Bibliography
Bernier-Grand, Carmen T. 2004. CESAR: SI, SE PUEDE! YES, WE CAN!. Ill. David Diaz. Tarryton, NY: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 10-0761451722
Plot Summary
This book chronicles the life of activist Cesar Chavez, from birth through death in a series of 19 poems. The poems take you through Cesar's life, describing his family, his experiences, and the occurrences that led him to become a great leader of La Causa (The Cause), the struggle for farm worker's rights.
Critical Analysis
Bernier-Grand seamlessly knits Spanish words into the mostly English verses, including quotes from Cesar Chavez and folk sayings and prayers. The poems are written in an oral-tradition style, that shows the struggles of not only Cesar, but all migrant farm workers. Bernier-Grand portrays Cesar's culture through her use of the Spanish language, her explanation of how to pronounce Cesar's name, and the types of homes they lived in. The author's descriptions of Cesar's mother and father show some of the values of their culture, as well as, the way Cesar's family stayed together, including extended family. She also provides end notes where quotes included in the text are referenced and a sources page where websites, publications and interviews are provided. She includes a glossary, a brief biography of Cesar's life, and a chronology that begins with Cesar's birth and ends in 1994 with the creation of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. It's no wonder that she won a Pura Belpre Honor Award for her writing in 2006.
David Diaz also won a Pura Belpre Honor Award for his photo shop illustrations of Cesar's life. The pictures are brightly colored and the characters and people in his drawings seem to be emitting a kind of inner light. Diaz portrays Cesar's culture through the pigment of their skin tones, their hair color, the types of houses and buildings, and all of the little details included in the background.
Review Excerpts
*Pura Belpre Honor Book
School Library Journal Starred Review: "The lyrical language describes events and paints evocative pictures to which children will relate."
Booklist: "Bernier-Grand's contribution will lend texture and immediacy to an inspiring life story."
Connections
Krull, Kathleen. 2003. HARVESTING HOPE: THE STORY OF CESAR CHAVEZ. Ill. Yuyi Morales. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 10-0152014373
del Castillo, R. G. 2002. CESAR CHAVEZ: THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE. Ills. Lamberto Alvarez & Anthony Accardo. Art Publico Press. ISBN 10-9781558854246
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment