Review (PDF) From The Bellybutton Of The Moon And Other Summer Poems/Del Ombligo De La Luna Y Otros Poemas De Verano
From the Bellybutton of the Moon is renowned poet Francisco X. Alarcon's fresh collection of 22 bilingual poems inspired by his touching recollections of childhood summers in Mexico. With a poet's magical vision, Alarcon takes us back to his childhood when he traveled with his family to Mexico to visit his grandma and other relatives. We travel with him in the family station wagon, across the misty mountain range to the little town of Atoyac. There, in the beloved town of his ancestors, we hear his grandma's stories, sample Auntie Reginalda's tasty breakfasts, learn about the keys to the universe, and take playful dips in the warm sea. The lighthearted illustrations of Maya Christina Gonzalez perfectly capture the spirit of a summer in Alarcon's Mexico where "colors are more colorful, tastes are tastier, and even time seems to slow down."
Age Range: 6 and up
Series: The Magical Cycle of the Seasons Series
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition (July 3, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0892391537
ISBN-13: 978-0892391530
Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #226,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #42 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > European > Spanish #44 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Regional & Cultural > Caribbean & Latin American #208 in Books > Children's Books > Geography & Cultures > Multicultural Stories > Hispanic & Latino
"From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems" is an excellent collaboration between two artists: poet Francisco X. Alarcon and illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez. Although marketed as a children's book, this bilingual collection should appeal to readers of all ages.Each of Alarcon's poems is presented both in English and Spanish versions, making this book an added bonus for English speakers who are learning Spanish (or the other way around). The poetry in this book is a populist literature in the tradition of Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda, and some of Alarcon's whimsical reflections on the natural world also reminded me of Emily Dickinson. And while being part of a great tradition, Alarcon has his own strong poetic voice which stands apart.Alarcon is a United States poet, and, as he explains in the afterword (which also appears in both English and Spanish), these poems were inspired by childhood trips to visit his rural relatives in Mexico. This book is thus a multicultural celebration of family, of ethnic roots, of childhood memories, and of the beauty of nature. Alarcon writes of being taught the alphabet by his grandfather, of walking barefoot on the grass, of befriending a cow name Mariposa ("butterfly" in Spanish), and of other delightful things.Gonzalez' illustrations, which grace every page, perfectly complement Alarcon's celebratory verses. Bursting with color and energy, Gonzalez' work is a stunning blend of realistic and fantastic images. Her best illustrations are rich in details that invite the eye to linger in pleasure.In the poem "We Are Trees," Alarcon compares human beings to trees, and notes that while "our roots / connect," our branches also "reach out / to other branches.
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