Southwest Children's Literature

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Confetti: Poems for Children

Book Review:

Confetti: Poems for Children by Pat Mora is a book of free verse poems that represent the beauty of the Southwest through the eyes of a young Mexican-American girl. The Hispanic culture is strikingly portrayed throughout each poem with the use of vivid and colorful words. In every poem, but one, Mora intertwines Spanish words to accurately portray the culture in which the young girl was raised.

The book contains a glossary of the Spanish words that are interjected throughout the poems. These words are translated into English, which assists non-Spanish speaking readers in understanding the words' meanings. From her experience with the panadero to her Abuelita's lap, the young girl's life is vibrant and inviting. Mora does a magnificent job of enticing young children to use their imaginations, like the young girl does in the poems: "Oh, I see caballitos that race the wind high in the shimmering blue."

In every poem, the illustrations by Enrique O. Sanchez are alive and rich. He uses colors that effectively correlate to the Mexican-American culture. The colors illustrate the theme of each poem as it sets a different mood throughout the entire book. From the bright yellows and oranges used to show the rising of the morning sun to the calming blues and purples of the desert night, Sanchez shows the unique beauty of a typical day in the Southwest.

It was evident that there was an exemplary collaboration between Pat Mora, an award-winning author, and Enrique O. Sanchez. This allowed the underlying meaning of the book to shine through the beautiful words and illustrations. For more information about the author, you can go to www.patmora.com

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