Elena's Serenade (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)) [Hardcover]

Campbell Geeslin (Author), Ana Juan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)

Who ever heard of a girl glassblower?

In Mexico, where the sun is called el sol and the moon is called la luna, a little girl called Elena wants to blow into a long pipe...and make bottles appear, like magic.

But girls can't be glassblowers. Or can they?

Join Elena on her fantastic journey to Monterrey -- home of the great glassblowers! -- in an enchanting story filled with magic realism.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A delightfully fresh take on the "anything you can do, I can do better" theme, Elena's Serenade follows a feisty little Mexican girl on a quest to prove to her father--and herself--that she can be a glassblower, even if she is a girl. Magic realism abounds as Elena journeys (dressed as a boy) to Monterrey to learn from the great glassblowers. Along the way she meets a burro, a roadrunner, and a coyote, helping each of them accomplish their goals as she blows tunes through her father's cast-off glassblowing pipe. Arriving in Monterrey, our little "muchacho" is mocked at first, but soon silences her detractors (who continue to think she's a boy) when she creates beautiful glass stars through her pipe. If only her Papa could see what she can do! Perhaps if she blows a giant bird (golondrina), she can fly home.

A lovely story penned by Campbell Geeslin, with lyrical acrylic and crayon art by the illustrator of Jonah Winter's Frida, Ana Juan. Readers will revel in the whole experience--words, pictures, message, and all. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4--In this story set in Mexico, a young girl longingly watches her papa blow into a pipe to create bottles, and dreams about doing the same. Papa disapproves, with comments about her size and gender. Hurt and angry, Elena takes her brother's advice and, disguised as a boy, begins a journey to Monterrey, home of the great glassblowers. Stopping to rest along the way, she pulls out her pipe to blow and is surprised when a melodious sound emerges. Her beautiful notes give lost and lonely Burro comfort, help hopeless Roadrunner to move faster, and allow shrill-sounding Coyote to make sweet melodies. With newly acquired confidence in her abilities, the girl finally reaches Monterrey. Although the men laugh at her, she closes her eyes and plays "Estrellita" while blowing a star out of glass. Desperate to share her talent with her father, Elena blows out a giant bird and flies home, and Papa soon realizes how special she is. The story flows well and Spanish words are smoothly incorporated into the text. The alluring acrylic-and-crayon illustrations have a stylized folk-art quality that helps to set the stage for the tale. Juan uses striking color combinations and shifting perspective to keep attention focused on the child and her changing emotions. The final images of Elena, complete with smiling face and flowing hair, reveal her blossoming identity along with her talents. A fascinating adventure that explores issues of gender roles, self-confidence, and the workings of an artist's heart.--Tracy Bell, Durham Public Schools, NC
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689849087
• ISBN-13: 978-0689849084
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 11.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Mexico
  • #84 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Central & South America

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous treasure..., September 2, 2004

By 

E. Attig "cddmom" (Merion, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elena's Serenade (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)) (Hardcover)

We picked this up at the library because I loved the illustrations and could not be happier that we did! It takes a feminist theme (that appealed greatly to my two boys)along with liberal amounts of Spanish language (glossary included) and weaves them into a magical story, complete with talking animals and fanciful glass creations. The illustrations are perfect (my three year old found them quite funny)and the prose is lilting and quite satisfying to read out loud. It incorporates so many wonderful themes---a multicultural outlook, empowerment of girls, magical happenings,the journey while disguised, etc.--that it should become a classic in schools and homes everywhere. "Bravo!"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elena's Serenade, August 12, 2004

By 

Tonja Linson "Tonja" (Port Angeles, Wa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Elena's Serenade (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This book is so wonderful. We checked it out at the library and this is the only book that my daughter wanted to read. It deals with the misconception that girls can't do the same things as boys and be good at it. It showed her that she can do anything that she puts her mind to and she may even be better than boys are.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, December 17, 2005

By 

S. House (TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elena's Serenade (Americas Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature. Commended (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This book has wonderful drawings and an imaginative story--very much in line with South American magical realism. My son loved it dubbed himself coyote (one of the characters) for two months.