Overview

A bilingual poetry collection by the late Francisco X. Alarcón, acclaimed Chicano poet, celebrating the days of the week and children's everyday experiences. Una colección bilingüe de poesía del difunto Francisco X. Alarcón, aclamado poeta chicano, que celebra los días de la semana y las experiencias cotidianas de la infancia. Get ready for a bilingual collection of poems that takes us through the week day by day! Children spend Sunday visiting their grandparents, play with school friends on Monday, daydream on Tuesday, eat popcorn at the local market on Wednesday, and more, until we arrive at Saturday, when they get to play nonstop all day. Along the way, we also learn how the names of the seven days came to be. Partly based on the real life experiences of Alarcón's own family, this festive, celebratory collection of poems highlights the daily life of children while also honoring the experiences of the poet's Latino family in the United States. With their vibrant illustrations, artist Maya Gonzalez has created a loving tribute to childhood, to family, and to beloved poet Francisco Alarcón. ¡Prepárate para una colección de poemas bilingüe que nos lleva a través de la semana día a día! Los niños pasan el domingo visitando a sus abuelos, juegan con los amigos de la escuela el lunes, sueñan despiertos el martes, comen palomitas de maíz en el mercado local el miércoles y más, hasta que llegamos al sábado, cuando se ponen a jugar sin parar todo el día. En el camino, también aprendemos cómo llegaron a ser los nombres de los siete días. Basada en parte en las experiencias de la vida real de la propia familia de Alarcón, esta colección de poemas festivos destaca la vida cotidiana de los niños y al mismo tiempo honra las experiencias de la familia latina del poeta en los Estados Unidos. Con sus vibrantes ilustraciones, artista Maya Gonzalez ha creado un amoroso tributo a la infancia, a la familia y al amado poeta Francisco Alarcón.

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9780892392759

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Reviews

* This poetry collection from Chicano poet Alarcon, who died in 2016, includes three or four poems for each day of the week, written in the voice of a boy who reflects on traditions, special gatherings, and time spent with family. An opening note and several verses highlight the mythological origins behind the naming of the days (Venus and Frigg/ make every Friday/ a Valentine's Day). The contemplative poems touch on recognizable events in children's lives (irritating Monday mornings, endless Wednesdays) and moments of joy and melancholy: maybe there is another kid/ looking right now at Mars/ up in the night sky/ feeling just as I do--/ like a tiny punctuation dot/ alone amid so much dark. Gonzalez's radiant illustrations (inspired by Mexican indigenous crafts, she notes) bring a sense of cosmic oneness to the pages, connecting the boy to his family, community, and the ever-spinning planet. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review Daily ritual and mundane activities take on the patina of legend as time molds the character of what a family is and what it becomes. Equating the distinct characteristics of each day with the uniqueness of each family member, the poems embrace the strength of individuality while recognizing the power of the whole. -- Kirkus Reviews [E]njoy the peek into the narrator's world and the lively tangents, in words and art, that follow. -- Booklist Junior Library Guild Selection, Junior Library Guild 101 Great Books for Kids, Evanston Public Library

Author Information

Francisco X. Alarcón was a renowned poet and educator, and a three-time winner of the Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for his bilingual Magical Cycle of the Seasons series of poetry for children. His many other honors include the American Book Award, the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, the Chicano Literary Prize, and finalist for state poet laureate of California. Alarcón was also the author of several poetry collections for adults and textbooks for teaching Spanish. In addition, he directed the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California. Alarcón passed away in early 2016. Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book artist, author, activist and progressive educator. Their work addresses systemic inequity in relation to race/ethnicity, sexism, and cissexism using children's books as radical agents of change and healing, both personally and culturally. Gonzalez co-founded Reflection Press, a POC, queer and trans owned independent publishing house that uses holistic, nature-based, and anti-oppression frameworks in their books and materials for kids and grown-ups. They are also the creator of the Gender Wheel, a tool to express the dynamic, infinite and inclusive reality of gender, and provides lectures and workshops to educators, parents and caregivers. Visit them online at mayagonzalez.com.

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