Little Painter of Sabana Grande, The [Hardcover]

Patricia M. Markun (Author), Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 31, 1993 | Age Level: 6 and up

Once Fernanco has made his own paints and bought new brushes, he realizes that he has no paper, so he decides to brighten the whole village of Sabana Grande with his artwork.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

During the dry season in Panama, when school closes, Fernando embarks on a special hunt. His goal is not wildlife, but colors--black from the tree stump burned to charcoal, blue from an obscure berry, yellow from dried meadow grasses and red from the brook's clay bottom. Enthralled with his new paints, Fernando suddenly realizes he has no paper. But the white adobe walls of the village houses prove too obvious to ignore, and soon Fernando's parents give in to his pleas--"Do your best, Fernando. Remember, the neighbors will have to look at your pictures for a very long time." As the boy's vining poinciana tree vividly blossoms on his family's house and crawls up towards the thatched roof, curious neighbors watch--and commission him to extend his canvas to the whole village. Casilla's warm, brightly lit watercolors fill the pages and engulf the text in yellow light and luxuriant hues. This picturesque true story will engage adults reading aloud and may well inspire budding artists--some, perhaps, with hidden penchants for painting on surfaces other than paper. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-- School is out for the dry season (January-March) vacation, and Fernando wakes up in Sabana Grande, his small village high in the mountains of Panama. He is ready to try his hand at painting, using the information his teacher had given him before the end of the year. He painstakingly searches for and creates natural paints (dried grass for yellow, berries for blue), only to realize there is no paper to be found. He sees that the whitewashed adobe walls of his house would be perfect for the vivid images in his mind and convinces his parents to let him paint them. The rest of this simple but attractive book depicts the young artist carefully working on his house and then all the neighbors' homes with local flora and fauna while the entire village gathers around. Even Fernando's teacher comes a great distance to see her pupil's work. The simple and direct text is appropriate for reading aloud to young audiences. The story is culturally genuine in its theme as well as in content. Casilla's bright and detailed watercolors enrich the words by bringing to life these people, showing their facial features and expressions that clearly manifest their caring, encouraging natures. A credible, authentically detailed work.
- Graciela Italiano, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027622053
• ISBN-13: 978-0027622058
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,438 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It is an interesting book about Panama for kids my age., October 11, 1999

By 

Chris Millen (Readington, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Painter of Sabana Grande, The (Hardcover)

This book is a boy who wants to paint.But then he has no paper.Then he asks his neighbors for paper but they don`t have any paper.So then he asks his Dad to paint on the house but he can`t.Then he got so upset that his parents let him paint.Then he painted all the houses.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Buetiful paintings, October 6, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Little Painter of Sabana Grande, The (Hardcover)

This is the story of little boy of sabana grande. I liked the pantings alot.They were very beutiful and warm. The people in the story liked the paintings too. I also liked the work he put into it too. He worked hard too make the paint and then do the paintings.
Then the people asked him if he coud paint for him to and so he did.

THE END