Let's Work: Mexican Folk Art Trabajos in English and Spanish(6 First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art)

Cynthia Weill scores again with an early concept book that bring every kind of job to life, including the work of the dedicated palm weavers of Flavio Gallardo’s workshop, whose miniature palm weavings illustrate this playful book, teaching children words for work in two languages. The weavers live in the village of Chigmecatitlán in the Mixteca part of the Mexican state of Puebla. With tremendous skill and patience, the artisans of this region practice palm weaving, a craft which came to Mexico even before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 15th century. Imagine being able to hold all of the illustrations in one book in the palms of your hands. You can do that with the tiny weavings in Let’s Work. Most pieces are no larger than a dime! Cynthia Weill una vez más triunfa con un libro de primeros conceptos que trae a toda clase de trabajo a vida, incluyendo el trabajo de los tejedores de palmas del taller de Flavio Gallardo, cuyas tejidas de palma ilustran este alegre libro, enseñándole palabras sobre el trabajo a niños, en dos idiomas. Los tejedores viven en el pueblo de Chigmecatitlán en la parte Mixteca del pueblo mexicano de Puebla. Con estupenda habilidad y paciencia, los artesanos de esta región practican el tejido de palmas, un arte que vino a México antes que siquiera vinieran los españoles en el siglo 15. Imagina poder tener en tus manos todas las ilustraciones, en un solo libro. Puedes hacer esto con los tejidos minúsculos en Vamos a Trabajar! La gran parte de las piezas no son más grande que una moneda!

About the Author :
Cynthia Weill holds a master’s degree from Wesleyan University in Art History and a Doctorate in Education from Teachers College Columbia. While working on her dissertation at Columbia, Cynthia collaborated with artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico to create the folk art pieces that became the successful First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art series. She is currently the director of the Center for Children’s Literature at the Bank Street College of Education.

Review :
"These handmade miniature figures by master Mixtec artisans from the Mexican state of Puebla tease the imagination to explore the possibilities open to anyone with a dream and a goal. The featured professions are introduced in both English and Spanish without gender restrictions or value judgments—no one career is given precedence over another. The many characters—including a musician who uses a wheelchair—are tightly woven from palm and charmingly displayed for readers’ delight."—Kirkus Reviews "A beautiful bilingual children’s book features as illustrations dozens of miniature palm weavings by master artisans from the village of Chigmecatitlan in the Mexican state of Puebla."—Wide World of Work "An eclectic array of careers—balloon seller, electrician, clown, librarian, hair dresser, equestrian—are presented, one per page, in both Spanish and English, creating an engaging opportunity for young readers to build vocabulary in two languages while encountering a unique craft practice that has endured since the 15th century."—Publishers Weekly "There’s always reason to celebrate when Weill returns with another double delight in her First Concepts series (Animal Talk, BCCB 10/16, etc.). The concept this time around is jobs, in a narrative that asks little listeners to consider what they want to be when they grow up." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, EB "[A]n ideal and unreservedly endorsed acquisition selection for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library bilingual book collections for children."—Midwest Book Review Second Star to the Right Books The series of Mexican Folk Art board books are some of my favorite to handsell as a children's bookseller and Mexican-American! Let's Work! in particular, might be my new favorite. With the power of beautiful art and simple representation, it teaches young children how all kinds of professions are worthwhile and worth striving for.—Mariana Calderon, Store Manager & Event Coordinator