The Messengers of Rain and Other Poems from Latin America

Lee, Claudia M. (editor); ; Leone, Andrew C. (translator); Yockteng, Rafael (illustrator)

ISBN 10: 0888994702 / ISBN 13: 9780888994707

Published by Toronto, ON, Canada: Groundwood Books, 2002, 2002

About this Item

This is a 2002 Ed. New book. The dj comes with a mylar cover.

Seller Inventory # br12651

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Messengers of Rain and Other Poems from Latin America
• Publisher: Toronto, ON, Canada: Groundwood Books, 2002
• Publication Date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0888994702
• ISBN 13: 9780888994707
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Yockteng, Rafael
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

About this title

Synopsis

This anthology of poems introduces readers to an eclectic mix of new and established Latin American poets. The beautifully illustrated collection from 19 Latin American countries features traditional pre-Columbian work that is represented alongside contemporary poetry, and a significant portion of the book comes from the indigenous community. Divided into four groups — Magic Recipes, Traditional Songs and Cooings, The Cricket Sings in the Mountain, and Words and Books — the poems range from celebrations of nature and nonsense to musings on politics and magic. The book includes the work of Roque Dalton, Humberto A’kabal, and Emilia Gallego.

Reviews

Grade 2-6-This anthology will fill a gap in many collections. The 64 poems from 19 countries include 20th-century classics and more recent selections, and represent women, indigenous writers, and widely published names such as Octavio Paz and Rafael Pombo. Lee made her selections from poems written originally for adults as well as for children; all of them have rich imagery and a sense of wonder that will appeal to a young audience. The collection is organized loosely into thematic sections, each with a different translator. Yockteng's fanciful watercolors head each section with a full-page spread, and spots brighten the pages between, here and there, without distracting from the poems. The verses are laid plainly and legibly on a white background, generally with plenty of space. Sometimes two narrow poems are set side-by-side, detracting from the otherwise clean design. Since there is such a demand for bilingual texts, and since many of these poems' true magic lies in the musicality of the originals, it is unfortunate that the Spanish texts aren't included. Gladly, a citation to them appears below each poem, many of which are available on the Internet. Short biographical notes about each poet, an index of poets, and an index of titles complete this collection, which will be a welcome addition to most libraries.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.