Opuestos/ Opposites: Mexican Folk Art Opposites in English and Spanish

First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art #2

by Cynthia Weill, Martín Santiago (Illustrator), Quirino Santiago (Illustrator)

"Direct and charming." — Publishers Weekly Cynthia Weill’s book of Mexican folk art teaches kids about opposites in Spanish and English! These whimsical little animals from Oaxaca, carved and painted by hand, make learning about opposites fun. Up and down, tall and short, left and right—all inside a beautiful book. En este libro de artesanía mexicana, Cynthia Weill le enseña a niños sobre opuestos en español e ingles! Estos animalitos fantasiosos de Oaxaca, tallados y pintados a mano, hacen aprender sobre opuestos divertido. Arriba y abajo, alto y pequeño, izquierda y derecha―todo adentro de un libro encantador. "This second work by one of the authors of ABeCedarios (2007) follows its predecessor's highly praised concept and design. Pages on the left side introduce children to a word in English and Spanish, as pages on the right side present its Asleep/Dormido (a spotted dog snoozes)/AwakeDespierto (the same dog, eyes wide open and tail sticking up). "Concepts are illustrated with photographs of unique hand-painted animal carvings created individually by Oaxacan artists Quirino and Martin Santiago. The contrast between the text colors and the bright background combines with the imaginary dialogue that children can establish with the vivacious folk-art figures to make this bilingual edition another outstanding entry in the First Concepts with Mexican Folk Art series. On some pages an external element-a sun or a moon, for instance-expands on such concepts as Day/Día and Night/Noche.

"A great selection for bilingual storytimes at preschools, elementary schools and public libraries. As a work of art, its display will enhance art exhibits and cultural programs as part of Hispanic Heritage Month or Children's Day/Book Day celebrations." — Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Spanish Literature, Art, Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super easy read. Wonderful for learning English and / or learning Spanish.

[Ceci]

As a child growing up in Texas, I learned to speak Spanish early. Not until my teens did I learn how many fewer books were available for bilingual readers, especially children. Although since that time many publishers have begun to right the balance in their nonfiction offerings, Cinco Puntos Press brings children the best of the best. Their bilingual books feature the work of world-class artists as well as narrative flair and humor straight from the heart of Hispanic culture.

Opuestos features animalitos carved by a family of Oaxacan folk artists, primarily Martín and Quirino Santiago. In a year that has brought us many notable books for the very young, author Cynthia Weill’s fair-trade inspiration, paired with the bright design and witty spreads of this picture book make it stand out as a truly extraordinary offering, bilingual or otherwise.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked out this book from our circulating collection to use for an opposites-themed Spanish story time since it is a nicer-looking opposites book than the one in the non-circulating Spanish storytelling collection. This bilingual book features Mexican folk art animals to illustrate concepts like open and closed; same and different; together and apart; face and tail; many and few, etc. I did all the concepts since I had shorter books for the Spanish program (I think my bilingual program was better that the Spanish program this time around), but if I were to use this book again, I would clip back some of the pages.

[Mary Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cool board book about opposites! It includes Spanish and English so it would be great for an ELL student or for introducing students to Spanish. The illustrations in the book include Mexican folk art. Right and left, up and down, short and tall, are all included in the book and this is a fun way to teach opposites and introduce students to different languages.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the animalitos. Wish it was just Spanish instead of bilingual!

[Lexie Rivas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Opuestos" by Cynthia Weill is a wonderful and culturally rich book that introduces young readers to the concept of opposites through the lens of traditional Mexican folk art. Children engage on a vibrant trip through the book, which explores opposites in both Spanish and English while introducing them to the lively world of Oaxacan traditional art. The primary genre of the book is informational. Through the integration of the artistic customs of the Oaxaca community, Weill fills the text with a distinct and genuine cultural experience. Young readers will find the story to be fascinating and immersive because it connects with the spirit of traditional storytelling.The overarching theme of opposites is beautifully complemented by the cultural richness built in the folk art illustrations. Every page is an artistic creation that celebrates Mexican culture while also teaching the idea of opposites. From the vibrant animal illustrations to the carefully crafted patterns. "Opuestos" can help kids develop more than only their verbal and cognitive abilities. The book cultivates an appreciation for other artistic traditions by giving young readers an early introduction to cultural diversity. Teachers and parents can utilize the book as a starting point for conversations about art, cultural identity, and how important it is to value our diversity.Cynthia Weill's writing and literary craft shine in her ability to seamlessly integrate educational concepts with cultural storytelling. The repetition of opposites in both English and Spanish aids in comprehension, while the folk art illustrations contribute to the book's authenticity and visual appeal. Weill's choice to highlight traditional Mexican folk art as a central element adds depth and cultural significance to the narrative.
"Opuestos" stands out for its respectful and authentic portrayal of Mexican folk art and culture. The book avoids stereotypes and presents a positive representation of a specific artistic tradition. The inclusion of both English and Spanish languages contributes to the book's inclusivity and its potential to reach a diverse audience. The books ability to transport young readers into a world where learning about opposites becomes a joyful and culturally enriching experience makes it a WOW book. The fusion of traditional folk elements with educational content makes it a standout in the world of children's literature.

