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nashiraprime's review
4.0
Esta pequeña novela gráfica es una biografía de Don Lupe Posada, el creador de la legendaria calavera Catrina y responsable de la popularización del arte calavera que se conoce hoy en día e inspiró a artistas como Diego Rivera. Llegué a este librito gracias a las reseñas de otra novela gráfica: Ghosts, de Raina Telgemeier, que toma el Día de los Muertos como eje temático para la narración, lo que dio pie a críticas que acusaron a la autora de apropiación cultural o cuestionaron su derecho y legitimidad a hablar de una festividad mexicana. En Funny Bones, el mexicano Duncan Tonatiuh fusiona su arte con el de Posada y contextualiza, breve pero acertada y maravillosamente, la vida de Don Lupe en el marco político, editorial e histórico del México pre y post Revolución Mexicana de 1910.
kitsuneheart's review
5.0
For the first several pages, I was sure I had read this book before, due to the art style. Tonatiuh uses the same exact style in his book on Diego Rivera, and once I realized that, I was able to snap myself out and enjoy the book properly. I heartily approve of Tonatiuh's return to this style, as it seems to fit in so well with his books about Latino culture.
This particular book is about one of the earliest, and certainly most famous, calaveras artists, José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada. It's a little biography, mixed with some philosophy, as Tonatiuh reminds his readers that we all die. Which is kind of heavy for a kid's book, but it's more a message of equality, not mortality.
I think the only thing I'd have liked to be included in this book is a little link to an art project for creating your own calaveras prints. Otherwise, I'm satisfied with the book, and can certainly support its 2016 Sibert Medal win.
This particular book is about one of the earliest, and certainly most famous, calaveras artists, José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada. It's a little biography, mixed with some philosophy, as Tonatiuh reminds his readers that we all die. Which is kind of heavy for a kid's book, but it's more a message of equality, not mortality.
I think the only thing I'd have liked to be included in this book is a little link to an art project for creating your own calaveras prints. Otherwise, I'm satisfied with the book, and can certainly support its 2016 Sibert Medal win.
claudia7799's review
5.0
I really appreciated how Tonatiuh begins the book with a definition of calaveras before moving into the story behind them. I hope to use this book as a read-aloud on November 1st to give more context to the Day of the Dead festival. The questions "Was Don Lupe saying that...?" would be a great opportunity to ask students to interpret the art and what message they think Don Lupe was trying to convey.
xsleepyshadows's review
4.0
A book about Jose Guadalupe Posada and his art work. I know about Catrina but that was it so it was cool to learn more about Catrina as a piece itself and his other works of art, poems that went with his Calaveras, and himself as an artist. Very cool book with some good information, a unique art style, and it has it's sources listed in the back. ~Ashley
lattelibrarian's review
5.0
If you like skeletons, learning about different cultures, and the history of illustration and artwork, this is the picturebook for you. Posada's "funny bones" were never something I was familiar with, but now I'm so glad I am! I especially loved Tonatiuh's illustrations and narration of Posada's artwork, and his explanation of how the artwork was created--who knew that artwork was more than just the linework? Honestly, the way that the publication and reproduction of artwork has transformed is phenomenal...but, back to the book. This is definitely a great book that celebrates well-known artwork and its lesser known artist.
Review cross-listed here!
Review cross-listed here!
naneyre's review
This book is about Posada's artistic journey and the popularization of his calaveras Day of the Dead prints. While the book centers on Posada, it also describes the process of different types of printmaking (lithography, engraving, and etching) and even discusses the Mexican Revolution!
dude_watchin_with_the_brontes's review
4.0
I listened to the audiobook, and then I saw in reviews a lot of comments about the art style, so I checked out the visual copy as well. I would love to have this for my classroom, especially for middle- and upper-elementary students. The art style is beautiful, a stylized, pre-Columbian-looking style with modern subject matter, interspersed with Posada's artwork.
My only complaint is that Tonatiuh often asks "Was Posada saying that [plausible thing Posada might have been saying]?" I don't like that it leads to a simple yes or no, rather than something more open-ended, like "What might Posada have been saying about rich people who put on airs?" I think that could spark a lot more conversation, especially if the book was read as a read-aloud.
