Count Me In! A Parade of Mexican Folk Art Numbers in English and Spanish
By Cynthia Weill • Illustrated by The Aguilar Sisters
Cinco Puntos Press • 2012 • 32 pages
Hardcover ($14.95)
ISBN: 978-1-935955-39-9
Ages 3-6
With the help of this remarkable concept book, little ones may learn to count in Spanish and English while experiencing a lovely parade of clay figurines made by The Aguilar Sisters of Oaxaca, Mexico. The Sisters are widely recognized for their authentic reproductions of Oaxaca’s colorful people and sites.
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Each two-page spread features a number spelled out in both languages on one side, and the corresponding number of figurines on the opposite side, along with a bilingual caption below them that describes their contribution to the parade. The traditional celebration is called Guelaguetza (meaning to share, in Zapotec) Festival. Readers are drawn into the parade with questions and suggestions such as “let’s dance”.
Jorge Luis Santiago’s photographs of the figurines beautifully display their vivid colors, so that each one seems to come alive and jump off the page for the reader. Recommended.
—Reviewed by Bianca Elliott, PhD., High School and University Educator
