ABeCedarios Mexican folk art ABCs in English and Spanish

Children can learn their alphabet (in two languages) as well as get an introduction to an array of unique animals in ABeCedarios: Mexican Folk Art ABCs in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill and K.B. Basseches with sculptures by Moises and Armando Jimenez. Featuring vibrant wooden sculptures by a Oaxacan family of artists, the primer offers up animals both familiar ("the flamingo/ el flamenco") and unusual, such as the nutria and vicuna, for each letter of the alphabet, as well as for uniquely Spanish sounds, such as "ll," "?" and "rr." The highly saturated color backdrops and stunning sculptures should win over readers of all ages. (Cinco Puntos, $14.95 32p ages 2-up ISBN 9781-933693-13-2; Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Gr 2-4-Mexican folk-art figures are the focus of this colorful alphabet book. Each page presents a small Oaxacan woodcarving of an animal done in a rainbow of colors. The only text is the animals' names in Spanish and in English. For example, "the Dolphin/el Delf'n"; "the Elephant/el Elefante." The sculpted figures display personality and enough vibrant energy to leap off the pages. Unusual or rare creatures-a hybrid Zedonk, a unicorn, and imaginary "X" animal-appear as examples in whimsical colors and imaginative patterns. An attractive choice for folk-art study or libraries with large collections of artistic ABC books.-Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From armadillo to zedonk, this book leads readers through an alphabetic list of animals in English and Spanish (including Spanish-only letters such as n and rr). Information about some of the more exotic animals (e.g., vicuna) would have been helpful, but the colorful book is really a showcase for photos of traditional wood sculptures by folk artists from Oaxaca, Mexico. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.