use of stylized forms-all of the people with a full-face front eye in the manner of ancient Egyptian art-adds a sense of gravitas and historical continuity to the artwork. An afterword gives a more in-depth treatment of Quezada's life and work, and is illustrated with small inset color photographs. This is a must purchase for all collections, and could be used with Diana Cohn's Dream Carver (Chronicle, 2002) for a look at how both art and economies of scale can work to enrich our lives and to build community.–Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

DÉLANO, Poli. When I Was a Boy Neruda Called Me Policarpo: A Memoir. tr. from Spanish by Sean Higgins. illus. by Manuel Monroy. Groundwood. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-88899-726-5.

Gr 5 Up–Based on the author's childhood remembrances of when he and his diplomat parents lived with "Tío Pablo" in Mexico, these seven chapters reveal both the genius and the eccentricities of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet. Délano tells of his adventures with the Nerudas' unusual pets, El Niño the badger and Renata the tarantula; of seeing the Tarzans of Acapulco; and, most importantly, of the life lessons that Neruda taught him. These included everything from how to eat grasshoppers to the importance of standing up for one-s beliefs, particularly in the face of political injustice. The chapters are short, well written, and filled with interesting details that will open up a new and exotic world to intermediate readers. A translation of one of Neruda's poems appears between each chapter. The selections, though, except for the more accessible "Poetry" or "The Great Tablecloth," are rather difficult, and young readers will need help and encouragement to discuss them. A biographical note gives a concise account of Neruda's place in the worlds of poetry and politics, and it will serve as good background information for class discussions on his life. Monroy's pen-and-sepia-toned drawings at the head of each chapter capture the innocence of Délano and the adventuresome spirit of his tío. They are at times humorous, at times dramatic, but always enticing, and they serve as a good indication of what the chapter will reveal. A refreshing addition to celebrity-studded biography collections in need of some literary substance.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI

MATHEWS, Sally Schofer. The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss. illus. by author. Clarion. 1994. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-395-63035-8; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-618-11745-1.

Gr 3-6–This sensitive treatment of La Noche Triste, or The Sad Night, the last battle the Aztecs won against the Spaniards, is a highly effective melding of graceful, lucid text and stylized art. Designed to resemble Aztec codices (most of which were destroyed by the Spaniards), the illustrations appear in double-page strips above the bordered text. Beginning with the Aztec migration to Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City), the history of this people is traced through their final conquest by Cortés's forces. Though the figures in the paintings are small, the action is clearly discernible. Indeed, children can "read" the story from these expressive illustrations. The final three pages of the book give more detailed information on the Aztecs and Cortés, including an explanation of the Aztec calendar. Similar in narrative and illustrative style to Deborah Nourse Lattimore's Why There Is No Arguing in Heaven (1989) and The Flame of Peace (1987, both HarperCollins), this title has the distinction of combining myth with historical fact in a particularly successful manner. An engaging introduction to Mexican history.–Ann Welton, Helen B. Stafford Elementary, Tacoma, WA

RYAN, Pam Muñoz. Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-439-26969-8; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-439-26997-1.

Gr 5-8–Gram, Naomi, and Owen are happy at Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho until the day the children's mother arrives. After being gone so long that they don't recognize her, Skyla enters their lives, lavishing attention and presents on fifth-grade Naomi; however, she never seems to include Owen. After several weeks, the truth about her reappearance becomes apparent. Clive, her new boyfriend, wants Naomi to live with them and become the permanent baby-sitter for his daughter. The ensuing custody battle forces Gram, Naomi, Owen and a neighbor couple to make a hasty trip to Mexico to look for Santiago, the children's biological father and a well-known wood-carver. After a physically and emotionally exhausting search, they finally find him at the annual Christmas festival in their ancestral village. Even though the children will continue to live with their great-grandmother, this reunion gives them the reassurance of their father's love and support. Ryan has written a moving book about family dynamics. While she explores the youngsters' Mexican heritage and gives a vivid picture of life in and the art of Oaxaca, her story is universal, showing the strong bonds and love that make up an extended family. All of the characters are well drawn, and readers will share Naomi's fear until the judge makes the final decision about her future.–Sharon Morrison, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK

WALDMAN, Stuart. We Asked for Nothing: The Remarkable Journey of Cabeza de Vaca. illus. by Tom McNeely. Mikaya. 2003. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-931414-07-4.

Gr 5-8–Conquistador Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and his men were shipwrecked on an island off the shore of Texas in 1528. Seeing how emaciated the Spaniards were, local Indians brought them food and water and cared for them. Cabeza de Vaca lived among the native tribes in the southwest for eight years, as he and three others walked toward the Spanish settlements in what today is Mexico. Enduring starvation, illness, and enslavement, they survived largely through the kindness of the Indians they met along the way. When the explorer finally reached the Spanish settlers, he tried to change their feudal-like treatment of indigenous people. Waldman's recounting is engaging, straightforward, and clear. Much of the text is based on Cabeza de Vaca's writings, which are frequently quoted in boxed insets, greatly enhancing readers' understanding of events. An epilogue explains what happened to the individuals mentioned in the narrative. A foldout map traces the journey on sea and land. McNeely's full- and double-page paintings capture the landscapes better than the people, who often look stiff. Most of the men's facial expressions appear as grimaces, and do not effectively portray their emotions. An absorbing story of adventure and self-discovery.–Peg Glisson, Mendon Center Elementary School, Pittsford, NY

WINTER, Jonah. Frida. illus. by Ana Juan. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. 2002. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-439-37308-1; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-439-33118-0.

Gr 2-5–This picture-book biography of the Mexican-born artist captures the essence of her difficult life and her triumph as a painter. Written in present tense, the story has immediacy, and the magnificent full-page acrylic illustrations cry out with emotion, as is befitting the work of a passionate artist. Kahlo, often lonely, had an active fantasy life, fueled by her creation of an imaginary friend and her exposure to the work of her artist father. Stricken with polio at age seven, she turned to drawing as her solace; years later when a bus accident nearly claimed her life, art again distracted her. While the simply told yet poignant story is inspiring, the true strength of this book lies in Juan's incredible illustrations. Their brilliant colors and expressionistic style convey the sense of daring and the excitement that Kahlo demonstrated both in her zest for life and in her splendid work. Figures familiar to the artist from Mexican folklore abound and their playfulness as they dance from page to page underscores the woman's artistic spirit. Her story is sure to be an inspiration, particularly to youngsters who see life differently from their peers and who dare to express these differences in artistic ways. A bold, successful attempt at incorporating the feel of the artist's own style into an explanation of her life.–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI