This book features pictures of a boy named Jose and the story of his life living in the Barrio of San Francisco. The real-life photographs make the book and the story come to life and children are able to make a real connection to the young man. This book exposes children to the culture in the Barrio and can bring cultural diversity to a classroom library.

*Pura Belpre Winner ( )

A young first-generation American celebrates the festive, intimate spirit of his community. Welcome to José's neighborhood. In his barrio, people speak an easy mix of Spanish and English and sometimes even Chinese. The masked revelry of Halloween leads into the festive remembrances of the Day of the Dead. And murals on the walls and buildings sing out the stories of the people who live here. As familiar as any neighborhood yet as strange as a foreign country, Jose's barrio isn't in Mexico or Argentina; it's in San Francisco. Award-winning author and photographer George Ancona follows José through a season in the barrio, and in the process gives readers a glimpse of a community as rich and varied as America itself.

Awards: National Council for the Social Studies, Pura Belpre Honor Book ( )

"it is a window that opens onto the entire world" A wonderful story
about community. I liked the photographs. I am unsure what age group
would appreciate this. Younger children would probably like more
simplistic story and older children may get bored with the attention to
detail evident in the writing and photographs.

Annie Ayres (Booklist, December 1, 1998 (Vol. 95, No. 7))
Award-winning author/photographer Ancona turns his camera on the multiculturally mixed and thriving Mission District of San Francisco, focusing on a year in the life of a Mexican American boy who lives in the neighborhood affectionately known as "El Barrio." Walking in his barrio, Josesees the glorious murals that seem to "sing out the stories of the neighborhood." School children parade through the streets during the springtime fiesta "Carnaval." In the summer, gardens and soccer bring the neighborhood together. As fall arrives, the people of the barrio dress in Halloween costumes and decorate candy skulls and altars for the Day of the Dead. Finally, a year has passed, and Jose celebrates his tenth birthday with a party and backyard pinata. One quibble in this fine book: Ancona warmly credits the muralists "whose work brightens Jose's neighborhood and the pages of this book," but he fails to include page numbers or descriptions necessary to correctly identify these copyrighted works of art. A fond and fascinating photo-essay focusing on the richness of the Latino experience. Category: Middle Readers. 1998, Harcourt, $18. Gr. 3-6.