Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English ANNOTATION
A book of poems about working in the fields and nature's bounty, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
A book of poems about working in the fields and nature's bounty, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Tim Whitney
This book is more than a mere collection of alphabetized nature poems, but a celebration of the way of life of Mexican farmworkers. Each Spanish poem addresses an aspect of life; the main concept corresponding to a letter in the Spanish alphabet. The English translation is accurate and still maintains the flavor and rhythm of the original Spanish. Silva's illustrations in the form of paintings make this a beautiful picture book as well.
Children's Literature - Beverly Kobrin
Alma Flor Ada's bilingual Gathering the Sun is a stunning celebration of farm workers, their families, the land they sow and the harvests they reap, from "Arboles-Trees...that bear the fruits/that my parents harvest." to "Zanahoria-Carrot ...[that] knows/the sun's fiery color/by heart." Artist Simon Silva's powerful gouaches are in the rich reds and oranges of sun-drenched farmlands.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 5An alphabet book with exceptional illustrations and excellent poetry that gives voice to the experience of Hispanic agricultural workers. Each letter is matched with a Spanish word (for example, "Arboles" for "A") and accompanied by a poem in both Spanish and English that describes how the plant, fruit, vegetable, person, or feeling functions in the lives of these workers. Zubizarreta's English translations are informed and graceful, but predictably cannot match the Spanish originals in rhythm, assonance, or meter. Silva's vibrant, double-page, gouache illustrations are reminiscent of the artwork of Diego Rivera and Jos Clemente Orozco. The colors are brilliant, and the scope has a certain larger-than-life sense to it. This is a book that begs to be read aloud to all students, whether they are Spanish speaking or not. The sound of the poems will draw them in. The touching elegy for Csar Chvez successfully imparts the impact of a heroic man on his people. Whether used to show the plight of migrant workers or the pride Hispanic laborers feel in their heritage, this is an important book.Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
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