If I can't get a physical copy, I might see if I can borrow it from the library again next October/November, and project while reading it to my classes.
My only complaint is that Tonatiuh often asks "Was Posada saying that [plausible thing Posada might have been saying]?" I don't like that it leads to a simple yes or no, rather than something more open-ended, like "What might Posada have been saying about rich people who put on airs?" I think that could spark a lot more conversation, especially if the book was read as a read-aloud.
If I can't get a physical copy, I might see if I can borrow it from the library again next October/November, and project while reading it to my classes.
just_tina's review
Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh
Fiction Twin Text: Barner, B. (2011). The Day of the Dead=El Dia de los Muertos. New York, NY: Holiday House.
The best option for a content-area crossover for this story is social studies because that is where students are most likely to learn about other regions and their cultures. Social sciences would of course be an option if taught in grade schools. I chose these books because Halloween and Dia de los Muertos have always been some of my favorite holidays. I think pairing this fictional text with this nonfiction is important because Day of the Dead is a very different tradition than students in the United States are used to. A slightly fictional telling would draw them in more comfortably to learn about the topic. I would hands down want to use the Venn Diagramm method to teach this. If I had more time, I would find some sort of book on Halloween first. I would like to read the book called Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead with Cristina and Her Blue Bunny by Alma Flor Ada, but its publication date is too old. I know traditionally you’d have books on two topics and compare them to use the Venn Diagram, but for this activity, I would let the children offer background knowledge about Halloween on one side of the Venn Diagram. Then, I would read both stories and have them fill out the other side of the Venn Diagram. The conclusion would be working together to find similarities between the two holidays. I think Halloween should be discussed in tandem to teaching Day of the Dead because it will create a personal interest for the students as Day of the Dead is another culture’s version of Halloween. The students may even want to try some of the holiday’s traditions on their own.
Reference:
Camp, D. (2000). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading Teacher, 53(5), pp. 400-408.
Fiction Twin Text: Barner, B. (2011). The Day of the Dead=El Dia de los Muertos. New York, NY: Holiday House.
The best option for a content-area crossover for this story is social studies because that is where students are most likely to learn about other regions and their cultures. Social sciences would of course be an option if taught in grade schools. I chose these books because Halloween and Dia de los Muertos have always been some of my favorite holidays. I think pairing this fictional text with this nonfiction is important because Day of the Dead is a very different tradition than students in the United States are used to. A slightly fictional telling would draw them in more comfortably to learn about the topic. I would hands down want to use the Venn Diagramm method to teach this. If I had more time, I would find some sort of book on Halloween first. I would like to read the book called Celebrate Halloween and the Day of the Dead with Cristina and Her Blue Bunny by Alma Flor Ada, but its publication date is too old. I know traditionally you’d have books on two topics and compare them to use the Venn Diagram, but for this activity, I would let the children offer background knowledge about Halloween on one side of the Venn Diagram. Then, I would read both stories and have them fill out the other side of the Venn Diagram. The conclusion would be working together to find similarities between the two holidays. I think Halloween should be discussed in tandem to teaching Day of the Dead because it will create a personal interest for the students as Day of the Dead is another culture’s version of Halloween. The students may even want to try some of the holiday’s traditions on their own.
Reference:
Camp, D. (2000). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading Teacher, 53(5), pp. 400-408.
bgprincipessa's review
4.0
Fun, great drawings, accessible, educational without being too didactic. Great information in the back matter as well.
I particularly liked the intro page that framed the book very well, and the translations and pronunciations for some but not all of the Spanish words - kept it not overwhelming.
I particularly liked the intro page that framed the book very well, and the translations and pronunciations for some but not all of the Spanish words - kept it not overwhelming.
carolynaugustyn's review
4.0
I've learned about Día de los Muertos throughout my years in Spanish classes and have always loved the art that surrounds the day- especially the calaveras. This book was a great way to learn some more about the famous skull art pieces I've seen and I really found the story to be quite interesting. I also quite enjoyed the illustrations in this book- bright and with a traditional Mexican vibe. Definitely a great book for discussions or class reading.