Q&A with Raúl Colón
Interview with Raúl Colón on the illustrations for Angela and the Baby Jesus by Frank McCourt
Q: Why did you decide to illustrate Angela and the Baby Jesus?
A: I thought a book by Frank McCourt would be good, and this is a good story. I had seen the movie of Angela's Ashes so I had an idea of who Angela was. I found the idea of Angela as a little girl to be interesting. I also thought this was a nice family story. Angela's mother reminded me of Angela's story
Q: Was there a first image that came to mind as you read the text?
A: There was. It was a stream-of-consciousness drawing. The sketch of the family walking together to return Baby Jesus to the church went straight from my mind to my pencil. In fact, that illustration is exactly the way it was in my sketch. I made no changes to it.
Q: How did you decide on the faces for Angela and her siblings? There is a real family resemblance among them.
A: Frank sent me a video in which he and his brothers talk about their childhood. There are also some pictures of his mother in it. I just imagined how they might have looked at a young age.
Q: What techniques did you use to differentiate between the people and the statues?
A: I gave the statues more gold undertone. Angela and the other people have more of a flesh-tone to them. The statues have a "still" look to them by giving them stiff arms and legs, and having them always in the same position. Their eyes always look straight ahead. With Angela and her family, I tried to convey a sense of movement through the way their arms moved, or simply a change in the angle of a wrist. They wear different expressions. Sometimes they are smiling. They are looking up and down. Creating the illustration where Angela is picking up the Baby Jesus in the church was challenging. I needed to make the Virgin Mary and Joseph look like statues and not real people standing around the crèche. I hope that will be clear to children.
Q: We see Angela's mother only in profile, and we see only the lower parts of the priest's and policeman's faces. Why did you do that?
A: I wanted the focus to be on the children and the statue. It is their story. I grew up with Bugs Bunny and the Warner Bros. cartoons. In the cartoons with Sylvester the cat, the human adults were never shown. It seemed to me to be a good device to keep the attention on the children, particularly Angela, in the story.
Q: How did you create the texture in your illustrations?
A: I began with textured watercolor paper. I added a wash of golden undertone watercolor. On top of that I drew the image - sketched it - and then added the middle tones. There are about 5 to 8 washes on top of each other. I then used colored pencils to make the texture of the paper come out. I also use a scratchboard instrument appropriately called a "scratcher" to draw down through the layers.
Q: Will you comment on your use of light and lighting throughout the book?
A: This is a warm family story, so I wanted to represent that in the illustrations. One of my favorite illustrations is that of Angela coming out from hiding in the confessional. It took a while to create her portrait but finally I was satisfied. After the book was completed I received a letter from Frank McCourt saying how pleased he was with this illustration. Another favorite is where Angela is running down the street with the statue in her arms. I used a lot of blue to show the cold, but I also have the yellow from the lights in the windows and the street lamps.
Q: The scene where Angela tosses the statue over the wall has a very religious feeling to it. It seems to me, by the way, that the statue would have broken when it was thrown. What were your thoughts when you created this illustration?
A: Well, I thought perhaps since Angela was only 6 years old that she found a chink in the wall and pushed the statue through. However, when I made the illustration I thought about old religious paintings in which the people were praising the heavens. I wanted the Baby Jesus to look as if He was floating in the air. I wanted Angela to appear with her hands toward the heavens in reverence. I looked at many pictures of statues of Baby Jesus and angels to find what would have been representative of that time period. From listening to Frank McCourt reading Teacher Man I began to understand his humor. I saw the part where Angela tosses the statue as rather humorous. When her brother sees the statue in their house, I have drawn a smile on his face. He sees this whole event as humorous, while his mother is quite taken aback.
Q: What is next for you?
A (laughing): Next year I am not doing as many books as this year! Since I have to stay with a project for months I try to do something totally different with the next book's illustrations to keep it fresh. Among other things, I am working on a book that I am writing as well as illustrating. I have some other art ideas that I would like to work on as well.
Q: What would you like to say about your experience with Angela and the Baby Jesus?
