Anthony Reynoso: Born to Rope

A simple text interwoven with color photographs creates an image of the modern American lifestyle of nine-year-old Anthony Reynoso, his efforts to learn how to rope and ride Mexican Rodeo style, school, hobbies, and adventures while exploring the ancient carved rocks near his Arizona home.

Grade 2-4?An appealing picture-book biography about a nine-year-old Mexican Rodeo charro (cowboy) who lives in a small town outside of Phoenix. In addition to discussing roping practice and competition, Anthony Reynoso tells of his school, his Mexican American and Yaqui Indian town, and his close-knit family. The first-person narrative is slightly disjointed, but very childlike in its orientation and descriptions. The sharp, clear full-color photographs show the boy engaged in a mixture of traditional Mexican activities (hitting a pi?ata at a birthday party) and typical American pastimes (collecting basketball cards). A good choice for libraries looking for glimpses of Mexican-American life.?Denise E. Agosto, Midland County Public Library, TX
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 2^-4. Clear, colorful photographs and a lively, first-person narration capture the melding of traditional Mexican and modern American cultures in nine-year-old Anthony Reynoso. Although in many ways a typical American youngster (he enjoys playing basketball and collecting basketball cards), Anthony has a strong Mexican heritage. Readers will delight in the great action photos of Anthony in his charro, a Mexican cowboy outfit, doing astounding roping and riding tricks; at his cousin's birthday party; and helping at his grandparents' Mexican restaurant. Lauren Peterson