Product Description

A joyful, spirited collection of poems for children celebrates the vivid landscape of the Southwest, depicting a day in the life of a Mexican-American girl, from the dawn of a beautiful morning to the cool dusk and star-gleam of the desert night.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1409235 in Books
• Published on: 1996-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Narrative poems in free verse capture the rhythms and uniqueness of the Southwest and its culture as seen through the eyes of a Mexican-American girl. Many Spanish words are interwoven into the verses and translated in a glossary at the book's end. The beauty of the natural world is captured in Sanchez's acrylic illustrations. Done in hot colors reflecting the sun, their swirling, dreamlike patterns suggest the openness and vastness of the land and the freedom of its inhabitants. A welcome addition.
Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 1^-4, younger for reading aloud. Using Spanish and English, this collection of poems is as much fun to look at as it is to read. In "Colors Crackle, Colors Roar," Mora writes, "Gris whis-whis-whispers its kitten whispers" and "azul coo-coo-coo like pajaritos do." In "Purple Snake," a wood-carver with rough and wrinkled hands tells a young onlooker that animals are "asleep in a piece of wood" --until he releases them by carving them out. Featuring an assortment of subjects, these short poems incorporate varying amounts of Spanish into the English text. Sanchez's illustrations, with castanets, a giant saguaro cactus, Tarahumara drums, pinatas, "egg-bursts of bright confetti," and more, are full of color and provide youngsters with strong links to the subjects and activities in the poems. A good choice for choral reading or for reading aloud. A glossary with pronunciation guides is included. Karen Morgan

From Kirkus Reviews
Confetti ($14.95; Oct. 1996; 32 pp.; 1-880000-25-3): The best of these poems that mix English and Spanish (``I say yo soy libre'') warmly evokes familiar touchstones of Mexican-American life. There's ``Abuelita's yellowlap,'' a ``dance-dancing panadero,'' who sings the dough to rise, and a woodcarver who ``paints open the eyes'' of animals ``found asleep/in a piece of wood.'' Most of the poems by Mora (Uno, Dos, Tres, p. 139, etc.) are more ordinary--``Sun song. Sun song. Sun song.'' The soft, dreamy illustrations, with Southwestern motifs, are contrasted with borders of sharp colors, while small geometric pieces of confetti are ``scattered'' throughout. (Picture book/poetry. 4-6) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

Confetti-Little Mexican Pieces
A beautifully and brightly illustrated book. The artist's choice of swirls, patterns, and colors for each poem echoes the author's rhythm and verse, as well as, subject of the poem. As in her other books, Pat Mora uses life experiences and relationships that reflect Hispanic culture in her poems. Dancing Paper with it's pinata and cascarones, Abuelita's Lap with grandma in her rocking chair and Mexican Magician with it's empanadas, anise and marranitos. Mora also adds poems about nature in this book that reflect her native El Paso. A very warm book for anyone who wants to remember growing up with Mexican traditions.

Have a celebration with confetti!
This is a beautiful children's book. I used this book with one of the children I was tutoring for a graduate course and it worked well. It's a book of poems each with different themes and is a great way to add a little multicultural literature into a home or classroom. I really enjoy using this book.

Little or no spanish
While the pictures are pretty, I was very disappointed with the spanish words "scattered" through out the poems. Some poems don't contain any spanish at all; others only one word. This is not a book for introducing spanish by intermingling spanish with english. Very disappointing. I also purchased Pelitos and Oye al desierto and was myc happier with those books. Don't waste your money on this book if you're wanting to combine spanish and english.