Welcome to the family! It's just like yours: father, mother, sister, brother, abuelita, gato, even a great-great grandmother. Well, but there's something just a little bit different about this particular family. Maybe it's those clothes they wear . . . just a little bit fashion backward. And the colors! So vibrant and . . . lively. Maybe that's what it is. They are just so full of life while looking almost other worldly.
Cynthia Weill's latest bilingual book for young readers teaches basic information about relationships, while also celebrating the colorful tradition of Mexico's Day of the Dead. Artist Jesus Canseco Zarate long-limbed sculptures are a playful twist on traditional Mexican iconography of the skeleton that stretches back through the country's art history to José Gualdalupe Posada's engravings and Aztec sculpture.
Chosen as one of the Best Children's Books Of The Year by the Children's Book Committee and by the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
Cynthia Weill holds a doctorate in education from Teachers College Columbia University. She is on the board of the Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art which seeks to promote and preserve the artists and artisanal work of that Mexican state. La Familia is her fifth book featuring the folk art of Oaxaca.
Jesus Canseco Zarate is a young Oaxacan folk artist whose medium of choice is paper mâché. In 2008 he won first prize in the Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art completion for young artists.
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Publishers Weekly
Oaxacan folk artist Zárate creates papier-mâché sculptures of Day of the Dead–style skeletons that grin widely as a young skeleton named Anita introduces her family. In brief sentences that appear in English and Spanish, Anita discusses her younger brothers Miguel (“He’s a brat”) and Juanito (“He’s so cute!”), as well as her parents and other older relatives. The, well, skeletal sentences make it easy for readers to draw connections between the English and Spanish words, and Zárate’s sculptures exude personality, whether it’s baby Juanito smiling in a stroller, wearing a powder-blue onesie, or the children’s “beautiful mother,” decked out in a pink dress and pearls. Ages 1–6. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"Oaxacan folk artist Zárate creates papier-mâché sculptures of Day of the Dead–style skeletons that grin widely as a young skeleton named Anita introduces her family…Zárate’s sculptures exude personality."—Publishers Weekly"Though they are skeletons, this family couldn’t be friendlier … The details traditional Oaxacan artist Canseco Zárate includes charm as fully as Weill’s crunchy vocabulary … They may be dead, but their affection is palpable. Just right for the Day of the Dead or for a fresh take on family structures—tan lindo!" —Kirkus Reviews
"The photographed Oaxacan folk-art figures will make readers smile as each one has a fixed grin, as one would expect from a well-dressed skeleton … This book would be a welcome and culturally relevant addition to beginning-reader collections."—School Library Journal
Children's Literature - Ramirose I. Attebury
More art than story, this book about a family of skeletons features the work of Mexican artist Jesús Canesco Zárate, who connected with the author at a young artist competition in his hometown of Oaxaca City. Skeletons are considered humorous figures in Mexico; papier-mâché is an important art form in the country, dating back to 16th century Spanish missionaries. The art in the book bears this out. A smiling, colorful family of skeletons, dressed in bright clothes, is proudly introduced by big sister Anita. She even presents her “best friends,” the family cat and dog. Each papier-mâché figure is set against a brightly colored background, which should keep young readers stimulated as they read the very simple text. This bilingual book would be useful in units on art and culture for young children, as well as older students and adults interested in this art form. Reviewer: Ramirose I. Attebury; Ages 4 to 7.
Kirkus Reviews
2013-09-01
Though they are skeletons, this family couldn't be friendlier. Canseco Zárate's papier-mâché sculptures grin out at readers broadly, as only skeletons can. Weill's bilingual text gives them voice in both English and Spanish. Big sister Anita, wearing a yellow dress with red flowers and patent-leather Mary Janes, introduces first herself and then her family. Her brother Miguel, she confides, is "a brat" ("Él es muy travieso"); his bony knees stick out under his blue shorts. Juanito, the baby, on the other hand, is "so cute!" ("¡Él es tan lindo!")--and, indeed he is, with a little kewpie-doll topknot atop his bare skull. There's her "hermosa mamá"; her "guapo papá"; her grandmother, who "gives…good advice"; her "sweet" grandfather; her "bisabuela," who "tells wonderful stories"; and her pets: "¡Son mis mejores amigos!" The figures are posed alone or in groupings against varying pastel-colored backgrounds. The details traditional Oaxacan artist Canseco Zárate includes charm as fully as Weill's crunchy vocabulary. Abuelita sports blue-rimmed cat's-eye glasses; Anita's great-grandmother uses a walker; the skeletal cat wears a pink belled collar. When posed in groups, they hold hands, wave and put arms round one another's shoulders--they may be dead, but their affection is palpable. Just right for the Day of the Dead or for a fresh take on family structures--tan lindo! (Picture book. 4-8)
Children's Literature - Lacey Norton
The artwork in this book is stunning. This book has incredible illustrations and small amount of vocabulary words in English and Spanish. Emergent readers will easily be able to recite the book from memory or sound out the words to read with minimal help. Young readers can experience the beauty and significance of skeletons in Mexican Folk Art, while learning simple sentences about each of the family members. The book is humorous and relatable when the big sister calls her brother a brat, which is how most siblings feel about one another. Positive things about older family members are stated to help children realize the value of grandparents and great-grandparents, such as “My great-grandmother. She tells wonderful stories.” This is a wonderful book to add to any personal or classroom library due to its uniqueness and the representation of the Hispanic culture. Reviewer: Lacey Norton; Ages 3 to 7.
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