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Abecedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art)

Abecedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art)

Current price: $15.70
Publication Date: November 1st, 2008
Publisher:
Cinco Puntos Press
ISBN:
9781933693132
Pages:
32

Description

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 Mois's and Armando Jim nez, 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 Mois's and Armando's grandfather Manuel who started making animal figures. Now more than sixty families in Arrazola make their living from wood carving.

K. B. Basseches is an artist, photographer, and art educator. She was an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Art Education, and served as a staff photographer at the Smithsonian Institution in the Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Basseches has exhibited throughout the mid-Atlantic region and in the Los Angeles area. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her young son and husband.

Todos los libros del alfabeto tienen colores brillantes y letras grandes. Pero no cada libro del alfabeto tiene animales m gicos tallados a mano para ilustrar cada letra. Y muy pocos libros del alfabeto presentan esas letras en m's idiomas que ingles Muy pocos excepto por ABeCedarios En este libro vibrante, el alfabeto es presentado en ambo espa ol e ingles, e incluye las cuatro letras adicionales en el alfabeto de espa ol. .

Los hermanos Mois's and Armando Jim nez tallaron las figuras de animales maravillosas que ilustran cada letra en ABeCedarios. Trabajando con sus esposas e hijos, meticulosamente pintaron a mano cada animal encantador. Las familias Jim nez viven y trabajan en el hermoso pueblo de monta a de Arrazola, Oaxaca.

About the Author

Cynthia Weill is a professor and mentor to teachers at Columbia University's Teachers College. She also owns a business--Aid to Women Artisans--that promotes the craftwork of artisans from developing countries. ABeCeDario is her second book. K.B. Basseches is an artist and an art educator. She taught Art Education at Virginia Commonwealth University until the birth of her son. She is now a full-time mother and fine artist. In 2005, she developed and curated a touring exhibition of adult, university and child artists' works to benefit the child victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Praise for Abecedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art)

"Seemingly the typical alphabet book with large type, this volume stands out for its artwork: gorgeous animal wood sculptures created in Oaxaca. Every letter is illustrated with a full-page photograph of a colorful hand-carved animal whose name either begins with or includes that letter." —Críticas, starred review

"Featuring vibrant wooden sculptures by a Oaxacan family of artists, the primer offers up animals both familiar (the flamingo/ el flamenco”) and unusual, such as the nutria and vicuña, for each letter of the alphabet, as well as for uniquely Spanish sounds, such as ll,” ñ” and rr.” The highly saturated color backdrops and stunning sculptures should win over readers of all ages." —Publisher's Weekly

"Highly recommended; even adults will enjoy lingering over the unique animal artistry."—Midwest Book Review, starred review

"The sculpted figures display personality and enough vibrant energy to leap off the pages. Unusual or rare creatures-a hybrid Zedonk, a unicorn, and imaginary "X" animal-appear as examples in whimsical colors and imaginative patterns. An attractive choice for folk-art study or libraries with large collections of artistic ABC books."—School Library Journal

"Children’s books with Spanish and English text side-by-side are not uncommon, but this one has an extra treat: photos of animal carvings by a well-known family from Oaxaca, Mexico...lovely and colorful creatures that add charm to the book. Certainly something to catch a child's eye."—The Santa Fe New Mexican Magazine