This book is an excellent resource for celebrating The Day of the Dead. It includes historical and cultural background information and enough art and performance ideas to teach a six week unit on the subject. An outstanding book!

The author uses an impressive accumulation of scholarly research--maps, documents, explorers' accounts--to trace the origin and development of the myth that California was an island. Highly readable and very clearly organized and written. Although I found her conclusion that the island myth comes from what people project onto California (from an ecopsychological standpoint, the myth might represent the imaginal presence of the landscape protecting itself) to be reductive, this is an invaluable resource for anyone researching early Californian cartography, especially as a history of errors.

This story is fast paced, excitting, and full of 007 style adventure. Only it a lot more hard edged than the bond series and more violent.
If Jack Novak was incharge of the drug war we would have a better chance of winning! The author and his character have a healthy, but seldom heard view point in this age of left wing, political correct, do-gooders who only bring society closer to the brink!

An excellent book that features most of the major cuts made by Posada. The prints include his works from cookbooks, fortune telling books, childrens books, novels, periodicals and newspapers. Noted for his biting commentary his portrayal of popular Mexicaan culture in the form of a skeleton or calavera has influenced maany artists including Rivera, Orozco and a new generation of artists. An excellent source book for anyone interested in the ommnipresent calavera in Mexican art.

Jack's Time Machine is a delightful book suitable for young and old alike! It follows a magical and beautifully illustrated journey of a young boy and his trusted friend Scruff to the land of the Aztecs. The book contains five challenging conundrums, which have been skilfully integrated into the story as to make the reader feel that they are assisting Jack and Scruff in their quest. However the author has been kind enough to supply all of the solutions at the back of the book, just in case!

Dan James has once again proved that he is a man of many talents, a puzzle setter, author, and above all, a fine artist. The full-page illustrations are truly captivating and make it quite impossible for me to pick a favourite. To that end, it will ensure that Jack's Time Machine will remain a firm bedtime favourite for many a year to come.

There is however one puzzle who's solution still eludes me .... "Why has this book only been published in the States and Canada, when Mr James is British?" Thank you Amazon for bring this book to my attention!

Jim Wagner is the ultimate folk artist. This coffee table book is packed with useable information on folk art and its origins. His whimsical artwork will make one smile and laugh out loud. Has anyone ever seen Santa's sleigh being pulled by fish! . The way he sees the world is beyond most people's imagination. This is a book that can be picked up again and again and each time see a different aspect of his artwork.

This historical book was an excellent source of information, not only about Jose Clemente Orozco, the artist, but about 20th century Mexico and it's history. The illustrations are good and done in black and white. I would recommend this book for students from the 7th grade up, as well as teachers and parents.

Josefina's Cookbook has a variety of foods that are common in the traditional New Mexican diet. New Mexican food is unique to the region and includes items that are not even in the Hispanic diet in neighboring states. In a state whose State Question is "Red or Green?" (as in "Do you prefer red or green chile?"), caution must be taken in trying new foods if you are sensitive to spicy-hot foods, as many children are. If you are unfamiliar with what is HOT in the New Mexican diet, going out and buying a New Mexican cookbook to introduce your children to this type of food may meet you with watering eyes and children reaching for tortilla chips to neutralize the burn.

Josefina's Cookbook is a much better choice for children because it is filled with child friendly recipes that still represent the New Mexican diet. Some of the recipes are for small items, like home-made tortillas, hot chocolate, soft cheese, and pinto beans. Empanaditas (little empanadas), posole, green chile stew, and carne adovada are more meal oriented recipes. Just remember the sopaipillas if you are cooking with chile!

The format of this book is a joy to look through even if you want to learn about New Mexican cooking without preparing the more adventurous items. The ingredients and cooking equipment are listed at the beginning of each recipe and the recipes themselves are well written and illustrated. It won't be hard for a girl to find something that she'll want to try.

Is your daughter wandering the aisles of the craft store with you, looking for her next weekend craft project? If your daughter is also a Josefina fan or is interested in New Mexico history, this is the book for her! There are fifteen crafts for a variety of abilities and interest levels, and all of them can turn into something a girl would be proud to have made. Crafts are divided into different sections: "Around the Rancho", "Spanish and Mexican Traditions", "Indian Traditions", "A Stitch in Time", and "Frontier Fun". The Straw Broom, Glass-Bead Necklace, clay Coil Pot, and Cornhusk dolls are quick crafts. Crafts like the Stamped Leather Bookmark require special tools. Making a Colcha embroidered Place Mat or a Hen Pincushion take some previously learned skills. But projects like making a Fringed Shawl or Sash could turn out well enough to show off to friends! Whichever craft you choose, the directions are well written and have a materials list and clear pictures for each step. The format and the pictures are so well done, that girls will eagerly want to browse through it to find their next craft project.

The Tzotzil people of Chiapas make for a fascinating anthropological study. This partly-fictionalized book (that is, some of the events ascribed to the protagonist are inserted into the book just to give a wider understanding of Tzotzil culture) is an easy and enjoyable read. You will learn a lot about the people, their customs, and their religion (animist mixed with an only vaguely-understood Catholicism). I recommend it.