Um coelho branco apaixonado por uma criança negra. Isso é possível? Sim, e a comprovação está nas páginas do livro Menina bonita do laço de fita, de Ana Maria Machado. Nosso coelhinho, aliás, vai além: quer também ter a pele escura, igualzinha à da linda menina.
O simpático coelhinho faz de tudo para conseguir seu intento: entra numa lata de tinta preta, come jabuticabas até passar mal e toma inúmeras xícaras de café. Tudo em vão!
Entretanto, quando a lindíssima mãe da criança entra em cena, tudo se explica para o curioso animal. Daí para a frente, o coelho segue um caminho natural que o leva a se aproximar cada vez mais de sua admirada criança negra e do seu objetivo de ter os pelos escurecidos.
Além do caráter lúdico de sua criação, a autora coloca em cena, nesta obra, diversos aspectos muito debatidos nos dias de hoje, como a autoestima das crianças negras e a fraternidade inter-racial. Razão suficiente para tornar Menina bonita do laço de fita um excelente livro infantil, com alta dosagem de sensibilidade.
Ana Maria Machado was born in 1941 in Rio de Janeiro and is, alongside Lygia Bojunga Nunes and Ruth Rocha, one of the most significant children's book authors in Brazil. She started her career as a painter in Rio de Janeiro and New York City. After studying Romance languages she did a PhD with Roland Barthes at the 'École pratique des hautes études' in Paris. She worked as journalist for the magazine 'Elle' in Paris and the BBC in London. In 1979, she opened the first children’s literature bookshop in Brazil, 'Malasartes'.
In 1969, Ana Maria Machado started to write. "I belong to that generation of writers who began to write during the military dictatorship, as children’s literature, alongside poetry and song texts, were amongst the few literary forms with which, through the poetic and symbolic use of language, you could make the ideas of a joie de vivre, individual freedom and respect for human rights known." Her story 'Menina Bonita do laço de fita' (1986) about a white and a black rabbit who marry and have a whole hoard of black, white and black and white patterned children, is a charming book about the living together of diverse ethnic groups. In 'Era uma vez um tirano' (1982) three children defy a tyrant who has forbidden colour, thoughts and any happiness. Without pointing fingers, Ana Maria Machado always dresses up her messages in humorous stories and trusts the ability of her young readers to also read between the lines.
Similar to many Brazilian children’s book authors of her generation, Ana Maria Machado stands in the tradition of the first great children’s book author, Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948). Her writing is marked, in the style of "magical realism", by a subtle mix of social satire and fantastic elements as well as a conscious and playful use of language and narrative structures. In 'História meio ao contrario' (1978), Ana Maria Machado turns the classic narrative structure of the fairy tale on its head and lets her story begin with: "And if they didn’t die, then they are still alive today" and end with "once upon a time".
In 'Bisa Bia, Bisa Bel' (1982), one of her central works, Isabell’s internal dialogue with her dead great-grandmother, Bisa Bia, and her own great-grandchild from the future, Bisa Bel, becomes a magical journey to the invisible connections between the generations, which finally allow Isabell to find her own way. For the author, fantasy also means to expand the sense for space and time and to allow reality and fantasy to mix with each other. Just as brilliantly in ‘Palavra de Honra’ (2005, Engl: Word of Honour) Machado tells the story of a Luso-Brazilian family which has become very wealthy since their arrival in the 19th century. The reader encounters Letícia, who tries to reconstruct her own story out of the dispersed remains of the family legacy.
Ana Maria Machado has written more than hundred books for children and adults in 17 countries for which she has received the most significant Brazilian awards and many international honours. In 2000, she was awarded the 'Hans Christian Andersen Award' for her life work, the most significant international prize for youth and children’s literature. Ana Maria Machado lives with her family in Rio de Janeiro.
