ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish

ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish

Written by: Cynthia Weill
Illustrated by: Moisés Jiménez, Armando Jiménez, K.B. Basseches (Photographer)

Elementary Grades

"Every ABC book worth its cover price is bound to have bright colors and big letters. But not every ABC book has magical hand-carved animals to illustrate every letter. And very few alphabet books present those letters in more varieties than English! Very few alphabet books except the ABeCedarios, that is! In this brightly colored book, the alphabet is presented in both Spanish and English, and includes the four additional letters—and whimsical animals—that make the Spanish alphabet so much fun.

The famous folk artists, brothers Moisés and Armando Jiménez, carved the wonderful animal figures that illustrate each letter in ABeCedarios. Working with their wives and children in the beautiful village of Arrazola in Oaxaca, Mexico, they carved and painted each enchanting animal by hand. For many centuries, people in Oaxaca have carved wood to make toys and household objects. However, it was Moisés and Armando’s grandfather Manuel who started making animal figures. Now more than sixty families in Arrazola make their living from wood carving."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.cincopuntos.com/teacher_resources.sstg
http://maisonceleste.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/932/

Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book

Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book

Written and Illustrated by: Jeanette Winter

Elementary Grades

"Every year Don Pedro and his family make papier-mache skeletons, or calaveras, for Mexico's Day of the Dead fiesta. From Angel and Doctor to Mariachi and Unicornio, 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."

Publishers Synopsis

Web Resources:
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-education.html

The Day It Snowed Tortillas / El Dia Que Nevaron Tortillas, Folktales told in Spanish and English

The Day It Snowed Tortillas / El Dia Que Nevaron Tortillas, Folktales told in Spanish and English

Written by: Joe Hayes
Illustrated by: Antonio Castro Lopez

Elementary Grades

"Storytellers have been telling these stories in the villages of New Mexico since the Spanish first came to the New World over four hundred years ago, but Joe always adds his own nuances for modern audiences. The tales are full of magic and fun. In the title story, for instance, a very clever woman saves her silly husband from a band of robbers. She makes the old man believe it snowed tortillas during the night! In another story, a young boy gladly gives up all of his wages for good advice. His parents think he is a fool, but the good advice leads to wealth and a royal marriage. The enchantment continues in story after story—a clever thief tricks a king for his kingdom and a prince finds his beloved in a house full of wicked step-sisters. And of course, we listen again to the ancient tale of the weeping woman, La Llorona, who still searches for her drowned children along the riverbanks.

Joe Hayes is one of America’s premier storytellers. He is especially recognized for his bilingual telling of stories from the Hispanic culture of northern New Mexico. Joe lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico and travels extensively throughout the United States, visiting schools and storytelling festivals."

Publishers Synopsis

Web Resources:
http://www.crabgrasspuppet.com/tortillas.html
www.rif.org/assets/Documents/.../DayItSnowedTortillasguide.pdf

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book

Written and Illustrated by: Yuyi Morales

Elementary Grades

"Yuyi Morales takes us on a new journey with Señor Calvera, the skeleton from Day of the Dead celebrations. Señor Calvera is worried. He can’t figure out what to give Grandma Beetle for her birthday. Misunderstanding the advice of Zelmiro the Ghost, Señor Calvera decides not to get her one gift, but instead one gift for every letter of the alphabet, just in case. Una Acordéon: An accordion for her to dance to. Bigotes: A mustache because she has none. Cosquillas: Tickles to make her laugh…only to find out at the end of the alphabet that the best gift of all is seeing her friends. Morales’s art glows in this heart-warming original tale with folklore themes, a companion book to her Pura Belpré-winning JUST A MINUTE."

Publishers Review

Gathering the Sun

Author: Alma Flor Ada
Illustrator: Simon Silva

Bilingual K-3

"Using the Spanish alphabet as a template, Ada has written 27 poems that celebrate both the bounty of the harvest and the Mexican heritage of the farmworkers and their families. The poems, presented in both Spanish and English, are short and simple bursts of flavor: "Árboles/Trees," "Betabel/Beet," "César Chávez," etc. Silva's sun-drenched gouache paintings are robust, with images sculpted in paint. Brimming with respect and pride, the book, with its mythic vision of the migrant farm worker, will add much to any unit on farming or Mexican American heritage."

Booklist Review

Awards:
Pura Belpre Award, 1997

Web Resources:
www.almaflorada.com

F is for Fiesta

Author: Susan Middleton Elya
Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

Bilingual - K-2.

Susan Middleton Elya's "F is For Fiesta" describes a lively birthday party, featuring the 30 letters of the Spanish alphabet. Before the party begins, "A" is for adornos hung by Papá while "B" is for the biscochitos Mamá bakes.

Brian Karas' delightful illustrations draw young readers into a party, complete with dulces (sweets), globos (balloons), juguetes (toys) and a bright star-shaped piñata filled with candy. this joyous alphabet book includes a glossary of translations and is an excellent resource for bilingual K-2 teachers.

Topeka's Capital Journal

Web Resources:
www.susanelya.com