Age: 5-8

A tribute to Oaxacan artisans in Mexico. In his farming village, young Julio enjoys making wood carvings of animals. This year he plans to enter the big wood-carving contest in the big city and hopefully win a cash prize. His mentor is Illuminado, an elderly gentleman who has never entered the contest even though everyone believes his carvings are good enough to win. His carving has slowed but his objects are still quality. Julio encourages him to enter and reluctantly he does. Julio assists with painting the carvings, while also working on his own. Illuminado is declared the winner. Back home, Julio pulls out his box of carvings, none of which he entered so his friend would have a better chance of winning. Next year, he tells himself.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK BY DORROS! I love how the child made the adult see that he was a hell of an artist, and he made him enter the contest. Children have a way of grasping your heart and making you see through their eyes. I LOVE that. ( )

Julio helps his friend Iluminado enter his carvings into a local contest. Iluminado is getting old and is losing his vision. What impressed me the most from this book were the collages. I was not interested into the story, and I found the plot very dull. If it weren't for the collages, I would have stopped reading this book. The pages are filled with cool colors and rich reds to depict roosters. There are pictures of Julio that look almost as if they were real photographs. I can not read this book again, but I would have it in my classroom library to show my students what collages are. ( )

This story is another example how small villages use their talents to provide for the family, but at the same time invite young children to explore their culture. ( )