Anita, the young narrator, introduces readers to her two brothers, mother, father and grandparents in this bilingual celebration of family. Capturing the rich tradition of honoring our ancestors, this folk art celebration connects to the Mexican commemoration of the Day of the Dead.
Cynthia Weill (Count Me In!; Opuestos) writes of a household, perhaps like readers' own, using language familiar to beginning readers, to tell about the family members and even pets. Each page contains simple sentences in both English and Spanish to describe each character. Young Anita introduces her hermanos (brothers), her hermosa (beautiful) mother and guapo (handsome) father. Her grandmother has good advice (muy buenos consejos) and her grandfather is the sweetest (tan tierno). Anita's great grandmother is a fabulous storyteller. "My wonderful familyMi maravillosa familia."
Oaxacan folk artist Jesús Canseco Zárate creates papier-mâché sculptures of calacas (skeletons) to illustrate Weill's text, which are then photographed. These gentle sculptures are not meant to scare but rather to share awareness of age-old traditions. The skeletons are thin, with long necks and black-lined teeth in warm, upturned smiles. The family members wear colorful, patterned materials, and small elements of style such as the mom's pearls or the little bird on the baby brother's blue, one-piece jumper. On the last page, the author shares: "In Mexico the skeleton is a beloved and humorous figure. Its origins go back to pre-Columbian times."
Author and artist share the joy of family love and familial roles across languages and... across cultures. --Mollie Welsh Kruger, graduate faculty, Bank Street College of Education