A sweet demonstration of how friendship can transcend language barriers. There's little frilliness; Alonso's will to live and to dance seems like a force of nature, and the story, which follows her from childhood through her professional career and into retirement, has the scope of an adult work. Quotes by Picasso appear often—with their sources listed in the endnotes. Yes We Can , Bernier-Grand introduces a famous life with lyrical free-verse poems.
Nearly every double-page spread pairs a well-reproduce painting by Frida Kahlo with an original poem that defines turning points in the artist's life.
These vignettes are appropriately accompanied by David Diaz's vibrant colored mixed media silhouettes and occasionally—and to great effect—Rivera's own paintings. This offerings makes an excellent companion to the poet's previous books. In elegant free verse, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand describes Sotomayor's remarkable journey from her childhood in the projects near Yankee Stadium to her stellar academic achievements at Ivy League universities to her rapid rise in the legal profession.
The colorful illustrations reflect the diversity of the people and the charm of their many traditions. Excellent choice for classrooms. Ages 4-up. Appropriately luminous, the Lady of Guadalupe, as the Madonna is called, lends a contrast to the somber countryside. An author's note provides historical details that flesh out the facts around the Lady's appearance to Juan Diego, who was canonized in as a saint. When her mother wants her to be part of the high society world in their native Puerto Rico, Teresa attends a private school but loses her best friend.
Buy on IndieBound. Alicia Alonso: Prima Ballerina "Bernier-Grand's free-verse picture-book biography follows one of 20th-century ballet's most gifted—and steeliest—ballerinas, tracing her climb to the rank of prima ballerina assoluta and her battle to continue dancing as she loses her sight.