Niña bonita es un recuerdo de mi infancia que siempre he cargado conmigo. Es un libro que estaba en los libros de lecturas de la SEP y que, de hecho, ahí sigue. Si quieren leerlo, busquen para descarga o consulta el libro de lecturas de segundo año de la SEP, están a su dispocisión y les aseguro que no se van a arrepentir. Este cuento lo escribió la brasileña Ana María Machado y, la edición que yo conozco fue ilustrada por Rosana Faría. Ana María Machado nació una Nochebuena de 1941 en Río de Janeiro Brasil y es una de las grandes voces de la literatura infantil en Latinoamérica. Ana María Machado es promotora incansable de la lectura y creo recordar que varios de sus cuentos han pasado por las páginas de los libros de lectura de primaria de la SEP en México.
Niña bonita cuenta la historia de una niña afrodescendiente que es muy bella y de un conejo blanco que ansía tener una hija tan bella como ella. La niña, que no sabe por qué su piel es del color que es, se inventa historias para complacer al conejo cada que le pregunta cómo le hace para ser tan negrita. Es un hermoso cuento sobre el amor propio y la belleza y, que, por supuesto, reconoce a los afrodescendientes de América Latina, especialmente en Brasil, donde han sido marginados desde la independencia del país. Las ilustraciones de Rosana Faría son preciosas y fue lo que me hizo enamorarme del cuento la primera vez que lo leí.
Es un cuento que le pueden leer a los más pequeños, es muy recomendable para ellos. A mí, porque me recuerda a mi propia infancia, me encantó releerlo esta vez que lo releí, me trajo muchos recuerdos bonitos. Las ilustraciones son preciosas en todo sentido y bueno, yo de verdad los animo a leer este cuento.
Menina Bonita do Laço de Fita é um livro muito importante para as crianças dos anos 80 e no contexto daquela década foi muito importante para falar sobre diversidade racial, mas 35 anos depois fica claro que é a perspectiva da branquitude que vemos no livro. O Coelho Branco querendo casar com uma Coelho preta para ter filhos pretinhos soa quase na base da fetichização sob os olhos do século XXI, para os anos 80 era ótimo esse tratar da diversidade, mas agora podemos olhar com olhos mais críticos e soa um pouco decepcionante ao olhar mais demorado de um adulto. Não, o mundo não ficou mais chato. Não, não queremos destruir a sua infância. O que acontece agora é que os brancos têm mais disponibilidade de escuta do povo preto e aprendemos cada vez mais desconstruindo nosso racismo.
I loved the way this talked about race from a child's point of view. The little bunny wanted to know where Nina Bonita got her beautiful black skin. Nina didn't know what to answer, so made up little tales. But then, her mother said it was from her grandmother. The little white bunny ended up falling in love with a little black bunny and their children were all sorts of combinations of both parents. Unfortunately, it is out of print. But it's worth seeking out.
A celebratory tale about race and heritage presented in a playful, uncomplicated way. The book was written back in the eighties by Brazilian author Ana Maria Machado and it stays relevant today.
What I liked about this book was the joyful way the blackness of the main character was presented. Some books that talk about race tend to put a lot of emphasis on the struggle, the otherness that people of color face (which are all important and valid, of course), yet here it wasn't mentioned because it wasn't needed. Characters were unapologetically themselves, simple as that.
Illustrations are simple and straightforward, nothing flashy but they do a good job of accentuating the black beauty of the characters.
I noticed a few reviews from people reading the English version of the story mentioning being a bit taken aback from the use of the term "mulatto/a", which must be foreign to them and perhaps even considered offensive at first glance. However, this word is so commonplace in Latin American countries with a Colonial past and, from the way I've seen it used in the present and particularly in this book, is not meant to be derogatory at all. Same with "mestizo/a", it's just words that we make use of to define ourselves. However, we're all entitled to our opinions and feelings about words and that's fair.
A nice addition to a kid's library, no matter their heritage, since it's important to learn to celebrate one another from an early age.
2015 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book from your childhood.
Me puse a buscar todos los libros que mi mamá me leía cuando era pequeña, y especialmente este era el que más destaba en mi mente, me acuerdo que lo leí un montón de veces. Lo leí hoy por primera vez en muchos años, es hermoso al igual que las ilustraciones.
this was a lovely read! i’ve started collecting children’s books for future reasons and was pleased to find this diverse latinx story that was first published in 1986!!!! i read it last night to my husband and we were both surprised by it since we hadn’t read it before. the book talks about heritage, race and diversity in a very “simple” way, easy for kids to comprehend, while also being entertained by the story. it surprised me to learn that it was published in 86 given how progressive the narrative is. also made me happy because the writer is a brazilian woman, and i’m always glad to read “locally”.
