August's Libro del Mes: Fiesta Femenina

Fiesta Femenina

Celebrating Women in Mexico

retold by Mary-Joan Gerson

illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez

From the inside cover:

Deep in the lush Mexican forests, amidst the tall mountains and the rushing rivers, dwells a great goddess. Her broad torso bends to form the sky and her legs rise to become the valleys and the deserts. She is the earth, the land of Mexico, and if you listen closely, you will here her calling "tengo hambre, tengo hambre," for she is always hungry.

Gifted storyteller Mary-Joan Gerson draws from Mexico's rich cultural traditions, including the tales from the Mayan, Mixtec, and Yaqui peoples to create an authentic collection that reflects the many faces of Mexico's heroines. And Maya Christina Gonzalez's vibrant paintings brilliantly capture the spark behind the stories, and the noble dignity of these eight extraordinary women.

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Today, the Latin Baby Book Club celebrates its third anniversary! As in years past, we are looking forward to a month-long celebration with new book reviews, giveaways, and more.

We are more than pleased to start off this special month by sharing our Libro del Mes: Fiesta Femenina. This is such an incredible book, I can't believe we haven't had it on here before now. As you can tell from the description above, this book is dedicated to the diverse female figures of Mexican mythology and folklore.

Author Mary-Joan Gerson states, "Though this is my third book of adapted folklore, it is my most passionate. I think it combines two of my very strong interests: my profound connection to Mexican culture--which has deepened through many recent trips for specific festivals and events--and my psychological work on feminist issues."

This is a rich collection of Mexican folklore. The beautifully written stories in this book are complex and cleverly delivered. Be sure to read Gerson's introduction, which gives more of the history behind the stories. She also shares her sources for each story in a separate section at the back of the book, which was awarded The Aesop Prize for 2001 by the American Folklore Society.

Gonzalez's illustrations richly and vibrantly accentuate the story line. They are bold and colorful and reflective of the culture.

Fiesta Femenina is best geared for older children - especially girls. Parents and teachers will find this an excellent supplement to studies in the following areas: women, mythology, Mexican history, earth & nature, creative writing, traditions, and more.

To purchase your own copy of Fiesta Femenina, please click here. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC’s on-line store. We have both new and gently used copies available.