Farolitos for Abuelo - Hardcover

Anaya, Rudolfo

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786802375 ISBN 13: 9780786802371

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, 1999

Synopsis

When Luz's beloved grandfather dies, she places luminaria around his grave on Christmas Eve as a way of remembering him

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

PLB 0-7868-2186-8 Luz and her beloved grandfather (The Farolitos of Christmas, 1995), or abuelo, return in the somber family story set in New Mexico. The two of them enjoy working on Luz's homework, planning a garden, and going fishing. One spring day while they are fishing, a young boy falls into the stream and Luz's grandfather must jump in to rescue him. He saves the boy, but catches a chill, gets pneumonia, and dies. Luz mourns him, and at Christmas time asks if she can take farolitos (paper bags with lighted candles set inside) to the cemetery to place around his grave. It launches a new tradition, complete with Christmas carols, in a joyful remembering of the dead. The story, though not as lyrical as the original, is readable and appealing. Gonzales provides flat, rather stiff portraits of the people of Luz's village that can render dramatic scenese.g., the rescuefrozen. In other paintings, however, the stillness adds a kind of haunting beauty, as in the scenes in the cemetery, where the blue ground is lit by the glowing farolitos. (glossary) (Picture book. 6-9) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-4-Readers again meet Luz and her grandfather, introduced in The Farolitos of Christmas (Hyperion, 1995), shortly before he passes away. Through the seasons, Luz mourns the loss of Abuelo and keeps his memory alive by working in their garden in the summer and harvesting it in the fall. When Christmas comes, the girl places farolitos around his grave, and when the other townspeople see the warm, festive sight, they follow suit and a tradition is born. The figures in the oil paintings are again modeled after Gonzales's friends and family and the lanterns give the illustrations a luminous glow. The vibrant colors further enliven the narrative. Spanish words are incorporated throughout. A touching story that works best for sharing one-on-one.-T.T.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0786802375
• ISBN 13: 9780786802371
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32