Book Review: FIESTA FIREWORKS

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ancona George. 1997. FIESTA FIREWORKS. New York: Lee & Shepard. ISBN 0688148174.

B. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a story about firework festival of Tultepec in Mexico. The story begins with Caren, and her mother packing food for her families, her father, uncle and grandfather, who are too busy to finish fireworks for the festival. The adults back to work after lunch, and Caren and her mother make a small torito, a puppet of a bull’s head, together to carry in the parade on the festival. All the people in this municipality are busy to make things ready for festival; some make groups’ toritos, some put decoration on church with flowers and sprinkle colored sawdust on the walk like a carpet around the church. On the date of festival, children carry giant sparklers and men hold poles with spinning wheels of whistling rockets which light up the plaza and then the parade of small toritos and giant toros come to the plaza. People in this neighborhood eat and play and have a lot of funs in the bright night under the colorful flower sky.

C. RITICAL ANALYSIS
Ancona, a photojournalist, uses photos instead of illustrations to record people’s lives in his books. “Fiesta Fireworks” is a book about the firework festival in the Mexican city of Tultepec. There are many cultural markers including food, vessels, baskets, kitchen tools, a puppet of bull’s head, fireworks, and both decorations on the church and streets from the cover page to the end page which are clearly presented by photos. Meanwhile, the family relationship between Caren and her parents, and extended family relationship such as Caren with her grandfather and uncle as well as community force also is addressed in the content.

There are sixteen Spanish terms including greeting words, titles, food terms, and special events used in this book and more than six terms are repeatedly used for vividly depicting Mexican cultural life and the ritual of the traditional parade. Even though it is difficult for outside reader to know the meaning of terms, Ancona provides the explanation just next to the term and includes a glossary of Spanish terms in the last page. Meanwhile, the book also includes a map of the country which creates a geographic picture for readers.

The fluent writing flow and easily read words clearly related to photos which enhance reading interests for readers and help them have deep understanding about Mexican holiday and their life.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
The Horn Book: “This beautiful book will be prized for the information it gives and as a tribute to Mexican home life.”

Children's Literature: “Ancona's text and pictures show various members of a little girl's family who are busy making fireworks for Tultepec's fiesta. Young readers will love looking at the photos of comical, child-sized bull's head puppets. Other huge fireworks sculptures of the bull's' heads have to be carried or pushed by teams of young men. He weaves Spanish phrases throughout his story of the fireworks makers of Tultepec, and their dangerous jobs, all the while illustrating the idea of the traditional fiesta in a way that can be enjoyed by children of diverse cultural backgrounds.”

School Library Journal: “This stunning photo-essay describes the explosive happenings surrounding the celebration of the feast day of San Juan de Dios. This wonderful event, captured in sharp full-color photographs, includes a mass procession, with the patron saint's statue carried over a carpet of colored sawdust; crackling fireworks; and whistling rockets exploding in the night sky in dazzling designs. An informative tribute presents an enduring Mexican tradition, with exciting visuals and a basic glossary of Spanish terms.”
School Library Journal: “In a burst of colorful photographs, Ancona has brought to life the festival honoring the patron saint of Tultepec, Mexico.”

E. CONNECTIONS
Know more about the author: the website of George Ancona.
http://dept.kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconf/ancona.htmAward

Other books related festival in Hispanic and Latino culture

Puerto Rico by Aurea Rodrguez, 1999.
Celebration: Holidays of the United States of American and Mexico
by Nancy Tabor, 2004.
Fiesta! : Mexico’s Great Celebrations by Elizabeth Silverthorne, 1992.
Pinatas and Smiling Skeletons: Celebrating Mexican Festivals by Zoe Harris
And Suzanne Williams, 1941.