[Jacob Moya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a summary of what happened in the book. The book is about teaching people about words in English or Spanish, by using pictures of animals and background settings to do so. It also teaches the words by using the opposite meaning of the world on the other page. One of the major themes of the book is although they look different, it does not mean that they mean different things. Since this book represents words in Spanish and English, they might look different, although they mean the same thing. The main genre of this book is an informative book, since this book is informing people about the Spanish language or the English language. It is a great book to start teaching people about English or Spanish. If I were to read this book to children I would teach them words in English or in Spanish. I could also teach them the opposite of words. This book was a WOW book to me because I wish I had this type of books when I was younger, maybe my Spanish would have been better, if I had this book when I was younger. It is such a great beginning read for anyone that wants to learn a new language as well, which is so helpful.

Some of the writing craft techniques that the author used included in this book is using opposite words to teach words in English and in Spanish. For example, up and down, to show the opposite of a word. Even the font color in the beginning of each to show what it begins with. I would consider this book to be an example of an anti bias book because it is a book of teaching and it is noting using any person group, just animals.

[Gus Amr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opuestos is about teaching younger kids Spanish as well as the opposite for example the left page says Yes the right page says No and on both pages, it says it in Spanish. This book is very educational as not only will it teach opposites but also a new language. The book's genre is Informational as it teaches kids. Children and even adults can learn a lot from this book. Kids can learn their opposites and an intro to Spanish. And adults could also have this intro to Spanish as when learning a new language you start at where a child would start. This was a wow book because I liked how simple yet informative it was. By adding simple pictures with words and saying the word in both English and Spanish it would be very easy for a child to learn a new language and even an adult. I took Spanish in high school but have forgotten most of it and this book even helped me remember some of it. A few literal devices the author uses are repetition and a simple writing style to help kids follow along. I would consider this book as an anti-bias example because the author didn't use any stereotypes or was harmful to a group of people.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book showcasing wood sculptures made by Oaxacan folk artists Quirino and Martín Santiago, with each page spread featuring the English and Spanish words for pairs of opposites, such as left (izquierda) and right (derecha). Very good for helping younger readers learn these opuestos! Also, I wouldn't mind buying one of these sculptures—they're funny!

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish that it weren't bilingual as I feel like it doesn't NEED the English to be clear, and I also wish that the picture of the alebrijes were bigger, but in general, a fun visual representation for a simple idea.

[D Fichera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t fond of the illustrations to depict the opposites.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series! It is an introduction to beautiful Mexican folk art, for all ages!

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The students liked it, and it helped me with my Spanish.

[Andrés · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really effective book with some uncommon opuestos. 3D-effect images are entrancing, and the text is bold yet understated. Interesting the the first letter of each word is a different color than the others. I wonder if that's a teaching mechanism.

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of teaching a little bit of Spanish along with the concept of opposites is muy excelente.

The book is simple, as it should be. The folk art from Mexico is cool, though some is perhaps a little scary or odd and small one might night be able to tell the difference between, say, a tiger and a dog.

But overall this doesn't matter.

-- Uncle Mook

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the folk art showcased in this little book of opposites. English and Spanish.

[Donna]

Simple words with nice artwork.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely charming folk art

[Aaliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaliyah is FASCINATED by the Spanish language. She is REALLY ENGAGED and EAGER to learn new words in a different language.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting concept
Art maybe too hard smaller children

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice folk art illustrating English & Spanish words.