Cuentecitos

Uncle Nacho’s Hat/El sombrero del Tío Nacho
Adapted by Harriet Rohmer
Illustrations by Mira Reisberg
Publisher: Children’s Book Press
ISBN-10: 089239112X
ISBN-13: 978-0892391127

Uncle Nacho’s Hat is a delightful and colorful fable adapting to change, which was originally a Nicaraguan folktale. I’m always happy when someone as talented as Harriet Rohmer breathes life into an old tale and gives it a new audience. Old folktales contain so much magic and wisdom that we absolutely need.

In the story, Uncle Nacho is frustrated by his old holey hat and often grumbles about it. When his thoughtful and intelligent niece Ambrosia brings him a new hat, he is so consumed with giving up the old one that he doesn’t recognize the good things the new hat brings to his life. In fact, he doesn’t much notice it at all. Uncle Nacho goes through a variety of trials to find a home for the old hat, which makes for a very enjoyable and funny story that children love. The simple answer provided by his niece makes perfect sense and teaches a lot about accepting change and moving on from our old habits.

The illustrations are bright, beautiful, colorful and warm keeping true to the folktale’s Central American origins. I loved how monkeys and parrots seemed to find their way into places in the pages, giving both a tropical and whimsical touch.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough and I’m not at all surprised at the awards and honors it has acquired. I’ve listed them below:

• Reading Rainbow Selection
• UNICEF—Ezra Jack Keats Award Citation
• Parent’s Choice Approved Book
• Recommended by the Elementary School Library Collection

Book Description from the Publisher:

When Ambrosia gives her Uncle Nacho a new hat, he tries to get rid of his old one, but to no avail. No matter what he does, the pesky hat keeps coming back to him. This classic folktale from the Puppet Workshop of Nicaraguan National Television, vividly illustrated by Mira Reisberg and presented in a bilingual edition, is a parable about the difficulties of making changes and shaking off old habits. The book includes an account of the origins of the story.

Poetry Friday is here and with it my last feature of a Robert’s Snow snowflake and artist. These weeks have been a tremendous feast of visual delights and creativity. I can’t get over how beautiful each snowflake is. Just like a real snowflake, no two are alike and this one, “Titania’s Flowery Bed” is no exception. It’s based on Victorian lullaby and it features a sleepy little fairy.

Today, I’m featuring Elizabeth Sayles, who has illustrated more than 20 books for children. Her latest book is “The Goldfish Yawned” (Henry Holt) and it is the first book that she wrote as well as illustrated. It is a winner of the Bank Street College Best Childrens Book, 2005. She also illustrated “I Already Know I Love You” written by Billy Crystal which was a NY Times #1 best selling picture book.

Her Titania made me think of Shakespeare and A Midsummer Night’s Dream so my Poetry Friday offering is Elizabeth Sayles, her magical snowflake and Shakespeare. Makes a nice trio, doesn’t it?

Liz was kind enough to send me a long email telling me all about what inspired her snowflake, how she came to Robert’s Snow and a bit about herself.

“My Snowflake — Titania’s Flowery Bed — was inspired by a book that I just illustrated called “Mother’s Song.” It is a Victorian lullaby and many fairies have found their way into the art. Some are fishing for pearls, or dancing on a spider’s thread, or escorting the Queen over the River bridge. This little fairy seemed to fit pretty well in the snowflake, which is actually a flower. “Mother’s Song,” which was adapted by Ellin Green, will be published in Spring ‘08 by Clarion Books.

The fairy, somehow wound up looking an awful lot like my daughter, Jessica. I see it now when I look at it, but was not aware of it when I was painting it.

I usually work in pastel… but I have been incorporating acrylic paints in my work lately and this snowflake was mostly painted using acrylics.

In the summer of 2005 Grace had asked me to do a snowflake for the first Robert’s Snow auction. I was so impressed by her, and her concept and energy. Most of us are paralyzed when someone we love is sick, at least I am. I can only think of how to get through the day, but Grace put all that anxiety into hopeful action. So I was happy to do it. Last year I was too busy, so I was more than happy to do it again this year, especially in light of the fact that Grace lost her husband in August.

One of my favorite books is “Five Little Kittens” (a New Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing Selection) My artwork has been on display at the Society of Illustrators in NYC, The New York Public Library, The Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio, Every Picture Tells a Story gallery in Los Angeles and Chemers Gallery in Orange County, CA. I am an adjunct professor of Illustration at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.”

