From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems

by Francisco X. Alarcón

Pura Belpr Author Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)Bilingual English/Spanish. From the Bellybutton of the Moon is renowned poet Francisco X. Alarc n's collection of 22 poems inspired by... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0516216961
• ISBN13: 9780516216966
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Capstone
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

An exuberant bilingual celebration of life

"From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems" is an excellent collaboration between two artists: poet Francisco X. Alarcon and illustrator Maya Christina Gonzalez. Although marketed as a children's book, this bilingual collection should appeal to readers of all ages.Each of Alarcon's poems is presented both in English and Spanish versions, making this book an added bonus for English speakers who are learning Spanish (or the other way around). The poetry in this book is a populist literature in the tradition of Walt Whitman and Pablo Neruda, and some of Alarcon's whimsical reflections on the natural world also reminded me of Emily Dickinson. And while being part of a great tradition, Alarcon has his own strong poetic voice which stands apart.Alarcon is a United States poet, and, as he explains in the afterword (which also appears in both English and Spanish), these poems were inspired by childhood trips to visit his rural relatives in Mexico. This book is thus a multicultural celebration of family, of ethnic roots, of childhood memories, and of the beauty of nature. Alarcon writes of being taught the alphabet by his grandfather, of walking barefoot on the grass, of befriending a cow name Mariposa ("butterfly" in Spanish), and of other delightful things.Gonzalez' illustrations, which grace every page, perfectly complement Alarcon's celebratory verses. Bursting with color and energy, Gonzalez' work is a stunning blend of realistic and fantastic images. Her best illustrations are rich in details that invite the eye to linger in pleasure.In the poem "We Are Trees," Alarcon compares human beings to trees, and notes that while "our roots / connect," our branches also "reach out / to other branches." And this philosophy seems to be at the heart of Alarcon's work. While celebrating a particular family and culture, "From the Bellybutton of the Moon" also explores universal ideas which are relevant to all families and all cultures. And thus should this book be enjoyed by children--and adults--of all cultures.

A Celebration of Diversity

I am currently a student in the College of Education at the University of Arizona. This semester I have been taking a children's literature course. Francisco Alarcon's poems coupled with Maya Christina Gonzalez's illustrations clearly are a wonderful celebration of cultural diversity. Dual language texts are fantastic because they recognize that language is the springboard to literacy and that literacy is connected to reader self-identity. Moreover, this is the best type of dual language text because English is not placed before Spanish in the book. Instead, both languages share equal billing. The book also has both a "mirror" and "window" impact. This means that it allows some readers to see themselves and offers other readers a glimpse into another culture. Here in Tucson, many of the Hispanic students spend summer vacations with their extended families in Mexico. Moreover, the book is an authentic depiction of Mexican culture and traditions. On a personal note, I really connected with the poetry aspect of the book and the jewel toned illustrations. I just loved the the poem on the bilingual dog. I will be sharing this book with my literature class at the U of A as an outstanding children's book.