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Searching... Baker Street Branch (Kern Co.) | Searching... Unknown | Children's Picture Books | E WIN | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Every year Don Pedro and his family make papier-mache skeletons, or calaveras, for Mexico's Day of the Dead fiesta. From A ngel and D octor to M ariachi and U nicornio, each letter of the alphabet has its own special calavera .
Come dance with them in this unusual ABC book inspired by a real Mexican family of artists and the many colorful folk-art traditions surrounding the celebration of the Day of the Dead.
Includes a glossary of Spanish words and an author's note.
Author Notes
Jeanette Winter has written and/or illustrated over a dozen children's books, including "Calavera Abecedario" and "The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq," as well as biographies of Diego Rivera, Johann Sebastian Bach and Georgia O'Keeffe among others.
Winter is celebrated for her distinctive painting style, picture design, and usage of brilliant colors. She has received the American Illustrators Guild Award twice.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-Within a frame story of a family celebration is a friendly skeleton-themed alphabet offering words and characters related to the culture and holiday. A Spanish glossary and author's note provide background about the holiday. Vibrant artwork evokes Mexican folk art. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Jeanette Winter (illustrator of Tony Johnston's Day of the Dead) offers another visual extravaganza set against the Mexican festival in Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book. The neon bordered artwork begins with Don Pedro, his sons and grandsons constructing the calaveras (skeletons) for the town's celebration. When they take them to market, the calaveras come alive, assuming such roles as "candelera" (candlemaker) and "vaquero" (cowboy). (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Every year, Don Pedro and his sons create papier-mache skeletons (calaveras) for el Dia de los Muertos. On festival day, an alphabetical procession of skeletons marches across the pages, from angel to zapatero. The effective illustrations+ black backgrounds accentuate the colorfully clothed white skeletons. An alphabet glossary translates the Spanish words; an author's note provides more background on the Mexican festival and the real Don Pedro. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
This visually exciting alphabet book makes a fine companion to Winter's Day of the Dead (1997). Boldly colored borders frame the brilliant-hued folk-like images and vivid white text superimposed on a black background. First she tells of a Mexico City family preparing the papier-mâchÉ skeletons (calaveras) for annual Day of the Dead celebrations as they have for several generations. The alphabet portion includes an array of charming skeletons in various poses, including an angel, a witch (bruja), bride and bridegroom (novia and novio), mariachi, and zapatero (shoemaker). The letter K is represented by Frida Kahlo, Y by a yucca, and W, which doesn't exist in Spanish, is pushed off the page. An alphabet glossary notes differences between the Spanish and English alphabets and provides English translations of the Spanish words. An author's note discusses Mexican fiestas and Don Pedro Linares, whose life inspired the story. (glossary) (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 3. Winter's continuing fascination with Mexican culture is evident in this alphabet book featuring el Dia de los Muer0 tos--the Day of the Dead. The book opens as Don Pedro and his sons make papier-mache skeletons, calaveras,0 on a rooftop in Mexico City. When the calaveras 0 are ready, each one acts out a word in Spanish that begins with a letter of the alphabet: E0 for enfermera0 (nurse); H0 for huevera0 (egg seller); V0 for vaquero 0 (cowboy). The Spanish language has no W,0 so that page depicts a skeleton pushing the letter off the edge of the picture. A glossary concludes, and an author's note pays tribute to a famous cala0 vera maker, Don Pedro Linares. Borders in sun-soaked colors contrast with black backgrounds that dramatically set off the white skeletons. Although readers looking for specific information about the fiesta won't find it here (for that they'll need to turn to Winter's 1997 book with author Tony Johnston, Day of the Dead0 ) this striking celebration of an intriguing tradition will be welcomed by teachers, librarians, and Mexican American families, as well as by kids everywhere. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2004 Booklist