The Pot That Juan Built

Book Review:

This book is a combination of a story and information about the development of Juan Quezada's pottery skills. The story describes Juan's plight to create a unique and beautiful pot depicting the Casas Grande people and is written in the form of the cumulative story, "The House That Jack Built." This story is also written in rhyme. Alongside the story, an informational biography details Juan's quest to become a premier potter. Juan's work is stunning. By the end of this story, his impoverished village of Mata Ortiz is transformed into a prosperous community due to Juan's amazing talent for teaching others how to build these pots. The vibrant colored illustrations delightfully add to the tale of Juan's plight to find the best materials to mold, fire, and decorate his pots recreating the primitive pot-making process of the Casas Grande people.

In the Afterword, there is information on the history of Mata Ortiz and its people. It explains how Juan was discovered in 1976 and the process he uses to create these wonderful works of art.

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