Details
Synopsis
Erandi's mother has promised to buy her a wonderful birthday present, but then the family's fishing nets, which they rely on for income, are destroyed, and it becomes clear that her mother won't have money to buy her a gift. Not only that, Erandi also realizes that her mother will need to raise a lot of money very quickly. When Erandi learns that hair buyers have come to town, she worries that her mother will want to sell her thick, glossy braid. Could Mama really be planning to cut off Erandi's hair? Color illustrations accompany the text., In a poor Mexican village, Erandi surprises her mother by offering to sell her long, beautiful hair in order to raise enough money to buy a new fishing net.
| Size | | Height: | 10.8 in | | Width: | 8.5 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 12.8 oz |
Industry Reviews
Erandi, a Mexican girl, looks forward to her birthday and a forthcoming village fiesta with great anticipation after all, she hopes to have a new dress to wear. But Erandi's dreams of pretty things are soon interrupted. Mam 's fishing net, with which she catches their food, is too torn to repair and there is not enough money to buy a new net as well as a dress. Erandi receives her new frock, but afterward, she and Mam head for the barber shop. Erandi is terrified that Mam will sell Erandi's beautiful long braids to the hair buyers from the city, but it is Mam who steps into the chair. When the barber tells Mam that her hair is not long enough, Erandi summons her courage and offers her own tresses, earning enough money for a fishing net and another special birthday present. Madrigal (The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Stories of M?xico) creates a vivid portrait of life in the hilly village of P tzcuaro, Mexico, 50 years ago and sprinkles his text with a few basic Spanish words (huipil, tortillas, hija) easily deciphered by their context (though a glossary is included). DePaola's creamy gouache paintings in muted colors give this story of self-sacrifice and family love a sunny warmth. Such details as traditional Mexican architecture, pottery and clothing further define the time and place. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Fox
K-Gr 3 Set in the Mexican village of P tzcuaro, this is the story of a young girl's selflessness and her mother's tenderness. Excited about her birthday, Erandi hopes for a present, but when her mother worries that their fishing net is worn out, the girl fears that they will not be able to afford a gift. The next day, however, the purchase of a yellow dress sets her heart at ease until her mother takes her to the barber shop where the braids of the local women are cut off and sold to merchants from the city. There, Erandi fears that her mother will sell her braids, but in the end the child makes her own decision. According to an author's note, this story draws on the practice of the Tarascan women of the Michoac n province of selling their hair for use in making false eyelashes, wigs, and fine embroidery during the 1940s and `50s. While the idea of making sacrifices for the people one loves is universal, the context into which the tale is set makes the whole seem a bit labored. Bordering on the didactic, it is saved by dePaola's signature paintings, which use earth tones and blues to bring the village and the characters to life. Perhaps best used as support for social studies units on Latin America, this tale serves to point out the human ties that cross cultural lines. Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Fox
K-Gr 3 Set in the Mexican village of P tzcuaro, this is the story of a young girl's selflessness and her mother's tenderness. Excited about her birthday, Erandi hopes for a present, but when her mother worries that their fishing net is worn out, the girl fears that they will not be able to afford a gift. The next day, however, the purchase of a yellow dress sets her heart at ease until her mother takes her to the barber shop where the braids of the local women are cut off and sold to merchants from the city. There, Erandi fears that her mother will sell her braids, but in the end the child makes her own decision. According to an author's note, this story draws on the practice of the Tarascan women of the Michoac n province of selling their hair for use in making false eyelashes, wigs, and fine embroidery during the 1940s and `50s. While the idea of making sacrifices for the people one loves is universal, the context into which the tale is set makes the whole seem a bit labored. Bordering on the didactic, it is saved by dePaola's signature paintings, which use earth tones and blues to bring the village and the characters to life. Perhaps best used as support for social studies units on Latin America, this tale serves to point out the human ties that cross cultural lines. Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
School Library Journal (02/01/1999)
Erandi, a Mexican girl, looks forward to her birthday and a forthcoming village fiesta with great anticipation after all, she hopes to have a new dress to wear. But Erandi's dreams of pretty things are soon interrupted. Mam 's fishing net, with which she catches their food, is too torn to repair and there is not enough money to buy a new net as well as a dress. Erandi receives her new frock, but afterward, she and Mam head for the barber shop. Erandi is terrified that Mam will sell Erandi's beautiful long braids to the hair buyers from the city, but it is Mam who steps into the chair. When the barber tells Mam that her hair is not long enough, Erandi summons her courage and offers her own tresses, earning enough money for a fishing net and another special birthday present. Madrigal (The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Stories of M‚xico) creates a vivid portrait of life in the hilly village of P tzcuaro, Mexico, 50 years ago and sprinkles his text with a few basic Spanish words (huipil, tortillas, hija) easily deciphered by their context (though a glossary is included). DePaola's creamy gouache paintings in muted colors give this story of self-sacrifice and family love a sunny warmth. Such details as traditional Mexican architecture, pottery and clothing further define the time and place. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Publishers Weekly (02/15/1999)
K-Gr 3 Set in the Mexican village of P?tzcuaro, this is the story of a young girl's selflessness and her mother's tenderness. Excited about her birthday, Erandi hopes for a present, but when her mother worries that their fishing net is worn out, the girl fears that they will not be able to afford a gift. The next day, however, the purchase of a yellow dress sets her heart at ease until her mother takes her to the barber shop where the braids of the local women are cut off and sold to merchants from the city. There, Erandi fears that her mother will sell her braids, but in the end the child makes her own decision. According to an author's note, this story draws on the practice of the Tarascan women of the Michoac?n province of selling their hair for use in making false eyelashes, wigs, and fine embroidery during the 1940s and `50s. While the idea of making sacrifices for the people one loves is universal, the context into which the tale is set makes the whole seem a bit labored. Bordering on the didactic, it is saved by dePaola's signature paintings, which use earth tones and blues to bring the village and the characters to life. Perhaps best used as support for social studies units on Latin America, this tale serves to point out the human ties that cross cultural lines. Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
School Library Journal (02/01/1999)
Erandi, a Mexican girl, looks forward to her birthday and a forthcoming village fiesta with great anticipation after all, she hopes to have a new dress to wear. But Erandi's dreams of pretty things are soon interrupted. Mam?'s fishing net, with which she catches their food, is too torn to repair and there is not enough money to buy a new net as well as a dress. Erandi receives her new frock, but afterward, she and Mam? head for the barber shop. Erandi is terrified that Mam? will sell Erandi's beautiful long braids to the hair buyers from the city, but it is Mam? who steps into the chair. When the barber tells Mam? that her hair is not long enough, Erandi summons her courage and offers her own tresses, earning enough money for a fishing net and another special birthday present. Madrigal (The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Stories of M?xico) creates a vivid portrait of life in the hilly village of P?tzcuaro, Mexico, 50 years ago and sprinkles his text with a few basic Spanish words (huipil, tortillas, hija) easily deciphered by their context (though a glossary is included). DePaola's creamy gouache paintings in muted colors give this story of self-sacrifice and family love a sunny warmth. Such details as traditional Mexican architecture, pottery and clothing further define the time and place. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Publishers Weekly (02/15/1999)
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