Abuela's Weave [Hardcover]

Omar S. Castaneda (Author), Omar S. Castaaneda (Author), Enrique O. Sanchez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In a Guatemalan tale about trust, love, and independence, a grandmother teaches a young girl how to weave, and the two create something so special that no one can see it until market day.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the Guatemalan countryside, Esperanza and her abuela --grandmother--work all day, weaving brilliantly colored clothing and tapestries on hand-held, backstrap looms. They plan to sell their goods at an outdoor market during the fiesta, though both are nervous that there will be no buyers. Since Abuela does not want to jeopardize Esperanza's chances of attracting customers (a facial birthmark has led some to believe she is a witch), she pretends not to know her granddaughter on their journey to the city. Setting out her handiwork (a marked contrast to the other vendors' machine-made products), the girl is surprised when crowds gather to admire her vibrant, intricately patterned fabrics. She sells everything and returns home happily--this time proudly sharing a bus seat with Abuela. Born in Guatemala, Castaneda affectingly portrays the loving rapport between a child and her grandmother, as well as the beauty of his homeland's cultural traditions. Sanchez's bright, richly grained acrylic-on-canvas paintings bring dimension to the characters and authenticity to the setting. Fabric-like horizontal borders below each page of text add a comely dimension to this promising debut for both author and illustrator. Ages 3-9.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-- Castaneda's rich narrative effectively evokes the harmonious way of life of many Indian communities in Latin America. Esperanza is learning to weave on the backstrap loom from her grandmother. " 'Pull back hard,' old Abuela said. 'Make it jolt, so the threads stay close, like family.' " The whole family counts on them to sell their tapestries at the Fiesta de Pueblos in Guate . However, more and more machine-made weavings are appearing at markets and many people are fearful of the elderly woman, thinking she is a witch because of the birthmark on her face. The day of the fiesta, Abuela dresses all in black with a long shawl wrapped around her face to hide the birthmark. She walks a few paces behind her granddaughter, pretending they don't know each other. Their fears disappear, however, when people crowd around their display of complex weavings amid the commercial stalls. Sanchez's illustrations rendered in acrylic on canvas vividly capture the importance of this "rite of initiation" for a young girl under the lovingly firm guidance of her grandmother. Color and composition on each page authentically re-create images of rural Guatemala. A book to be read independently and enjoyed by all children.
- Graciela Italiano, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880000008
• ISBN-13: 978-1880000007
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,643,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A touching story about family, responsibility, and Guatemala, August 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Abuela's Weave (Paperback)

After returning from a solo trip to Guatemala, I was looking for a way to give my children a sense of what the country is like - not just what I saw there, but what I felt, being among the Maya. This book provided me with the tool I was looking for. This touching story weaves the importance and closeness of Mayan family, the responsibility that Mayan children must assume early in life, and a bit of the mystery surrounding the people into a wonderful tale. Reading Abuela's Weave to my children was one of the only times I have ever cried over a children's book.

The kids liked it, too.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woven with Love, June 18, 2002

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abuela's Weave (Paperback)

A beautifully illustrated book written by Omar S. Castaneda who was born in Guatemala and teaches writing at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. The artist, Enrique O. Sanchez was born in the Dominican Republic and has worked as a graphic artist for Sesame Street. Together they create magic.

Esperanza is a girl who is learning to weave with her grandmother, Abuela. On the day of the Fiesta de Pueblos in Guate, they decide to reveal their work to the world.

"Esperanza, however, wore her favorite huipil: it was a white blouse with red, blue and green threads in the rectangular collar. Under that, the colors bled into silver and blue, and hidden within the intricate designs of the blouse were tiny quetzals flying freely in the threads the way they once flew in the great forests of Guatemala."

They have to take a bus and then finally they arrive in the city. Once Esperanza starts to hang up her work, people start to look at the elaborate weavings and some even take pictures. She sells all the items and her grandmother is very proud of her.

A loving story that follows in the tradition of Guatemala's legendary artisans.

~The Rebecca Review

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME BOOK, March 18, 2004

By 

Mary Purvis (Fairhope, AL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Abuela's Weave (Paperback)

Abuela's Weave is a very good, accurate book about how the Maya people actually live. I've travelled often to Guatemala and visited many villages. The pictures in Abuela's Weave depict life as it really is in the villages... the Mayan dress, the houses, work, animals. Very good. I read this book often to my 4 year old granddaughter and use the opportunity to educate her on Guatemalan culture and to teach her some Spanish. My cousin, Dominga Sic Ruiz, was born in Guatemala and adopted in the USA. We sell weavings made by the women of a village in Guatemala. The weavings go great with the book...hand in hand...to buy a weaving write to [e-mail] Thanks. Mary P.