Pedro the Angel of Olvera Street

by Leo Politi

Politi, Leo

Genres: Picture Books, Christmas, Childrens, Fiction, Holiday, Christian

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Leo Politi was born in California and spent most of his childhood in Italy. He was an artist and children's book author. He was especially drawn toward Mexican themes.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the artwork of Leo Politi. It is beautiful.

This story is about an old area in LA that used to be the center of the city according to the book - Olvera Street. I wonder if it is still there? It was still there in the 40s. This is about a small village basically in the middle of the city where the old traditions of the Latino community still took place. Pedro loved to sing and at Christmas time he bore little red wings and sang like an angel leading the community.

I didn't know about any of this so I learned something today. I enjoy Leo's work quite a bit. I did read this to my nephew. He said it was good but it wasn't Christmas and there were no robots in it. He said he gave it 4 stars - he likes giving lots of stars to color.

[dianne b. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stars for the story and reminding me of what I did like about growing up in LA, posadas at Christmas time, warm fresh tortillas a mano, and old Olvera Street. A fourth star for the fantastic art. And, who knows why, this first edition is signed and inscribed with a personal painting of Pedro singing: "With All Best Wishes from Pedro and me, Leo Politi, Christmas 1968" - little red wings and all.

[Tricia Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children's authors and illustrators. I had this one on my shelf in my classroom and tried to bring it out often. Historical, sweet story, and wonderful illustrations.

[Michelle Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023. Christmas books. Sweet, cultural story about La Posada and the Christmas celebrations in a very old part of Los Angeles. The story itself was forgettable, but the atmosphere of old Los Angeles and Mexican-American culture were enjoyable.

[Carol Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book. It was written in the 1940s and I couldn't help wondering if the Olvera Street described in the story was still in existence. I was so happy to find that it still exists in the same way it is described in the story. In fact, it is now a designated historical area.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 1947 Caldecott Honor Book •

What a charming book! When I first picked this up, I didn’t think this was the right book because it doesn’t look like it was created in 1946. The art seems more modern, the story is short and to the point (for a children’s book from the 1940s) and it’s a small sized book.

I wasn’t expecting this to be a Christmas story, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect at all. This is the story of La Posada on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Pedro leads the procession dressed as an angel and by singing. At the end there is a piñata and Pedro is hoping to get a music box in it.

This is a really sweet book, and the illustrations are wonderful. My favorite illustration is of Pedro hitting the piñata and all the colors are muted and gray / brown / black but the piñata is colorful and bright.

This book made me think of Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico because it’s also about a posada which is something I’d never heard of until I read that book. I love the art in this book!

Materials used: unlisted
Typeface used: unlisted

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book immediately reminded me of "Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico" by Marie Hall Ets, which is on the same topic, although this book was done earlier thirteen years earlier. Both books' core story is about La Posada, the journey that Mary and Joseph make in Bethlehem, when they are trying to find a place to stay, so Mary can have the baby Jesus. The title comes from the title character Pedro, who sings so sweetly that he is called "the Angle of Olvera Street," which is where he lives in Los Angeles and the site of the original Latino settlement in the city. Pedro is asked to sing, as an angel with red wings, at La Posada at the head of the procession. He dreams of getting a small music box from the piñata, which is broken after the people in the procession find a place to stay, and he is lucky enough to receive one. The book, as did his Caldecott Medal winning book "The Song of the Swallows," contains the author's original music and lyrics. This book won a 1947 Caldecott Honor award. Recommended for ages 4-8, 3 stars.

[SamZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Illustration: The page where the kids are all playing with the pinata. All of the expressions on the kids' faces are so precious!
Pedro lives in Los Angeles, and loves to visit the shops on historic Olvera Street. This Christmas, Pedro gets to sing during La Posada, the parade about the Holy Family searching for shelter. Pedro is also excited for the fun activities that come at this Christmas season.
I really enjoyed reading this fun little story about Pedro and learning more about the Latino culture. I loved the delight Pedro has for all the things that come with the Christmas season. Politi's illustrations were beautiful and did a great job of complimenting the story.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this would be a Christmas book, but it actually tells about the Mexican tradition of La Posada, which is a Christmas procession through the streets. Pedro, who has a beautiful singing voice, is asked to lead the procession as an angel, and the reader follows him through the celebration, experiencing the procession and the breaking of the pinata right by his side. The story could have used more of a plot, but it does make a nice lesson on a celebration American kids might not know about. The illustration of the fallen pinata surrounded by treats is the best one in the book.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable story set primarily during Advent in an earlier Los Angeles. The affection for the city before it grew up and the Christmas traditions is evident. The simple paintings are good companions to the narrative. This is a helpful recounting of the Christmas tradition of La Posada among Mexican immigrants. Readers might enjoy listening to Terry Taylor's "Papa Danced on Olvera Street."