Este libro lo leí de pequeña y al recordarlo volví a él, es preciso, tal como lo recordaba; nos deja con un mensaje de amor y aceptación hacía uno mismo, al igual de que todos somos únicos y diferentes. 🐚🌊
O livro tem uma história inclusiva bem lúdica. Trata a negritude de maneira protagonista e positiva. Poderia melhorar sua diagramação, mas recomendo mesmo assim.
Nina Bonita is the racially sensitive tale of a rabbit and a young black girl. The rabbit approaches the girl and asks how her skin became so dark and pretty, as he would like pretty fur like that as well. She then approaches with feigned stories like she spilled ink on herself, she drank too much coffee, and ate too many blackberries. The rabbit immediately goes off and performs all of the recommended tasks, and each time it results in unintended problems, whether they be stomach or bladder issues. The illustrations of the rabbit completing these deeds are quite funny, and add a touch a humor to what could have just been an insipid racial acceptance book.
Eventually the rabbit learns that the girl got her black skin from genetics! And so the white rabbit mates with a black rabbit and have children of every possible color combination and pattern that could result from mixing white and black. And we learn that they're all equally beautiful and proud of their color. But again, the message of the story was not just shoved in the reader's face, instead being tactfully relayed with humor and engaging illustrations.
I would recommend this for children in the 2nd grade and below. It gives an important lesson about acceptance great to introduce to kids at such a young age. And if little ones now are the same as when I was young, they love rabbits.
This book intrigued me because it introduces children to mixed race relationships. Many children belong to families of mixed race and or mixed religious backgrounds. Diversity is a way of life in our current society and this book embraces that.
This book was originally published in Spanish and later republished in other languages such as Portuguese and English. Not the easiest to find in English or maybe a bit higher in price, but well worth the excursion.
Nina is a black child who lives next store to a white rabbit, who says, “When I get married, I would like to have a daughter as black and as pretty as she.” The rabbit ask Nina to tell him her secret, “What makes your skin so dark and pretty?” The rabbit tried to turn his fur black with a number of adventures, ink, coffee, but it only washes away. The mother tells the rabbit, “Why Nina looks just like her black grandmother.” From the pictures hung on the wall, one sees Nina is from a blended family.
So the white rabbit sets out to find a black female rabbit to marry. He found a nice female rabbit who was as black as the night and she thought the white rabbit quite charming. They go married and started having bunnies, lots of them. They had bunnies of every color and shade - - with a very heartwarming ending!
The book we read was translated into English. It uses the word "mulatto" to refer the girl's mother, but I just left that word out when reading it to my son. I think this book may originally be from Brazil (???)
The Story: A white rabbit is neighbors with a pretty girl. The rabbit says, "I want a pretty black daughter like you. How did you get black?" The girl doesn't know the answer so she makes up various stories. The girl's mother tells them that, like everybody, her coloring was inherited from relatives. The white rabbit then marries a black rabbit. They have baby bunnies, which range in various coloring from white through black.
I'll be honest: I loved this book and its message. The only thing I didn't like was the way the rabbit wants a child of certain color. That part seemed a little weird.
Un conejito quiere ser negrito como la niña bonita e intenta de todo por serlo <3
Recordé que hace muchos años yo había leído esta historia y lo había olvidado por completo. Solo tengo que decir que es muy bonita; suena bien subjetivo, pero en verdad es una historia linda, con sus tintes graciosos y tiernos.
This book is so cute! I love the story & pictures, & the message that black is beautiful! The little girl in the book is so pretty, no wonder the rabbit likes her. I want to buy this book for my little girl.
A white rabbit begs a black girl to tell her the secret to change his fur to match her beautiful color. A wonderful introduction to genetics, and showing no matter what your color is, be proud of it! Machado won the Hans Christian Anderson Award in 2000.