Colores de la vida

May 16, 2011
Like its predecessors, this color-themed companion to ABeCedarios (2007) and Opuestos (2009) also features the handiwork of Oaxacan sculptors, who contribute stylized and vibrantly painted creatures that show off each color to its fullest and are set against marbled backdrops of the same hue. A pair of winged dragonlike creatures (for yellow/amarillo) seem to shout with glee as a third hatches from an egg, while two purple/morado rabbits, as inky as the night sky, prepare to dive into a pile of carrots. Some readers might wish for IDs for the more unusual animals, but the sculptures are hypnotic. Ages 3â6.

June 15, 2011

Following Opuestos (2009), Weill introduces colors with mixed success in the latest book in her bilingual First Concepts with Mexican Folk Art series.

Using animals handcrafted by Oaxacan artisans, the author showcases 14 different colors, from typical primary and secondary colors to neutrals and metallics. The book presents young readers to a few colors (such as turquoise, gray, gold and silver) not found in most color concept books. Two pages are dedicated to each color; English and Spanish words for the color are on the left page, faced by one or more animal artworks on the opposite. Made from wood, ceramic, tin or papier-mâché, the featured animals range from ordinary giraffes and polar bears to fantastical winged creatures. While the folk art in the other books in the series popped from pages of contrasting colors, the animals here fade into backgrounds too similar to their representative colors. In some cases, this design decision merely lessens the beauty of the unique, colorful objects. In other instances, the various tints and shades may confuse young readers; purple wooden rabbits look almost black, and a band of ceramic animal musicians appear tan on their brown page. The last page presents a gorgeous pair of multicolored pigs.

Even with its design flaws, the book remains a good choice for bilingual storytimes and conversations about color. (Picture book. 3-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2011

PreS-Gr 1-This beautifully illustrated work by the author of ABeCedarios (2007) and Opuestos (2009, both Cinco Puntos) makes learning colors fun. Bright sculptures by Oaxacan artists capture the folkloric ambiance of the area, infusing the pages with whimsical animals splashed with color. Pink cattle eat hay while a calf nurses from its mother. Two pigs sport vibrant flowers interspersed with flying white birds on their hides. A huge, black, metal spider looks curiously at readers. Golden fish donning bows and hats swim across the yellow page. Figures correspond with the same-colored backdrop, giving young readers the chance to explore varying shades between the illustrations and colored text naming the target pigment. This book will delight old and young alike as they explore colors. Suitable for use with toddler and preschool storytimes and in beginning Spanish classes.-Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Regional Library System, WA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011
This very simple concept book includes color names in both English and Spanish. Each word pair is illustrated with a vibrant photograph of a folk-art sculpture of an animal, all made by artists in Oaxaca, Mexico. The only disappointment is that there isn't more information about the artisans who created the pieces (the names of the animals might also have been useful).

(Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

June 15, 2011

Following Opuestos (2009), Weill introduces colors with mixed success in the latest book in her bilingual First Concepts with Mexican Folk Art series.

Using animals handcrafted by Oaxacan artisans, the author showcases 14 different colors, from typical primary and secondary colors to neutrals and metallics. The book presents young readers to a few colors (such as turquoise, gray, gold and silver) not found in most color concept books. Two pages are dedicated to each color; English and Spanish words for the color are on the left page, faced by one or more animal artworks on the opposite. Made from wood, ceramic, tin or papier-m�ch�, the featured animals range from ordinary giraffes and polar bears to fantastical winged creatures. While the folk art in the other books in the series popped from pages of contrasting colors, the animals here fade into backgrounds too similar to their representative colors. In some cases, this design decision merely lessens the beauty of the unique, colorful objects. In other instances, the various tints and shades may confuse young readers; purple wooden rabbits look almost black, and a band of ceramic animal musicians appear tan on their brown page. The last page presents a gorgeous pair of multicolored pigs.

Even with its design flaws, the book remains a good choice for bilingual storytimes and conversations about color. (Picture book. 3-7)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)