A: This was a great experience and fun to do. Although I had a quick turnaround time, I never felt pressured, and I learned a lot. I see this book as one that families will read together, and I hope they will enjoy the warmth and humor in it.
Contributor: Sharon Salluzzo for Children's Literature
Reviews
Angela and the Baby Jesus
Frank McCourt
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes, reaches back to his Irish family history for this touching Christmas tale. When his mother, Angela, was 6-years-old, she worried that the Baby Jesus in the local church nativity scene was cold - after all he was left in that manger in swaddling clothes and not much else. Naturally, she decided to take the Baby Jesus home to warm him up. She didn't count on running into her brother Pat in the backyard when she snuck the baby home, but no one believed him when he told them Angie had the Baby Jesus with her. Once her misguided attempts to help were recognized, the family trooped back to the church to return the Baby, only to encounter the parish priest and a local policeman. The resolution of this prickly dilemma is heart warming. Two illustrated versions of this tale are being published this Christmas season; this version is a full-sized edition with colorful, textured illustrations by Colón. 2007, Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 up, $17.99. Reviewer: Dr. Judith L. Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4169-3789-7
ISBN: 978-1-4169-3789-0
Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio
Tony Johnston
Illustrations by Raul Colon
According to Arturo Rodriguez's father, there is good and bad in life, and, if the good is lacking, then one must create some. Eleven-year-old Arturo has seen plenty of both in the barrio of East Los Angeles, where his family has moved since leaving Mexico. In a series of vignettes, Arturo provides a glimpse of the richness and goodness which permeates this Hispanic community, as well as the elements that strain to tear it apart. Beginning with a sensitive chapter on names and identity, this novel proves to be engaging and revealing at the same time. Arturo is a very perceptive youth who has a high degree of self-worth and cultural identity. His narration of events may be through a child's eyes, but his insight into different situations is at a different maturity level. Sometimes, the difference between the two is a little jarring. What he learns quickly about the barrio is that whatever you love is always at risk. This becomes painstakingly clear when his house becomes the target of a drive by shooting one evening. Johnston's novel is moving and culturally sensitive with its incorporation of numerous Spanish words and phrases. She has done a wonderful job of portraying a community that is so often represented in just a negative light. 2001, Blue Sky Press, $15.95. Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Jeanette Lambert (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Books to Read Aloud to Children of All Ages, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Growing Up Latino in the U.S.A., 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, June 15, 2001; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2002; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 2001; Smithsonian; United States
Top 10 Youth First Novels, 2001; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
John and Patricia Beatty Award Winner 2002 United States
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Honor Book 2002 United States
Southern California Booksellers Association Book Award Winner 2002 Children's United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Massachusetts
The Nene Award, 2005; Nominee; Hawaii
Nutmeg Children's Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Connecticut
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, 2006; Nominee; Grades 4-8; Illinois
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-6; Texas
William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Kansas
ISBN: 0-439-18936-5
ISBN: 978-0-439-18936-1
A Band of Angels: A Story Inspired by the Jubilee Singers
Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
Ella Sheppard was born into slavery, but when she reached fourteen, slaves were set free. She gathered what little money she had and headed off to Fisk School, a new school for freed slaves. Times were very hard, and the school was about to close for lack of funds. Ella had a magnificent voice and also could play the piano. Professor White, the music teacher, thought of a way to help. He would take his chorus, with Ella, on tour. However, it seemed that people didn't want to hear popular white songs from a black chorus. In despair one night, Ella began to play and sing one of the slave songs. The audience was mesmerized. From that night on, they sang spirituals, or jubilee songs--songs of hope and freedom. They became successful, traveled the world, and saved the school. While the tale is fiction, it is based on real events and would make a wonderful read-aloud in individual or group settings. Raúl Colón's recognizable watercolor and pencil art in warm browns and golds suits the period and mood of the story. 1999, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Ella was born into slavery but "no one could chain her voice." Freed in adolescence, Ella longs for an education, and does all she can to earn money to attend the newly founded Fisk School in Nashville. When the school flounders, Ella and others in the chorus take to the road to sing their way to supporting Fisk. Travel is miserable, lodgings and restaurants refuse them and their renditions of popular songs fail to appeal to audiences. Saddened, Ella leads the others in singing hopeful spirituals, and their success leads the singers to tour the world and set a tradition of those who "keep the old songs alive." Ella Sheppard is the focus character in this story inspired by the Jubilee Singers. The effect of the singers on musical history is important, but so are the themes of education and how hard one woman works to attain it. 1999, Atheneum, $16.00. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, April 15, 1999; United States