Liz Sayles is one busy woman! Along with all her work, she has a website and a blog that feature her delectable art. snowflake and others at the Robert’s Snow online auction. . I fell in love with her work and it’s dreamy, soft feel.

Getting to know about artists like Liz and discovering their art has made this experience a joyful and fulfilling one. Please visit the Robert’s Snow Online Auction and bid often for these selfless and thoughtful pieces of themselves the artists share. Each snowflake, the work creating them and the stories behind them are worth far more than will ever be fetched at auction.

Poetry Friday’s round-up is at the place it began, Big A, little a.

On My Block: Stories and Paintings by Fifteen Artists
Editor: Dana Goldberg

Artists: Cecilia Alvarez, Carl Angel, Cbabi Bayoc, Kim Cogan, Maya Christina Gonzalez, Yasmin Hernandez, Felicia Hoshino, Sara Kahn, Conan Low, Joseph Pearson, Elaine Pedlar, Ann Phong, Jose Ramirez, Tonel, Jonathan Warm Day

Publisher: Children’s Book Press
ISBN-10: 0892392207
ISBN-13: 978-0892392209

On My Block is an incredible homage to neighborhoods, those childhood neighborhoods that were filled with enchantment and the wonder of young eyes and minds. Each sumptuous and very different page features a different artist talking about the neighborhoods of their childhood and what made them wonderful. Some pages are the stuff of dreams, others are filled with magic while some are grounded in reality, yet others contain the wispy quality of memory.

The fifteen artists are each completely wonderful in their own right and there is a small bio and photo of each at the bottom corner of each page, giving children and parents the opportunity to learn more about them. Each page is a journey of discovery.

Travel to Cuba with the artist known as Tonel and let his bright colors liven up your day.

Take a walk with Cecilia Alarez through her grandmother’s garden in Tijuana and feel the power of Mother Earth and view nature as a Goddess.

Visit with Los Angeles artist and teacher, Jose Ramirez in his East L.A. neighborhood on Ithaca Street (I lived there too!). His lush earth tones and warm brown faces will make you smile.

Yasmin Hernandez takes you through a gritty city dressed as Wonder Woman on her magical tour.

Maya Christina Gonzalez sweeps you away with her gorgeous use of color and sweeping dreamlike style.

Felicia Hoshino takes you to San Francisco where you have the fun of working at making tofu. Her soft colors made me think of the delicate, pale nature of tofu.

Cbabi Bayoc takes us to the park and that joy of just hanging on monkey bars. His wonderful illustrations of children’s faces smiling with the simple joy will bring back memories and make you smile long after you close the book.

I could go on and on about each artist and find more and more to ooh and ahh over. I open this book after a long day and I can’t help but be transported to that magical place of childhood where everything has magical potential. This is a book for both children and adults and is highly recommended. Each of the artists is well worth learning about and their websites or websites about them are easily found. On My Block is a wonderful way to teach children about art and artists, styles and diversity.

Me Llamo Gabriela/My Name Is Gabriela
Author: Monica Brown
Illustrator: John Parra
Publisher: Luna Rising
ISBN-10: 0873588592
ISBN-13: 978-0873588591

This wonderful little tribute to Gabriela Mistral, the Chilean Nobel Prize winner for Literature and the first Latina to receive the award works on so many levels.

As a picture book, the illustrations by John Parra are simply beautiful. His almost etched looking feel to the pages give that unique Latino flair and flavor while his color palette brings a happy and joyful feel to the book.

As a history, the book is a wonderful way to introduce young children to important historical figures in a completely relatable way. The book opens telling about Gabriela and how she picked her own name because she liked the sound of it. Writen in the first person, Me Llamo Gabriela/My Name Is Gabriela draws in the young reader with its imaginative, day dreamy feel and a sense of play. My little granddaughter was captivated by the story of young Gabriela Mistral and how she realized her dreams and beyond. I could see that she was drinking in the story, seeing herself in Gabriela and imagining herself doing the same. Isn’t that what we want for our children? That they see themselves as strong and successful so that they can go out into that wide world with a strong sense of self and the belief that their dreams are possible? Monica Brown’s book does just that – it gives them a concrete example of someone who followed their dreams and made them happen.

On another very important level this book teaches the importance of literacy. It gives little Latinas a good look at an intelligent role model. People like Gabriela Mistral are people Latinas or Chicanas don’t always learn about till college. To have a young child’s picture book teaching about a Nobel Prize-winning author gives them a view that they as Latinas have value and much to contribute. That’s an extremely important view to have when you’re growing up. My Name is Gabriela is highly recommended.

Title: Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman With a Great Big Heart
Author: Pat Mora
Illustrator: Raul Colón
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 25, 2005)
ISBN: 0679980024

Award winning Pat Mora and illustrator Raul Colón, an award winner in his own right have collaborated once again in this funny, touching and gorgeous book. They have partnered once before with Tomás and the Library Lady, which won several awards, including the Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award.

Doña Flor is a giant woman who lives in the Southwest and makes giant tortillas which the children use as rafts and the grown ups use to roof their houses making the air smell of sunshine and warm corn. Her casa is as huge as a mountain, which she made herself adding estrellas to make the adobe shine. To cheer up the villagers, she scratches them out a rio. Everything she grows in her garden grows to amazing sizes and she lets the children in her pueblo use flowers for trumpets and the huge sunflowers for umbrellas. The people love the beautiful and kind Doña Flor and look up to her so it is no surprise when the villagers hear a loud roaring to call on her for help against the strange sound. What follows is a funny and wonderful tall tale of Doña Flor’s hunt for the creature that is terrifying the villagers she protects and loves. Pat Mora’s story telling is humorous, wonderful and filled with her love for the Southwest. The imagery is amazing; you can almost smell those giant corn tortillas and hear the roar of the “monster gato”.

The illustrations by Raul Colón are lovely, a wondrous combination of watercolor washes, etchings and colored and litho pencils. Doña Flor and her world are vividly portrayed and you can almost step into each page and walk into the fantastic world created by Ms. Mora. The characters faces are so beautiful; Doña Flor in particular is a gorgeous rendition of a Mexican woman with a beautiful oval brown face, full lips and deep brown eyes. She is reminiscent of a Diego Rivera painting or a Da Vinci Madonna. The colors are soft yet vibrant – luscious blue-greens and the rich warm hues of a desert sunset. Ay que bonito! I loved this book and the story made me laugh out loud. I love turning the pages and finding more and more to love in the illustrations of children marching with their flower trumpets – copa de oro my grandmother called those flowers and just about every house in our neighborhood growing up had them growing so the book also brought back a rush of warm and happy memories.

Pat Mora writes poetry, non-fiction and children’s books. She is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship and a Kellogg National Fellowship. She is a native of El Paso, Texas and currently lives in Santa Fe.

Raul Colón has illustrated many books for children. He has been awarded gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators for his picture-book art. Mr. Colón resides in New York City.

Title: Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in English and Spanish

Author: Alma Flor Ada and Simón Silva (illustrator)

Publisher: Rayo; 1st edition (April 28, 1997)

ISBN: 0688139035

This is one of those books that sit on a favored shelf, that get bought and re-bought in stacks to be handed out as gifts to every child in my rather large family and friends network.

The book is absolutely beautiful with double page gouache illustrations by Simón Silva who uses vibrant earth tones in blues, oranges, browns, reds, yellows and greens in shades that I like to call the Mexican colors. Y que colores! They are gorgeous, sun-drenched and stunning. Each of the illustrations are each a story in themselves; featuring lush depictions of migrant farm workers at work in the fields and at home. The artwork to me is reminiscent of some of the great muralists and painters of Mexico like Jose Clemente Orozco.

Each illustration features a letter of the alphabet and a lovely little poem by Alma Flor Ada with the English translation by Rosalma Zubizarreta. The poem for each letter also corresponds to the migrant farm worker’s life. I love that each letter corresponds to the Spanish word rather than the English. The loveliest poem in the book is the touching elegy to César Chavez and Simón Silva’s illustration of his face is simply astounding. The translations of each poem into English are wonderfully done as well.

Start with “À” for Àrboles; be prepared to be entranced by the poetry and the illustrations. I remember the first time I saw this book back when it was published in 1997. I was amazed at the beauty of each page and of how each poem fit itself perfectly to the artwork or maybe the artwork to the poetry. Either way, the book is stunning and a must for any library, adult or child – especially a Chicano library.

I used this book to teach my pochito children not only about art and poetry but the alphabet in Spanish and it worked a whole lot better than my previous attempts to teach them the language I grew up with. Each one of the four still has their much read copy of Gathering the Sun and each one has asked me to buy one for their children as they have come into the world. I can’t think of better praise for a book than that.

