This art style is my absolute favorite. I love the way the noses and ears are drawn. I did not know about Amalia Hernandez before! It was a good read. ( )

Great addition to add to classroom, this book explores the beautiful art of Folklorico and it's culture. This could inspire students into learning more about their culture. It promotes social awareness while doing it in a way where there's still appreciation for culture.

Wonderful portrait of Amalia Hernández and El Ballet Folklórico de México -- a person I did not know, and a dance company I was unfamiliar with -- but, I am so glad to know about them now. Duncan Tonatiuh's marvellous illustrations and his excellent storytelling style make this a book not to miss, especially if you, like me, want to see folk culture celebrated and brought into a place where it can continue to thrive and grow. ( )

A beautifully illustrated depiction of Amalia Hernández and the dance company she founded in 1952 that integrated folkloric dances from all over Mexico and became the most famous dance company in the country. Includes Author’s Note, Glossary, Bibliography, Index.

This biography for kids is about the life of Amalia Hernández Navarro, born in 1917, who became a Mexican ballet choreographer and founder of the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México.

Tonatiuh relates that as a child, Hernández was transformed by a danza (“a dance that is performed for an audience or one that has ceremonial purposes” according to the glossary with pronunciation guide at the end of a book) she witnessed while on vacation with her family. He writes, “Ami (as she was known) was hooked. She made a decision: she was going to become a dancer herself.”

She studied dancing while young, and when she grew up, she traveled throughout Mexico to learn the dances of different regions. When she founded her ballet company, she incorporated all of these traditions into her choreography.

Hernández founded the Mexican Folkloric Ballet in 1952 at age 35 with only 8 dancers. By 1959, the ensemble had grown to 60 performers. It was commissioned to represent Mexico at the Pan American Games in Chicago, Illinois, in 1959.

Hernández strove to highlight champion the folklore and dances of Mexico. As Tonatiuh writes in his Author’s Note at the conclusion of the book:

“She was always clear about her intentions . . . namely, to preserve and capture the spirit of traditional dances, which exist for ceremonial or social purposes, and adapt them so they can be enjoyed in a theater.”

In particular, she focused on Mesoamerican cultures through her dancing, making her story a perfect fit for author/illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh.

Tonatiuh, who is an award-winning illustrator, is known for his gorgeous folkloric art work inspired by Mixtec (native Mexican) codices from the 14th century. He juxtaposes the indigenous style with modern characters and settings. He also uses the pictures to enlarge upon the text.

The simplicity of the illustrations (which also tell the story without words) serve to extend the appropriate reading level of this book, suggested for ages 6 and up.

Evaluation:. I have yet to be disappointed by a book written and illustrated by Tonatiuh. He adds a social awareness of struggles for inequality to his stories, as well as an appreciation for the culture of our neighbor to the South. His depiction of the richness of Mexico’s culture is a welcome contrast to the plethora of negative portrayals in the media. ( )