Rainbow Weaver: Tejedora Del Arcoíris (Bilingual English/Spanish)
by Linda Elovitz Marshall (Author) Elisa Chavarri (Illustrator)
Bilingual English/Spanish.
A young Mayan girl isn't allowed to use her mother's thread to weave, so with a little ingenuity she discovers how to repurpose plastic bags to create colorful weavings. Based on an actual recycling movement in Guatemala.
Ixchel wants to follow in the long tradition of weaving on backstrap looms, just as her mother, grandmother, and most Mayan women have done for more than two thousand years. But Ixchel's mother is too busy preparing her weavings for market. If they bring a good price, they will have money to pay for Ixchel's school and books. And besides, there is not enough extra thread for Ixchel to practice with. Suddenly, Ixchel has an idea! She collects and washes the plastic bags. Then she cuts each bag into thin strips. Sitting at her loom, Ixchel weaves the plastic strips into a colorful fabric that looks like a beautiful rainbow--just like the weavings of Mayan women before her.
A una joven maya no se le permite usar el hilo de su madre para tejer, así que con un poco de ingenio descubre cómo reutilizar bolsas de plástico para crear coloridos tejidos. Basado en un movimiento de reciclaje real en Guatemala.
Ixchel quiere seguir la larga tradición de tejer en telares de cintura, tal como lo han hecho su madre, su abuela y la mayoría de las mujeres mayas durante más de dos mil años. Pero la madre de Ixchel está demasiado ocupada preparando sus tejidos para el mercado. Si traen un buen precio, tendrán dinero para pagar la escuela y los libros de Ixchel. Y además, no hay suficiente hilo extra para que Ixchel practique. ¡De repente, Ixchel tiene una idea! Ella recoge y lava las bolsas de plástico. Luego corta cada bolsa en tiras finas. Sentada en su telar, Ixchel teje las tiras de plástico en una tela colorida que parece un hermoso arcoíris, como los tejidos de las mujeres mayas antes que ella.
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School Library Journal
K-Gr 3—Fans of Omar S. Castaneda's Abuela's Weave will enjoy this lovely selection about perseverance, community, and the ancient Mayan art of weaving. In order to earn money at the market, the women in young Ixchel's Guatemalan village "weave thread into fabric as beautiful as a rainbow." The girl desperately wants to learn and participate in this traditional art, but her mother gently refuses. Mama tells her that the money she earns from the cloth will be used to purchase books and fund an education for Ixchel. The cloth must be eye-catching in order to earn a good price. Ixchel is disappointed but determined to help and soon comes up with a creative way to clean up her village and weave a unique type of cloth. Vibrant illustrations bring the story to life and provide readers with a glimpse of indigenous Guatemalan culture. The images could also be used during a discussion about facial expressions and how they communicate emotions. The English and Spanish texts are clearly delineated. The author incorporates several words in Kaqchikel, one of the Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala. A glossary and pronunciation guide are provided at the beginning of the volume. A detailed author's note at the narrative's conclusion explains the inspiration for this tale. Pair this with a simple weaving project and some primary source photographs. VERDICT An uplifting offering that would be a wonderful addition to picture book collections and STEAM programs.—Katie Darrin, Boulder Valley School District, CO
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Publishers Weekly
A Guatemalan girl named Ixchel longs to learn how to weave like her mother and the other women in their community, but her mother tells her that she is too young and that there isn't enough thread. Searching for alternative weaving materials, Ixchel collects the plastic bags that litter the countryside, tearing them into strips and using them on her homemade loom--while also leaving her village looking cleaner. Chavarri incorporates bright splashes of color into her expressive illustrations, which emphasize Ixchel's innovation and pride. An author's note describes the real-life story that inspired Marshall's fiction, an inspiring example of ingenuity, dedication, and small actions with big results. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis. (Oct.)
Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.JUV030040 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Caribbean & Latin America
JUV063000 - Juvenile Fiction | Recycling & Green Living
Bilingual
Mothers and daughters
Recycling (Waste)
Mayas
Indians of Central America
Weaving
Guatemala