Title: Prietita & The Ghost Woman/Prietita y la Llorona

Author: Gloria E. Anzaldúa

Illustrator: Maya Christina Gonzalez

Publisher: Children’s Book Press

ISBN: 0892391367

Which of us Chicanos didn’t grow up afraid of La Llorona y el Cucui? I for one stayed up at night worrying that La Llorona was coming for me and remain slightly obsessed with her story. If I had had this lovely folktale by the late Gloria Anzaldúa, Xicana feminist poet, writer, teacher and activist I might have wanted to meet La Llorona instead of terrified she’d come and get me.

This is the story of Prietita, whose mother is gravely ill. The curandera has told Prietita that only ruda will cure her mother and so brave Prietita sets off in search of it to the dangerous King Ranch where they shoot trespassers. She encounters various creatures on her way and asks each, the salamander, the dove and the deer if they know where the plant grows but none know. La Llorona appears and guides Prietita to the plant and to safety.

The story is lovely. Prietita and the other women in the story are strong and brave Chicanas. The Aztec lore, our herbal healing traditions and love of family are depicted throughout the tale. There’s history here and culture. I loved it when the dove answered “cucurrucucu”. It immediately brought to mind the song Cucurrucucu Paloma and Lola Beltran’s voice singing it. Just one perfect word brings up a surge of memory, of Xicanidad, of casa y comal, of love and family. Each page, each paragraph does this, touches the heart, the very core of being Chicano. It’s astounding. The book would stand alone without the illustrations – Gloria Anzaldúa’s writing is so poetic, so evocative that you can see the people, the animals, La Llorona, feel the emotions, smell the night air, the ruda, the very earth.

However, the illustrations by Maya Chrisina Gonzalez are equally astounding. They’re gorgeous. The green of the nopal, the strong Chicana faces, the long black hair flowing, the colors, the light, the warmth! Looking at these illustrations makes me feel I’m in the Southwest, I can almost touch the life in them. What struck me most was the eyes of the women and Prietita. Ojitos Mexicanos que bonitos!

I love the idea too, of La Llorona being a helping spirit. It got me thinking. Maybe La Llorona is just another aspect of Tonantzin the Earth Mother, La Virgen de Guadalupe. Maybe the sound of her wailing is because we don’t listen, we’re forgetting our lore, our heirbas, our recetas, our language. Quien sabe? What I do know is this book made me think and think hard. It made me re-think.

Title: Mi Hija, Mi Hijo, El Aguila, La Paloma: Un Canto Azteca

Author: Ana Castillo, Susan Guevara (Illustrator)

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; (March 1, 2000)

ISBN: 0525458670

Price: 12.99

Ana Castillo, the reknowned Xicana poet, novelist and essayist has written one of the loveliest little children’s book I’ve ever seen. It is a blessing and a prayer based on an old Aztec flor y canto beautifully illustrated by Susan Guevara.

The book is small and looks something like the facsimiles of the old Aztec codices. It is written Spanish. It begins with Mi Hija, La Paloma, or My Daughter, the Dove; a canto designed to teach little girls of their preciousness, beauty and how to live their lives. It has a charming lilt to it. The first stanza begins:

“Mi hija, preciosa,

como un collar de oro

preciosa

como una pluma de quetzal,

tu eres mi sangre,

mi imagen – ”

“My daughter,

precious like a golden necklace

precious

like the feather of a quetzal,

you are my blood

my image – ”

It continues to extol the virtues of the daughter as well as giving some life lessons, reminding the daughter not to be lazy, to study, to work. It tells that a girl must learn to live her life on the right path.

The second section is written for a boy, Mi Hijo, El Aguila, El Tigre or My Son, The Eagle, The Tiger begins:

“Mi hijo,

aguila y tigre,

ala y cola

Hijo mio,

Tan querido, tan amado –

¡escuche!”

“My son,

eagle and tiger,

wing and tail,

My son,

So dear, so loved –

listen!”

It goes on to speak of ancestors, of pride, or what our ancestors have left for us in lessons, in our culture, our heritage. It tells of doing good works, becoming a good man, of living life with care and dignity. It asks that the son listen with his heart and go on to become a good man.

The book is illustrated with Aztec symbols from the old codices as well as delicate and powerful paintings on amatl paper or tree bark in the indigenous tradition. The paintings, while done in the style of the ancient people are of contemporary children and their parents and surprisingly, fit in perfectly with the Aztec symbols and images.

It is an astounding message, a lovely and loving book and a testament to Ms. Castillo’s love of our culture. She and Ms. Guevara have created a lasting and honorific tribute to our ancestors as well as a beautiful and contemporary moral poem for children and parents to enjoy for years to come.