Capitol Choices, 1999; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 1999; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2000; Children's Literature; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, 1999; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2000; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2000; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2000; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 1999; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 1999; Cahners; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 1999; Smithsonian; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
The Golden Kite Award Award Book 1999 Picture Book Text United States
Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor Book 2000 Picture Book United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Delaware Diamonds, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Delaware
Emphasis on Reading, 2000-2001; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Alabama
South Carolina Book Awards, 2001-2002; Nominee; Children's Book; South Carolina
Texas Reading Club, 1999; Texas
ISBN: 0-689-81062-8
ISBN: 978-0-689-81062-6
Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart
Pat Mora
Illustrated by Raul Colón
Children enjoy reading tall tales. Colón's unique style of an intriguing combination of watercolor washes, colored litho pencils, and etching give this tale a sense of something that happened a long time ago. In this tale the reader meets Doña Flor, who is a giant. When Flor was young, her mother sang to her. Her mother's songs made the corn stalks grow as tall as trees and they made Flor grow very tall too. Imagine what happens when Flor walks, when she sings. Every day Flor makes corn tortillas for the people in her village. What they do not eat of the giant tortillas they use for other things, such as a roof for their home, a raft for sailing, and much more. Flor wants everyone to feel at home in her house. She tells the people and animals, "Mi casa es su casa." They call her Doña Flor because they respect her. One day, no one comes to get any corn tortillas. When Doña Flor finds out that everyone stayed indoors because they heard a huge lion near their village, she goes to look for the lion. It takes her a few days to find this lion. The reader will be surprised to find out what is making the loud roars. This book is a great addition to a reading curriculum. Teachers can use it to discuss fiction, truth, and exaggeration, as well as to develop reading comprehension techniques. 2005, Alfred A. Knopf, $15.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Liz Rice (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Books 2005: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2005; New York Public Library; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2006; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Golden Kite Award Winner 2005 Picture Book Text United States
Pura Belpre Award Honor Book 2006 Author United States
Pura Belpre Award Winner 2006 Illustrator United States
ISBN: 0-375-82337-9
ISBN: 0-375-92337-3
ISBN: 978-0-375-82337-4
ISBN: 978-0-375-92337-1
How to Bake an American Pie
Karma Wilson
Illustrations by Raul Colon
Wilson tackles a tough problem with her patriotic metaphor of baking "the first ever made on the Fourth of July." A cat and a dog with chef's hats begin by preheating the world "until fiery hot with a hunger and taste to be free." They set out to satisfy these appetites with "a crust of fruited plains..." A text-less double-page then depicts fields covered with huge fruits, with more falling from the sky, all being rolled into a crust by a gigantic rolling pin. And "that's just the start of an American pie!" Next she adds "purple mountain majesties" and "cupfuls of courage." And so the baking continues with ingredients borrowed from our nation's qualities of "sweet freedom," "spiced with ideas...from faraway lands," and "plenty of faith, hope, and love." The text is set in a large typeface in short lines with rhymes. The single and text-less double-page illustrations are rendered in Colón's scratchy ink lines and watercolors. He incorporates historic images, such as Columbus's three ships and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, into the imaginative cooking process. This stirring recipe should have readers standing proudly to attention. 2007, Margaret K. McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, $16.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Booklist Book Review Stars, Apr. 1, 2007; United States
ISBN: 0-689-86506-6
ISBN: 978-0-689-86506-0
José!: Born to Dance: the Story of José Limón
Susanna Reich
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
In very simple, straightforward prose, Jose Limón is introduced as a young child surrounded by the sounds, smells, and tastes of Mexico. He was influenced not only by the dancers in the theater where his father worked and by the bullfights he saw, but also by the menace of Civil War. When Limon and his family flee to the United States, he studies hard, loves art and music, and finally leaves his widowed father to pursue an art career in New York. Discouraged, he finds inspiration in dance and finally discovers what he is meant to do. Drawing on his memories as he dances, he becomes world-famous. Exclamations add spice to the narrative, while full-page illustrations are created with colored pencils and watercolors in Colón's typical style of stencil-like shapes, grainy textures with frequent combed scratches, and muted colors. We see the growth of the dancer from a young child. The image of his early performance with outstretched arms and pointing feet against a blood-red wall is particularly effective in stimulating emotions. A note fills in details of the dancer's life. There is also a brief glossary of the Spanish words included and a bibliography. 2005, A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $16.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Aug. 1, 2005; United States
Children's Books 2005: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2005; New York Public Library; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Core Collection: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Core Collections: Artists in Picture Book Biographies, 2006; Booklist; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, July 1, 2005; United States
Notable Book, 2006; International Reading Association; United States
Top 10 Art Books for Youth, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Latino Book Awards Winner 2006 Best Educational Children's Book-English United States
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Winner 2005 United States
ISBN: 0-689-86576-7
ISBN: 978-0-689-86576-3
Mightier than the Sword: World Folktales for Strong Boys
Jane Yolen
Illustrations by Raul Colón
This collection of stories opens with a letter from the author to her sons and grandsons and closes with their reply. The premise is that much more is involved in being a hero than using a weapon and that brains often prevail over brawn. The author mentions as heroes Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Johnny Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), Neil Armstrong and those firefighters, police and medical personnel who risked their lives to save others on September 11, 2001. The stories are retold tales from many nations. They include "The Magic Brocade" from China, "Jack and His Companions" from Ireland and "Language of the Birds" from Russia. Perhaps the most compelling story is the last, "Mighty Mikko" from Finland, a version of the "Puss in Boots" tale in which a fox helps a lad named Mikko to gain fortune and happiness. Reading the book over a period of time is advisable because many of the plots are quite similar. A section titled "Notes on the Stories" appears in the back of the book along with an extensive bibliography. 2003, Silver Whistle/Harcourt, $19.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Aesop Prize Winner 2003 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Language Arts-Grades K-6 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-15-216391-3
ISBN: 978-0-15-216391-4
My Father's House
Kathi Appelt
Illustrated by Raul Colon
This versatile, talented author has given a new dimension to the quote "In my Father's house are many mansions." Appelt has the speaker thanking the Father for the various habitats of the Earth--those areas that make up the "mansions" of our very planet. Without preaching, she gives the reader a lyrical word picture of such diverse settings as the Tundra, the Rainforest, the Ocean, the Shore, the Marsh, and the Prairie. The illustrations are gorgeous visual punctuations for the clear, flowing verses: "And where the trees stand oh so close, Where deer and rabbits rest, I'll wander through these Woodland halls Where songbirds build their nests." Effortlessly inviting the reader to experience the essence of each geographical area, the author introduces quite a few facts that define the habitat--woodlands have deer, rabbits, and songbirds. The award-winning illustrator has contributed double spreads that not only echo the text but also expand the total experience of this beautiful book. The author's dedication of the book to Al Gore reflects her own care for this "beautiful blue planet" that we all share, while Colon's art provides the perfect setting for her expressions of delight and gratitude for the earth. Whether depicting the far north with its magical Northern Lights or showing us a young person with arms open wide to embrace the entire ocean, his masterful talent is displayed as the perfect complement to the gentle, loving text. Early readers will appreciate being able to read much of this for themselves, and older readers will understand that the language is sophisticated but not obtuse. Reading this title aloud to a group or all on one's own will prompt thoughtful discussion. This is definitely a first choice for libraries and family collections. 2007, Viking/Penguin, $16.99. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-670-03669-1
ISBN: 0-670-03669-2
Pandora
Robert Burleigh
Illustrated by Raul Colón
This is the story of the classic Greek myth of Pandora, the beautiful woman obsessed with her own curiosity and ultimately tempted to satisfy it. The author gives a good explanation of the myth's origins at the beginning of the book as well as a glossary of Greek gods' names. All of this not only helps the reader understand the plot better, but also the magnitude of Pandora's crime. The text is almost poetic in its verse-like design. Language is used carefully, precisely and pointedly. This adds to the suspense of the story as the reader feels Pandora's temptation rise. The illustrations resemble gallery oil paintings as each is carefully framed on a page. The entire book gives an aura of seriousness and concern; the magnitude of Pandora's weakness is appreciated. Older children will understand the moral behind this story and acknowledge the strength of temptation and the power of hope. It is a book to be discussed. 2002, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Andrea Sears Andrews (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 1, 2002; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-15-202178-7
ISBN: 978-0-15-202178-8
Play Ball!
Jorge Posada with Robert Burleigh
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
This collaboration of author and athlete has produced the story of how Jorge Posada's acceptance of his father's advice resulted in his becoming a world champion baseball player. As a youngster Posada was interested in baseball and was developing as a strong right-handed batter. His father encouraged him to train himself to bat left-handed, thus becoming a switch-hitter. As he honed his skills, Jorge had a lot of support from his coach and family. Making the change to left-handed batting was hard and frustrating but he persevered and proved the value of his hard work to everyone by making a crucial hit during an important game. His family took him to Yankee Stadium on vacation and he announced that he would someday play on "this field"--and he did. Jorge Posada is the starting catcher for the New York Yankees, a four-time All-Star Game catcher, and four-time world champion. He has also founded the Jorge Posada Foundation, a group that provides support to families whose child is affected by craniosynostosis, a congenital or birth defect that causes an abnormally shaped skull. Born in Puerto Rico, he now lives in New York with his wife and children. Colon's illustrations are quite well suited for presenting this tribute to hard work and determination. This lovely book will serve as an inspiration for youngsters who want to perfect some skill of their own--baseball or otherwise--it demonstrates the power of perseverance and of listening to sound advice. 2006, Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0687-2
ISBN: 1-4169-0687-8
Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Jonah Winter
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
In graceful prose, Jonah Winter pays tribute to a great athlete in Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente is remembered today for being the force behind his last-place team's drive to two World Series victories and the first Latino inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But as this picture book biography makes clear, this native Puerto Rican had to overcome extreme poverty and prejudice to make it big. Winter quotes the ball player's maxim:--"If you don't try as hard as you can, you are wasting your life"--which he applied to much more than sports. Clemente died in a plane crash while bringing food and supplies, paid for himself, to earthquake victims in Central America. Raul Colon's watercolor-and-colored-pencil illustrations capture the athletic prowess and humanitarian ethos of a man whose "spirit lives on ... in Latino ball players ... [and] in the charities he started ... in Puerto Rico." The Winter/Colon team hit a home run with this inspiring sports biography. 2005, Atheneum/Simon and Schuster, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
For sports fans who love small ball, this lyrically written picture book biography of the Hall of Fame outfielder traces his childhood in Puerto Rico to his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates to his tragic death at age 36 in a plane crash. Winter's text has the rhythm of poetry, and Clemente's childhood offers evocative images. Too poor for real equipment, he made a bat from a guava tree branch and a glove from a coffee-bean sack. He practiced hitting by smacking soup cans. His arrival in Pittsburgh in 1955 helped the last-place Pirates win the World Series his first season there. Sportswriters figure in this story, as Clemente never felt he received his due: "`It's because I'm black, isn't it?' he asked the sneering reporters." Not until his "one-man show" against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the 1971 World Series did America sit up and take notice. The next year, he collected his 3000th hit--a feat only 25 players have accomplished. It was also the last year of his life. His plane, carrying a load of supplies for earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua, crashed shortly after take-off from San Juan on New Year's Eve, 1972. The artwork, by Raúl Colón, is done in two styles--watercolors in warm hues mixed with black-and-white pen-and-ink drawings--but it all has an appropriately reverent, even somber, tone. Colón, a Puerto Rican himself who remembers seeing Clemente play winter ball on the island when he was a boy, has creating a beautiful tribute to his fellow countryman. 2005, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sue Corbett (Miami Herald) (Children's Literature).
