Carnaval [Paperback]

George Ancona (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 1999 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

For weeks the people of the Brazilian town of Olinda have been sewing costumes, painting masks, and creating giant puppets--preparing for carnaval. Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, carnaval is a five-day festival of parades, dancing, and singing. But unlike Mardi Gras, Olinda’s carnaval still celebrates the traditions and folklore of the people and the shared cultures--indigenous, European, and African--that make up Brazil. As generations have done each year, the people of Olinda and their visitors give themselves over to the music, dance, and joy of carnaval.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-5-A vibrant photographic journey that takes readers through Olinda, a city in northeastern Brazil. The odyssey begins by highlighting the weeks of preparation leading up to the five-day celebration, and follows with information about the unique traditions of this region. The author offers vignettes of costume and mask making, as well as of the local art of making bonecos gigantes (giant puppets) with corresponding photographs that support the text well. He then describes the traditional dances and parades, including explanations of Spanish and Portuguese terms. Profiles of local inhabitants and their respective roles in the festivities add interest and flavor to the book. The prose is superb-scenes and traditions are clearly presented in a language rich with description and imagery. Stunning photographs capture the spirit of the festival with pictures of revelers dressed in a dazzling array of colorful costumes. A highly balanced and aesthetic composition is achieved through a variety of overlapping photographs and insets, full and double-page spreads, and varying colored-text backgrounds with white. An excellent introduction in an inviting and visually pleasing format.
Paul Kelsey, East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library, LA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Grade 2-5-A vibrant photographic journey that takes readers through Olinda, a city in northeastern Brazil. The odyssey begins by highlighting the weeks of preparation leading up to the five-day celebration, and follows with information about the unique traditions of this region. The author offers vignettes of costume and mask making, as well as of the local art of making bonecos gigantes (giant puppets) with corresponding photographs that support the text well. He then describes the traditional dances and parades, including explanations of Spanish and Portuguese terms. Profiles of local inhabitants and their respective roles in the festivities add interest and flavor to the book. The prose is superb-scenes and traditions are clearly presented in a language rich with description and imagery. Stunning photographs capture the spirit of the festival with pictures of revelers dressed in a dazzling array of colorful costumes. A highly balanced and aesthetic composition is achieved through a variety of overlapping photographs and insets, full and double-page spreads, and varying colored-text backgrounds with white. An excellent introduction in an inviting and visually pleasing format. Paul Kelsey, East Baton Rouge Parish Public Library, LA (School Library Journal ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; 1 edition (October 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152017925
• ISBN-13: 978-0152017927
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,287,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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