Maya’s Blanket

“When a little girl’s cherished baby blanket becomes old and worn, it is made into a dress, and over the years it is made into even smaller and smaller items, eventually ending up as a bookmark and inspiring the creation of a book. Includes an author’s note and a glossary.”

Songs From The Loom: A Navajo Girl Learns To Weave (We Are Still Here : Native Americans Today)

Jaclyn Roessel live in Kayenta, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation. Like most young girls, Jaclyn has many interests. She likes her math class, she plays basketball and volleyball, and she loves in-line skating. She is also interested in rug weaving, and she has asked her grandmother to teach her how to weave. For the Navajos, weaving is more than a craft or hobby. It is an important part of the culture and history of the Dine–the people. Jaclyn’s grandmother has explained that she wants Jaclyn to learn not just the technique of weaving but the stories and songs that go along with it. These stories about Spider Woman and Changing Woman have been passed down from generation to generation. In Songs from the Loom, photographer and writer Monty Roessel accompanies Jaclyn and her grandmother as they shear sheep, gather plants to dye wool, and weave a rug. Navajo rugs are highly valued and hang in museums around the world. This book looks at what the beautiful rugs mean to the Navajos.

Carnavalia!

Carnivals rule the streets of Brazil from Christmas to Ash Wednesday. This is a time of performances, merrymaking, and feasting that blends Catholic beliefs with African and Portuguese heritage into a variety of public celebrations. This wonderful book presents the folklore behind the festivities, explaining the significance of the colorful costumes, dances, and characters. Brazilian artist Liza Papi translates the energy and the rich traditions of northeastern Brazil into her vibrant, hand-colored, woodcut prints. Also, this unique storybook offers instructions on festive, easy-to-make decorations and costumes from common supplies such as newspapers, wheat paste, felt, colored paper, and nontoxic paints and glue.

See the review at WOW Review, Volume 5, Issue 3

Making Magic Windows: Creating Papel Picado/Cut-Paper Art with Carmen Lomas Garza

 This book introduces the traditional Mexican craft of papel picado. It provides instructions for making paper banners and more intricate cut-outs and includes diagrams for creating specific images.