# 33- José! Born to Dance (2005)

José! Born to Dance (2005)

Susanna Reich

Illustrated by Raúl Colón

Tomás Rivera Mexican-American Children’s Book Award

This biography of Mexican dancer José Limón tells a story of one creative artist’s quest to find his passion. What I most enjoy about the story is how José practices and develops many different talents in his life, such as drawing and playing the piano, before he finds his passion for dance.

José grows up during the civil war in México and after his family is forced to hide in the cellar for three days and three nights, they immigrate to the U.S. He grows up dreaming about being an artist an “is famous for his pictures of trains” among his siblings.

As a young adult, José grieves the death of his mother, works in a factory, and dreams of living in New York someday. When he moves there and takes a job as a janitor, however, José becomes discouraged by the works of art he sees in museums and grows lonely. It is when a friend invites him to see dancers that he finds his true passion and “became what he was born to be.”

Colón’s textured paintings feature images that give the reader a sense of being enclosed with his use of lines. In the background of the illustrations that alternate from verso to recto, the round shapes of José and other characters are always framed by photograph frames, a blackboard, and several doors, walls and windows. The somber colors in most of the book portray the main character’s times of suffering, and color enters when José finds joy in his creative endeavors.

The endpages include a historical note about Limón, as well as a bibliography. Teachers and students may enjoy using some of these resources to compare the narrative story with facts and discuss the author and illustrator’s interpretations.

# 28- My Diary from Here to There/ Mi diario de aquí hasta allá (2002)

My Diary from Here to There/ Mi diario de aquí hasta allá (2002)

Amada Irma Perez

Illustrated by Maya Christina González

The vibrant oil paintings in My Diary from Here to There complement Perez’s vivid autobiographical account of her experience immigrating to the U.S. from Juárez, México. The text is rich with introspective details about the author’s hesitancies about moving, a change that children from a variety of backgrounds will relate to. Common themes like temporary separation from family members, fears about learning a new language, as well as the reassuring details like how the landscape looks “exactly the same on both sides” provide important discussion points.

Illustrations by Maya Christina González offer children a view of people with brown skin tones portrayed in a modern way that they will find easy to relate to. González’s growing body of work offers glimpses into worlds that Latino children will understand.

# 22- Ocean’s Child (2009)

Ocean’s Child (2009)

David Díaz

Díaz’s warm pastel tones capture the beauty and tone of sunset as this story takes readers through a journey of watching the animals of the polar region prepare for nightfall. The painted images in this book echo the comforting tone of the text as a mother and her young child travel by boat to view the animal scenes on each page.

Among my favorite images in this story are the northern lights, the glowing, textured moon and the full page spread of a polar bear and her cubs. The yellow tone that surrounds both images shows the warmth that the moon, the bears, and other figures in the book radiate.

This book is a perfect bedtime story, taking readers through the “sea of quiet dreams” in the story.

# 1- Floating on Mama’s Song/ Flotando en la canción de mamá (2010)

Floating on Mama’s Song/ Flotando en la canción de mamá (2010)

Laura Lacámara

Illustrated by Yuyi Morales

The beautifully illustrated bilingual story holds an important message about acceptance. The mother in this story has the gift of song, however neighbors complain that their animals go missing when she sings.
Each time she sings, the people, animals and things around her are uplifted- literally! This detail is symbolic of her voice’s effect on those around her, and Morales’s depiction of the mother’s hair floating even when she is silent is a dreamy reminder of her talent for singing.
Perhaps the most enchanting part of this book are the brilliant pastels that make up the surrealist images that Morales has illustrated. The details that most caught my eye were the bright fuscia tone of the bougainvilleas spilling over fences as they do in México, as well as the multi-toned mangoes. I also noticed beautiful images of animals hidden in the clouds- perhaps reminiscent of the village animals that floated away from their owners? Yuyi Morales has created another masterpiece using acrylic paints, along with family photos, buttons and other bits of realia to bring the story alive.