Josefina [Hardcover]

Jeanette Winter (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Count along in English and Spanish with a Mexican folk artist as she sculpts her world from clay. Inspired by Josefina Aguilar, an artist who continues to create painted clay figures in the village of Ocotlán, Mexico, this colorful tale is profound in its beauty and simplicity. “Winter is a true original, and [this] work gives further proof of her talent.”--Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Inan expertly polished picture book, Winter (Shaker Boy) tale submerges a counting lesson within a tour of a foreign country. The author/artist imagines a day in the life of Josefina Aguilar, a real-life Mexican folk artist who makes and sells painted clay figures in a small village. Winter's Josefina sculpts the figurines in groups ("windows and doors in three clay houses, to let the sun shine in"; "six babies for six mamas to hold," etc.), and the action builds toward a grand finale, with Josefina displaying her day's work as a deft count-down brings the story full circle. Readers will reinforce their command of numbers and get a taste of Mexican culture, too-all without a whiff of didacticism. As a writer, Winter has a finely tuned sense of control: as an artist, her style is unmistakable-earthy, stylized, and color-saturated, a study in daring but harmonious color combinations (pairings such as the deep plum costumes of a mariachi band set against a melon sunset fairly leap off the pages). Winter is a true original, and her latest work gives further proof of her talent. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?In simple words and charming pictures, Winter gives an outline of the life of Josefina Aguilar, a maker of pottery figures who lives in Ocotlan, Mexico. The author follows this narrative with a counting story describing Josefina's creation of a pottery world, beginning with one sun and going through increasing numbers of angels, houses, flower sellers, farmers, mamas and babies, mariachis, mourners, skeletons, and, finally, 10 stars. The acrylic paintings are drenched in the rich colors of Mexican folk art; they portray Josefina and her family as solid shapes much like her pottery figures. In the counting section, she is shown on the left-hand page shaping and painting the objects, while the finished creations are shown on the opposite page, with the numeral and a caption in Spanish as part of the border. The final accumulation is a double-page spread full of joyful and sorrowful figures, dancing skeletons, and a benign red sun looking on. It is obvious that Winter knows and loves Mexico, and this is a wonderful tribute to a woman artisan. No matter how many counting books a library owns, there should be a place for this one.?Pam Gosner, Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152010912
• ISBN-13: 978-0152010911
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #739,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We like it!, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Josefina (Hardcover)

Though the listed age level is 4-8 years, my 19-month-old daughter loves this book. She is very drawn to the art and the bright colors. Usually, she doesn't have the patience to sit through much text, but she likes this story. I have been trying to teach her a little bit of Spanish, so I appreciate being able to teach her numbers and new words as we count the things Josefina makes. When she gets older, she'll be more aware of learning about the art associated with her 1/4 Mexican heritage.