Synopsis
Join a young boy as he explores his vibrant neighborhood. The city shimmers with life—at once a party, a waltz, and a heartbeat. El Barrio is his sister preparing for her quinceañera, his grandfather singing about the past, and his cousins’ stories from other lands. The city is alive with the rhythms of the street.
Told in lyrical language and through bold, colorful illustrations, this celebration of Hispanic culture and urban life is sure to fire children’s curiosity about where they live and what they can discover in their own neighborhoods.
Children's Literature
Our young narrator introduces us to el barrio, his home in the city. In Spanish Harlem, the Latino culture celebrates Cinco de Mayo, the Day of the Dead, and the holiday of the Nativity. On his sister's 15th birthday, there will also be a quinceaneras party, complete with pinata. His cousins come from Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, but all go to la iglesia to pray on Sundays. He rejoices in all aspects of el barrio: the streets, the shops, the houses, the gardens, the music his grandfather plays on his guitar, the summer, the food, the quinceaneras with their music and joyful celebration, and finally his sister's love. The mixed media, crowded, double-page visuals of the caption-like text have a warmth that infuses all the images with a comfortable glow. Diaz uses heavy black outlines, simple anatomy, and intense colors with luminescence suggesting stained glass windows. Ornate borders of photographed fragments add solidity to this homage to a hometown. There is a glossary of the many included Spanish words. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz