Monday, March 10, 2025

Hispanic/Latinx Literature Book Review: Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales

 

Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Yuyi Morales, and Tim O’meara. Viva Frida! New York, Scholastic Inc, 2015.

 

PLOT SUMMARY:

This book is about the life of the artist Frida Kahlo. The text is minimal in a way to inspire the reader to think about what their meaning is. The words on each page are in English and Spanish. In the back of the book there is additional information about Frida Kahlo and her life’s work in English and Spanish.

 

CRITICAL REVIEW:

The engaging images by Tim O’Meara are colorful and captivating. There are various animals that are incorporated into the illustrations that create interest. There are cultural markers like the bright colors used in this book, decorations like papel picado, Frida’s flower crown and clothing. This book is bright and engaging just like the self-portraits she painted of herself. This is an excellent way to show Frida’s Mexican heritage.

 

AWARDS:

2015 Pura Belpre Illustrator Award

2015 Caldecott Honor Book

Horn Book Fanfare Award

NPR Best Book of the Year Award

LA Time Best Book of the Year Award

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year Award

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Award

ALA Notable Children's Book Award

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Award

CCBC Choice Award

 

CONNECTIONS: 

This is a great book to use as a different perspective on the life of Frida Kahlo. This could be used while researching important artists. Could students write a book like this, with limited thought-provoking text about a person they are researching?

                                                                                                                                 

Book Review by Barbara Jean Thompson

 

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