Genre- Alphabet Book
Age- P-I
This would be such a great book with which to begin a unit on Mexico. While I was reading it I was envisioning a project where students pick a random letter, then have to give a presentation on the subject of that letter. For example, the student who picks A must study and present on Mexican art, and the student who picks D will study the Day of the Dead. The illustrations were fun and colorful which made the book seem more exciting, despite its straightforward topic. Some of the choices for the letters seemed a little odd to me, occasionally bordering on stereotypes, but for a first introduction into a very complex race and culture, I think it was alright. I would make sure that this isn’t the only book about Mexico that children are exposed to though, because as I said, it’s a complex place with a deep history and cultural tradition, which deserves more than just a short blurb next to the letter. As long as this book isn’t considered a be-all-end-all encyclopedia of all things Mexico I think it’s a really good addition to a unit about North American countries. ( )