This biography begins like a story, "On an island called Puerto Rico, where baseball players are as plentiful as tropical flowers in a rain forest, there was a boy who had very little but a fever to play and win at baseball." In this lyrical manner, with words written in couplet form, the author shows how Clemente went from a boy with a guava tree bat, coffee-bean sack glove and soup can baseballs to a man who lifted the down-trodden Pittsburgh Pirates to victory, brought respect to Hispanic peoples, and fought to relieve his country's poverty until his death. Strong similes, passion for sports, Raul Colon's powerful illustrations serve to remember the spiritedness of this player. 2005, Atheneum, $16.95. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
With its lyrical prose ("Soup cans turned into softballs...") and appealing illustrations, Winter's latest picture biography is perfect for reading aloud. The young Roberto Clemente spent his boyhood in Puerto Rico; his first baseball glove was made from a coffee-bean sack. But he wanted very much to play and to win. This inspirational book describes his successes as a major league player and his difficult transition to life in Pittsburgh and is an important story to share with young children. Milestones in the major league player's career are documented and the connection he maintained with his homeland is underscored. Clemente's 1972 death in an airplane crash as he traveled through a storm on the way to bring aid to earthquake victims in Central America is dramatic, but explained in a way that children will understand. An author's note offers additional information about this great athlete. 2005, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, $16.95. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Augusta Scattergood (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2006; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2006; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2006; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, May 2005; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Sports Books for Youth, 2005; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Americas Award Commended 2005 United States
Carter G. Woodson Book Awards Honor Book 2006 Elementary Level United States
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2006 Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Children's Crown Gallery Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Grades K-2; United States
Prairie Pasque Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Grades 4-6; South Dakota
Show Me Readers Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Missouri
ISBN: 0-689-85643-1
ISBN: 978-0-689-85643-3
Tomás and the Library Lady
Pat Mora
Illustrated by Raúl Colón
Tomas and his migrant family must work hard and travel frequently, but thanks to a kind librarian, Tomas becomes acquainted with a whole new world through books--and receives a special gift from her when he must move on. Inspired by the life of Tomas Rivera, who became chancellor of the University of California at Riverside. 1997, Knopf, $17.00 and $18.99. Ages 3 to 10. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Tomás and his family are migrant farm workers who travel from Texas to Iowa picking fruits and vegetables. Tomás and his brother, Enrique, listen to their Papá Grande tell stories in the hot afternoons. Soon Tomás knows all the stories, so Papá Grande suggests that Tomás go to the library to learn more stories to tell the family. At first, Tomás is intimidated by the large library, but the friendly librarian coaxes him in with the promise of a cool drink of water. She helps him discover all sorts of books, and Tomás spends his summer afternoons in the library engrossed by the wonderful stories. He takes the books home and reads them to his family in the evenings. This inspiring story is based on the true life of Tomás Rivera, a migrant farm worker who became a writer, professor, and university administrator. He was chancellor of the University of California at Riverside before his death in 1984. Raul Colón uses beautifully muted colors to illustrate Tomas' wonderful imagination. A heartwarming story for children from all backgrounds. 1997, Knopf, $17.00 and $18.99. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Cheryl Peterson (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 12th Edition, 1999; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The American Experience: Strength from Diversity; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, 1997; Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs (CLASP); Commended; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 1997; Bank Street College of Education; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Lasting Connections, 1997; American Library Association; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 1997; Smithsonian; United States
Teachers' Choices, 1998; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Winner 1997 United States
Tomas Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award Nominee 1997 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Children's Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Florida
Golden Sower Award, 2000; Nominee; Primary; Nebraska
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Pennsylvania
Patricia Gallagher Picture Book Award, 2001; Nominee; Oregon
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; N/A; Texas
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2001; Nominee; Picture Book; Utah
ISBN: 0-679-80401-3
ISBN: 0-679-90401-8
ISBN: 978-0-679-80401-7
ISBN: 978-0-679-90401-4
Added 11/27/07
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