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of La Posada on Olvera Street is told simply and with fun illustrations that make me interested in this very real and historical place. While the book was written a long time ago, the tradition continues in much the same way. The image of the city around this very old street is fascinating and made me want to look it up for myself. I'm intrigued and wish I could go there, especially at Christmas.

This is a neat little book that introduces a slightly different culture in a way that is still relevant and interesting. I liked it.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pedro and his grandpa stroll though Olvera Street and all of the Mexican heritage and tradition that fill it. Pedro's grandpa tells him of the past traditions as they celebrate the Christmas season. Pedro sings wonderful songs and they light candles while he and others sing of Christ's birth. They walk through craft shops and are thankful for their families and their culture. This is a wonderful book about the Mexican culture and their celebrations of Jesus' birth and life. I would absolutely use this in the classroom around Christmas time or during a cultural unit.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book, especially when read at the same time as "The Christmas Anna Angel". They both describe very similar Christmas traditions, even though from different cultures. They are also similar in style, which makes sense, as they were written within 2 years of each other. A simple book, but I really enjoyed the illustration of the artisans on Olvera Street, as well as the breaking of the piñata. Charming story.

[Matthew Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book was from the 1940s and some of the depictions of hispanic people were stereotypical, I can say that I enjoyed Pedro the angel of Olivera street. The drawings and Spanish words used (in my opinion) give small insights on the the Latin culture and in fairness it was from a different time period. I wouldnt go as far as to have it in my class room to teach culture or diversity but I would read it again.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good to learn Mexican culture. Their foods, language, plays, and songs are all included in the story. Cute illustration helped me understanding and imagining about it. Kids from Mexican culture would enjoy this book empathizing, and kids from the other cultures would also enjoy this book learning different culture.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a Posada procession in Los Angeles. Illustrations reflect the rise and fall of the story as the most colorful pictures are those in the middle of the story, while the images at the end are darkly colored. My favorite illustration was that of the artisans on Olvera Street.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a Mexican American boy, Pedro, and his family's celebration of Las Posadas which is a Christmas celebration. It has beautiful illustrations and is informative about Mexican culture.

[Robert Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

**** Caldecott Honor (1947) ****

Nice little story about the Olvera Street area of Los Angeles, seen through the eyes of little Pedro. As was common with stories of this era, there are the ubiquitous religious (christianity) overtones.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was first published in the '40s and has wonderful old-fashioned illustrations. It is about a little boy, Pedro, whose voice is so beautiful that he is chosen for the part of the angel in the Christmas Eve posada.

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Getty republished this 1949 Caldecott honor book that celebrates the holidays on Olvera street in Los Angeles. This book is charming and surprising. While I suspect Olvera street is quite different today, the story holds up.

[Lizette Valles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book as an introduction for our Olvera Street field trip.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative - about Mexican Christmas traditions, taking place in this case, in LA.
Caldecott Honor

[Laura5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the double page color illustration of Pedro singing and leading the procession down the street.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caldecott Honor 1947 - you can see Politi's love for Olvera Street and Los Angeles of his day.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm starting to really like Leo Politi.

[Sarah May · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my review at http://www.littlebooksontheprairie.wo...!

[Brindi Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

1947 Caldecott Honor

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written children's book with good intro to the Mexican Christmas tradition of La Posada.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pictures are so beautiful. I really enjoyed the story and colors of this book are very vivid.

[Cassandra Gelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't angels make people freak out?

This review was originally published at http://www.drttmk.com/books/pedro-ang....

This author writes a lot of relatively religious books. This is the story of a little boy named Pedro who lives on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. The book discusses the Mexican culture in Los Angeles and different things that they do, and then talks about how they celebrate Christmas. There's a pinata, and something called a posada, which is a procession of people who pass through the city streets every night starting on December 16th and going every night until Christmas Eve. They bring a nativity scene with them, and they all sing about asking for shelter, and every night every door they ask at denies them shelter, until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, there's a piñata and they break it open and there's toys. The end.

There are a couple of songs, including the scores, in the book. There's a lot of Spanish, including all the lyrics to the songs (although they are translated into English as well). Pedro "sings like an angel" so somebody makes him little red angel wings and he leads the posada, hence the title. It teaches a bit about the culture and holidays of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, but I imagine it's rather outdated. I wonder what Olvera Street is like nowadays, almost 75 years later.

Message: This is how Mexican Americans live in Los Angeles.