Through the magic windows of her cut-paper art, Garza shows us her family, her life as an artist, and the legends of her Aztec past. In her third book, Magic Windows/Ventanas magicas, Carmen Lomas Garza takes readers on a fascinating journey that explores her family, community, and ancestors through the traditional folk art form of papel picado (cut-paper art). Children catch a glimpse of the hummingbirds that carry the souls of the ancestors; look into the artist's studio and see her paint a Mexican jarabe tapato dancer; and watch her teach her nieces and nephews how to make their own magic windows. The text is in Spanish and English.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-5-A collection of full-page reproductions of Lomas Garza's papel picado, cut-paper art, accompanied by short explanatory narratives in Spanish and English. The intricate cutouts have bold, thick lines and severe angles and the artist uses delicate connectors, such as cactus spines and corn silk, to hold the images together. Most of the cutouts are done with black paper, although a few are cut from yellow or blue paper, and all of them feature a generous use of negative space through which monochromatic backgrounds of yellows, blues, pinks, oranges, and greens are revealed. Many of the pictures present scenes of the Mexican-American artist's childhood and family, such as a close-up of her grandfather's hands cutting a nopal cactus. The remainder are scenes of Mexican flora and fauna, such as two hummingbirds drinking nectar from cactus flowers. A brief description accompanies each scene. Although the cutouts successfully demonstrate Lomas Garza's considerable artistic skill, the presentation is not entirely effective. The reproductions appear flat, making them look more like computer-generated art than fragile paper cutouts. The book can best be used and most fully appreciated in conjunction with a hands-on introduction to the art form.
Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Denise E. Agosto, formerly at Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
This bilingual (Spanish/English) book introduces children to the fascinating Mexican technique of papel picado (cut-paper art). Through intricate pictures, in which each small piece of colored paper connects to form a whole image, the author weaves a tale about her family and the traditions and beliefs of their Mexican heritage. A 1999 Parents' Choice® Recommendation. (Parents' Choice®) -- From Parents' Choice®
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful pictures. Beautiful stories.,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Magic Windows/Ventanas magicas (Hardcover)
This is a very charming book about the Mexican art of paper cutting designs. The stories are just as intriguing as the pictures they tell about. I appreciated the fact that it was written in both English & Spanish on the same page--for easy translation!
4 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Magic Windows,
By A Customer
This review is from: Magic Windows/Ventanas magicas (Hardcover)
I enjoyed learning about Mexican culture through the text and pictures but I'm afraid the colors of the pictures are not quite authentic ones for papel picado. Nonetheless, the artwork is quite intricate and impressive.
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