STARRED REVIEW *"A vivid celebration of Mexican culture, art, and
life." ―School Library Journal
STARRED REVIEW *"Tonatiuh tells Hernández's story with careful
attention to detail and with obvious admiration for the subject. . . .
His digitized, hand-drawn illustrations are striking. They showcase, in
his signature style based on Mixtec art, the beauty and grace of many
different dance styles." ―Kirkus Reviews
Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh tells the story of
Amalia Hernández, dancer and founder of El Ballet Folklórico de México.
As a child, Amalia saw a pair of dancers in the town square. The way
they stomped and swayed to the rhythm of the beat inspired her. She knew
one day she would become a dancer. Amalia studied ballet and modern
dance under the direction of skilled teachers who had performed in
world-renowned dance companies. But she never forgot the folk dance she
had seen years earlier.
She began traveling through the Mexican countryside, witnessing the
dances of many regions, and she used her knowledge of ballet and modern
dance to adapt the traditional dances to the stage. She founded her own
dance company, a group that became known as El Ballet Folklórico de
México.
Using his signature illustration style, inspired by the ancient art of
the Mixtecs, Tonatiuh tells the story of Amalia Hernández and the
formation of one of the most famous and successful dance companies in
the world.
This is a celebration of Mexican heritage, culture, and dance that will
entertain young readers and their parents.
