The most important access feature of this little book is its bi-lingual format. It would be an especially useful tool for ESL students or those learning Spanish as a foreign language. �Clearly written in both languages, the dual English/Spanish text provides a good bridge for children learning either as a second language, and also makes the book accessible to those who know one or the other.� (Booklist, February 15, 1994) The author�s initial introductory statement, where he thanks the people of Ejutla de Crespo, gives authenticity to the story. This, together with the photographs, serves a similar role that citations play in nonfiction books. Don Ricardo is an actual pi�ata maker, and the photographs portray him as he plies his craft. The author�s note in the back of the book tells how George Ancona has helped his children make pi�atas, using alternative techniques, to use at parties of their own, He even includes photographs of children swinging at the cow pi�ata they created. Although there is no index or table of contents, the brevity of the book makes these access features impractical and unnecessary.
Ancona adopts a photo essay format to demonstrate the steps in creating pi�atas, so captions are not needed. Large photos, which sometimes span two pages, are artfully mixed with small ones. Sometimes the images are superimposed directly upon the white background of the pages, or stacked like a collage. Details of every step of the pi�ata-making process are illustrated, and accompanied with understandable, lucid text. Plenty of white space is allowed, with the English and Spanish text clustered and easily identifiable. English entries begin with an oversized red font, while the Spanish begins with an initial green letter. This reflects the cover of the book, where the English title is set against a red background, and the Spanish against green. Sometimes the text is separated with an orange zig-zag line, echoing the design the pi�ata maker�s pinking shears make when he cuts crepe paper. The size and shape of the book also make it user-friendly for smaller hands.
The language and vocabulary that Ancona uses to tell his story is direct and appropriate for its subject matter. When he uses Spanish phrases in the English version, they are italicized and followed by a brief explanation. �Tio Rico also makes traditional pi�atas, like the pi�ata de picos, the star pi�ata.� The photographs are equally honest. Don Ricardo is shown in his own modest home, in a Mexican village, using the tools and materials he actually uses to create his pi�atas. �Ancona's clear, bright, full-color photographs complement the detailed text, giving the reader much additional information on the steps needed to make pinatas.� (Horn Book Guide, September 1, 1994) There is no staging or make-up artist in evidence, and no budget has been provided to make his job easier than it actually is. ��Starch makes a better paste than flour,� says Don Ricardo, �but it is scarce in town and very expensive.�� In this book, Don Ricardo uses paste he makes from flour.
This book accurately portrays an aspect of Hispanic culture to which all children, regardless of background, can relate. Hispanic children may recognize grandfathers or uncles in Tio Rico, while Anglo children will have a better understanding of their Hispanic neighbors. School Library Journal (April 1, 1994) describes the book as �a loving introduction to Hispanic customs, lifestyles in Mexico, and the art of pi�ata production.� It illustrates how something as simple as a pi�ata can forge a bridge between cultures, enriching the experiences of both.
Source
Books in Print [database online]. Available from http://www.booksinprint.com. Accessed 13 March 05.
Related Web Sites
A Pi�ata for You to Make
History of the Pi�ata
Meet George Ancona
School of Library and Information Studies
TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY