Pablo.
Reviewed by Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA -- Críticas, 2/19/2008
Lazaro, Georgina.
illus. by Marcela Donoso. U.S.: Lectorum Pub. (Cuando los grandes eran pequeños). 2008. unpaged. ISBN 978-1-933032-09-2. $14.99.
Gr 2-4–This introduction to the life and work of Pablo Neruda provides surprisingly detailed information in a rhyming format accessible to young children. Beginning with his birth and early years in the village of Temuco, the text clearly describes the people who first influenced him—his stepmother, father, and friends—as well as his spiritual attachment to nature and the world around him. Neruda’s trajectory, both as a poet and diplomat, is laid out in such a way that it seems inevitable. While the lengthy narrative is not consistently good poetry itself, it is convincing in describing the force with which an artistic calling can assert itself. Donoso’s intriguing acrylic illustrations, done in a primitive style with just a dash of anime, use vibrant colors and densely composed scenes to create deeply hued, detailed paintings. An afterword gives a straightforward one-page summary of Neruda’s life and lists his poetry collections. Along with other titles in the series—José, Juana Inés, and Julia—this is a sound enhancement for collections serving Hispanic populations, as well as useful for Spanish language programs.
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