Arrorró, Mi Niño – Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games

Author and Illustrator: Lulu Delacre

Musical Arrangements by Cecilia Esquivel and Diana Sáez

Publisher: Lee and Low Books, Inc.

Do you remember those songs your abuelos used to sing? Or maybe it was your parents. Or a tia or tio. Someone in your family used to sing those silly little songs, those funny Spanish rhymes that made no sense except to make you smile. Maybe it was you. Maybe you chanted, “dale, dale, dale…” whenever there was a piñata to break, or maybe you sing Los Pollitos to your little baby. I know I did. I had an amazing abuelos who taught me silly rhymes and lullabies and I in turn taught them by singing them to my children and now my grandchildren. I still sing, “los pollitos dicen, pio, pio, pio” to my grandchildren and they love it. My granddaughter Jasmine will ask for the “chickie song” and my grandson Aiden will say “peep peep” the minute he hears me start to sing it. These songs, rhymes and lullabies are important to us as a family. They are our traditions and our memories past and future. Imagine my great pleasure in finding this book Arrorró, Mi Niño – Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games in my local bookstore.

The minute I picked it up and turned a page, I knew I had to have it. I paid hurriedly and almost ran home with it. Jasmine and I flipped through the pages at home and we both couldn’t wait to play. I found Los Pollitos and other fun songs as well as the completions to bits and pieces I had floating around in my memory. It was tremendous to be able to finally complete the thought! Silly rhymes that made no sense that I had thought were just my Papa Chava’s were printed in bold black and white and it brought his raspy voice floating back to me saying, “Pon, pon, pon el dedito en el pilon”.

This book is a treasure filled with tickling games like El Mercado which I loved to play with my little children as I tickled under their arms saying, “Cuando vayas al mercado, no compres carne ni de aqui, ni de aqui, solamente ¡de por aqui!” and I remembered them laughing out loud and screaming in delight.

The illustrations are lovely as well and portray Latino life with everyday errands and happy, laughing children. There is a nostalgic and dreamlike quality to the illustrations which fits perfectly since you’re being swept away to nostalgia, dreams and memory. You’re remembering that perfect day, that night spent being rocked in your mother’s arms, the laughter of youth, the shouts of children playing, the smell of your abuela’s kitchen or flower garden, the way the sun shone just so when you hurt your knee and your tia kissed it and said, “sana, sana colita de rana” and you knew it would be all right because she had blessed it with her kiss and incantation.

In the back of the book, there is written musica for those of you who read it and want to sing or play your gitarra. This book is everything you need and everything you want. For the expectant parents or grandparents, this is a perfect gift. If you’re feeling lonely and missing someone, buy this book and sing something funny. If you’re sad, read it and you can’t help but smile. As if all this wasn’t enough, the book is bilingual! I can’t wait to read more of Lulu Delacre’s books.

Arrorro, Mi Niño – Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games was the winner of the 2006 Pura Belpre Award for Illustration

Xochitl and the Flowers/Xochitl, La Niña de Las Flores
by Jorge Argueta, Carl Angel (Illustrator)
Publisher: Children’s Book Press (CA); Bilingual edition (July, 2003)
ISBN: 0892391812

Xochitl and her family have come from El Salvador and are missing home very much. They live in San Francisco’s Mission District and what they miss most of all are the flowers that they were surrounded with back home. Back in El Salvador, the Flores family was known for the flowers that they provided. Xochitl’s mother dreams of owning a nursery filled with beautiful flowers and plants. She begins working on her dream by selling bouquets of flowers on the roadside, walking door to door with Xochitl in their new neighborhood. When Xochitl’s father finds an apartment with a large yard filled with garbage that would be perfect for a nursery once cleaned, the family and the new friends in the community work hard together to make it work.

This is a beautiful story of community and the power of banding together to make dreams happen. It is a story of how people can band together to bring positive change. It is also the tale of love for a homeland and the homesickness that hits hard at the oddest times. It’s about finding your place in the world, of making a home in a new land.

Xochitl and the Flowers is about a dream and the work to make that dream come true. It is what most of our parents and grandparents have done; bringing a piece of that culture and homeland that they left and blending it with the new land to make something entirely their own. It’s about transcending borders. The book teaches love, home and community, determination in the face of adversity and of establishing roots.

Prize-winning poet Jorge Argueta has written a timeless, eloquent and moving tale based on real life events in the San Francisco Mission District. The illustrations are colorful and gorgeous like the flowers central to the story. Each page is filled with flowers and smiles and each page made me smile. This is a powerful book and one each of us should have in our shelf reserved for special books.