In the magical rainforest of the Iguazú National Park, butterflies are the multicolored flowers of the air. Great dusky swifts watch over the park, and the untamed spirits of jaguars roam the jungle. Spanning three countries—Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay—the thundering waterfalls and lush green rainforests of the Iguazú have dazzled visitors for centuries, and are now in danger of being lost.
Following the Amerindian oral tradition, award-winning Chicano poet Francisco X. Alarcón lets the animals of the Iguazú speak for themselves in their own soaring, roaring, fluttering voices, and the resulting poems are as urgent as they are beautiful and humorous. Maya Christina Gonzalez’s mixed media illustrations bring the colors and textures of the Iguazú rainforest to vibrant life.
Animal Poems of the Iguazú initiates Children’s Book Press’ goal of an eventual conversion to the use of recycled paper for all new titles and reprints of backlist titles; the book is printed using 100% recycled paper.
Francisco X. Alarcón is a widely acclaimed Chicano poet and educator. His books for children have received the Jane Addams Award for Children’s Literature and the Pura Belpré Honor Award, among many others. Raised in Mexico and California, Francisco currently directs the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California at Davis, where he also teaches Chicano culture and literature.
Maya Christina Gonzalez is a fine artist and illustrator of nearly 20 books for children. Born in Southern California and raised in Oregon, Maya grew up with a love for animals and nature. Her artwork has been honored with the Parents’ Choice, Tomás Rivera, Américas Awards, and the Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Award. Maya lives in San Francisco, California.
• 2009 Américas Award Commended Title
• 2009 Notable Books for a Global Society Selection
“Alarcón's poems lovingly invite young readers into a vibrant, colorful, and very ‘alive’ world of the Iguazú Waterfalls and Argentine rainforest.” —Robert Cox, President of the Sierra Club
“This eye-catching combination of brilliant illustrations and eloquently crafted bilingual poems celebrates the animal life and natural beauty of the rainforest. Alarcón reflects his love for the biological diversity of Argentina's Iguazú Waterfalls National Park in graceful free-verse poems… The simple words—often playfully integrated into the illustrations as shaped poems—stress the natural balance of the Iguazú… The multimedia illustrations feature lush, glowing paints that depict the animals (including humans) set against a backdrop of cut-paper strips that comprise the rainforest's verdant growth. Stunning.” —Kirkus Starred Review
“...the poems express hope, longing, and give a unique perspective on life as a continuum… The deep, vibrant, and arresting colors convey the great diversity and vivacity of rainforest life… An excellent tools for patterning student poetry, this is also excellent literature...” —Críticas Magazine Starred Review
“…Gonzalez assembles big, cheerful blocks of tropical color, invoking the falls with Matisse-like fronds of white and light blue… Alarcón writes with a kind of bubbly reverence, avoiding the sententiousness that characterizes much save–the–rain forest literature. Each of the 26 poems appears in both English and Spanish, with many explanatory footnotes; together with the dense illustrations, the effect of the pages duplicates that of the rain forest, jam-packed with things to look at.” —Publishers Weekly
“Teaching children about the rich biodiversity of the rainforest is a key part of guiding them to become good global citizens. Animal Poems of the Iguazú will enchant young readers while at the same time raise their awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife and our natural resources.” —Tensie Whelan, Executive Director of Rainforest Alliance
“This is a lovely book that illustrates (literally) the restorative benefits of nature time, for children and adults.” —Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
“The poems capture the conscience and soul of the jungle and will lead children on an enchanting walk through the Iguazú rainforest… Such magical biodiversity will surely inspire the next generation of environmental activists who will learn that all riches are born of the natural world, just as the indigenous Guarani have known for centuries.” —Jared Blumenfeld, Director of San Francisco Department of Environment
"Without being didactic, Alarcón references deforestation, extinction, and climate change, making this collection an effective introduction to nature conservation for older elementary students...Highly Recommended." —REFORMA Newsletter
"This is a glorious book for elementary classrooms, art classes, and bilingual classrooms. This book will enchant young readers and their parents." —SchoolArts
