Hecho en México. (Made in Mexico)
Reviewed by Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA -- Críticas, 5/1/2008
Laufer, Peter.
tr. by Víctor Reyes. illus. by Susan L. Roth. Spain: National Geographic Society. 2008. unpaged. ISBN 978-1-4263-0364-7. $16.95.
K-Gr 3-Published originally in English, this lively and informative narrative presents the story of Paracho, a tiny town in the Mexican state of Michoacán known for its high-quality guitars. An opening spread shows a mariachi band and briefly discusses its music as well as the function of the instrument in that type of music. The narrative then moves to Paracho as a center for the creation of the very best guitars, touching on the manufacturing process in small workshops and the annual music festival that attracts guitar players from all over the world. This small-scale, successful enterprise, which generates enough employment and revenue to keep the small town vibrant, is contrasted with the poor Mexico that most tourists know from cities like Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, where begging is a way of life and bare subsistence is all that some can hope for. The point (that there is more to Mexico than mariachi music and impoverished towns) is made well and without being overly didactic. The mixed-media collage illustrations enhance the narrative, giving it a new dimension. Reminiscent of the work of David Diaz, Roth’s vivid artwork uses various papers and photographs, brilliant colors, and eye-catching compositions to create fascinating images. Though the topic does not lend naturally to the picture-book format, this volume makes it accessible to young children by combining engaging illustrations and a simple, rhythmic text. This title will also serve older readers as an introduction to economies of scale. A sound purchase for school and public libraries.
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