Fiesta Femenina

If you love the rich traditional artwork and surreal folktales of Mexico then you will love Fiesta Femenina. This 2001 book specifically celebrates the heroines of various Mexican cultures such as the Mayan, Aztec, Mixtec, Yaqui, and Zapotec, thus covering virtually all regions. With each of Mary-Joan Gerson’s retellings there are colorfully saturated images by Maya Christina Gonzalez to captivate the senses and transport the reader to another reality that is so much a part of the Mexican tradition, particularly before Christianization. If you are seeking to empower our young Latinas this is a great starting place, as we should always begin where they are, not where we think they should be. Great for all ages and genders this book tells the story of power, glory, humility, and grace. These stories unify me with my own family history, the family I have married into, and my beautifully brown students whose power is unfolding to be fully realized and embraced. C. Murray

Pockets

This 1998 fanciful, oceanic tale by Jennifer Armstrong weaves magical realism into the lives of simple town’s folk through the gift of embroidery secretly stitched in the pockets of their clothes. This stoic work-oriented folk invite this disoriented, broken-hearted, beautiful young woman to join them until she rights herself. They of course ask if she has a trade or skill, upon which she shares her gift of sewing. The town’s people tell her she can stay because the tailor has recently died, but only if she keeps things simple, plain, and unadorned. They don’t want distraction from their duties. She complies for a while, then sews in her own pockets; sewing of the sea, sailing, and oceanic adventures, then realizes she could give this as a gift to people without the even consciously realizing it. Slowly the town’s people, with hands in pockets, begin to ponder and notice things, stop and smell the roses, look at the sky, and dream. This magic brings husbands and wives closer, children more joyful, the town simply comes alive. Once all is well, she herself is healed and ready to turn her sails for her old home. Personally, this book is the best worded picture book I have found because of its subject matter of the sea, its magical realism, and the artistry by Mary GrandPre is just stunning, carrying me away to those far distant places she stitches in pockets. C. Murray

The Magician's Elephant

The Magician’s Elephant, written by Kate DiCamillo is beautifully illustrated by Yoko Tanaka in pen and ink. It is a period piece that takes place in Europe before the turn of the 20th century and is filled with magical realism. This tale, or fable if you will, is about a boy named Peter who is in search of his little sister that he is sure is alive, although his guardian, a crazy old soldier, has told him otherwise. When sent to the open air market to purchase very old bread and two tiny fish, by fate he is drawn to a fortune teller’s tent and is compelled to find out about Adele, his sister. Before he can utter a word, the fortune teller says, “she is alive” and that he must, “follow the magician’s elephant to find her. Peter says, “There is no elephant”. But the fortune teller says something key, “Just as you say. That is surely the truth, at least for now. But perhaps you have not noticed: the truth is forever changing. Wait awhile, you will see.” The rest you must read. This is a story about hope, redemption, love, and more than anything, it is about believing in the impossible and being open to miracles. I would recommend this to anyone from age 10 and up. So sweet, so magical, it harkens to the spirit how inexplicably intertwined we all really are with each other. C. Murray