2/15/2017 0 Comments Viva Frida2015, Written & Illustrated by Yuyi Morales, Photographs by Tim O'Meara Caldecott Honor (2015), Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration (2015) Viva Frida is a picturebook biography of Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist who lived from 1907-1954. Using incredible mixed-media artwork (photographs of puppets made by the author--see video), Viva Frida brings Frida Kahlo's world and artwork to life. Viva Frida is interesting in that it is not a comprehensive biography of Frida Kahlo. Instead, it is mostly a celebration of imagination and creativity. The prose (written dually in English and Spanish) does not offer facts of Kahlo's life, but instead read almost as a poem. Put together with the stunning illustrations, the book is, simply put, enchanting. It is difficult not to overhype Viva Frida, but its beauty really speaks for itself. Beyond the beauty of the book itself, its focus on a Mexican woman is rarely seen in literature as a whole, not to mention in picturebooks. The simplicity of the dual-language prose would make it a fantastic book for young English Language Learners, as well as a way to teach children some simple Spanish phrases. The focus on creativity would also inspire many young students.
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