Product Description: Who ever heard of a girl glassblower?
In Mexico, where the sun is called el sol and the moon is called la luna, a little girl called Elena wants to blow into a long pipe...and make bottles appear, like magic.
But girls can't be glassblowers. Or can they?
Join Elena on her fantastic journey to Monterrey -- home of the great glassblowers! -- in an enchanting story filled with magic realism.
Amazon.com Review: A delightfully fresh take on the "anything you can do, I can do better" theme, Elena's Serenade follows a feisty little Mexican girl on a quest to prove to her father--and herself--that she can be a glassblower, even if she is a girl. Magic realism abounds as Elena journeys (dressed as a boy) to Monterrey to learn from the great glassblowers. Along the way she meets a burro, a roadrunner, and a coyote, helping each of them accomplish their goals as she blows tunes through her father's cast-off glassblowing pipe. Arriving in Monterrey, our little "muchacho" is mocked at first, but soon silences her detractors (who continue to think she's a boy) when she creates beautiful glass stars through her pipe. If only her Papa could see what she can do! Perhaps if she blows a giant bird (golondrina), she can fly home.
A lovely story penned by Campbell Geeslin, with lyrical acrylic and crayon art by the illustrator of Jonah Winter's Frida, Ana Juan. Readers will revel in the whole experience--words, pictures, message, and all. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
Thouroughly enjoyable The wonderful illustrations and clever story about a girl's fantastical journey to prove her ability to do a "man's work" has quickly made it to the favorites in our home library. I can imagine the inspiration it may offer a young girl, but having only a son...I share it with him in hopes that he appreciates early on gender equality. He enjoys the art and the musical aspect of the story.
Great for Glassblowers! Our family absolutely loves this book. My daughter Ailia (age 4) enjoys the story, illustrations and wonderful colors in this book. It is a fairly quick read, but not too short, a great one for bedtime. and for us glassblowers... it simply warms the heart, signed, Edward T. Schmid author of "Beginning Glassblowing" and "Advanced Glassworking Techniques"-(also available through Amazon.com or at: glassmtn.com)
great book This book has wonderful drawings and an imaginative story--very much in line with South American magical realism. My son loved it dubbed himself coyote (one of the characters) for two months.
Read Aloud Winner Elena's Serenade is the first book to receive the Comstock Book Award for the year's best picture book to read aloud to older children, ages eight to twelve.
Young Elena leaves her home to embark on a magical journey to Monterrey, Mexico in order to follow her dream of learning the art of glassblowing. Later, she returns home to her father, who had refused to teach her his trade because no one had ever "heard of a girl glassblower." This story celebrates Elena's uniqueness as an artist and a person, as well as the importance of pursuing a dream.
With acrylic and crayons, Juan has created luminous paintings with an expressionistic, folk-art quality and a palette of desert colors. Juan's use of light is particularly noteworthy, especially in the illustrations depicting glassblowing. The rounded figure of Elena and her expressive facial features make her an attractive character. The colors, movement, and details of each painting invite one to linger over every page.
In selecting this book for the Award, the Read Aloud Committee noted the lyrical quality of the text, as well as children's special appreciation of the illustrations. In addition, children were interested in the conflict between Elena and her father and also enjoyed the sprinkling of Spanish words. Readers found the Spanish-English Glossary in the front of the book helpful.
Cute book Elena's Serenade is about a little girl who travels to Monterrey, Mexico to become a glassblower. I did enjoy the story and especially the illustrations. My favorite illustration is of Elena dressed in her brother's clothes trying to look macho. I think kids will enjoy the bright sometimes humorous pictures, and the imaginative story.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Not Available Comics
Trevor
