Publishers Weekly
★ 07/12/2021
Luz Jiménez (1897–1965) was a “child of the flower-song people, the powerful Aztecs, who called themselves Nahua—who lost their land, but who did not disappear.” Amescua sensitively excavates the compelling story of the woman known as “the spirit of Mexico” through her appearance in works by artists including Diego Rivera, Jean Charlot, and Tina Mondotti. Jiménez is portrayed as a curious, ambitious person who, from a young age, treasured her heritage and was determined to preserve her threatened culture despite hardship, discrimination, and colonialism. Though her dream of teaching children is thwarted, her work as a model creates opportunities to connect with scholars: “So Luz at last became a teacher, weaving the threads of her flower-song, xochicuicatl—her language and culture—into their hearts.” Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged images mix motifs from Indigenous Mexican art with modern textures, celebrating the endurance and resilience of treasured traditions in a changing world. Ages 6–10. (Aug.)
Shelf Awareness
"Amescua enhances her flowing prose with natural imagery (mountains, winds, blossoms), as if Amescua is re-grounding Luz's Nahua identity into the very earth. Tonatiuh's magnificent signature style. . .couldn't be more ideal for animating Amescua's illuminating text. . .This perfectly paired collaboration provides both reclamation and revelation."
author of My Two Border Towns David Bowles
"Child of the Flower-Song People deftly balances fascinating biographical moments with an earnest sense of social justice for the indigenous people of Mexico."
The Horn Book Magazine
"Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged illustrations, with an iconographic nod to the Mixtec codices, are rich in color and texture. Indeed, it’s this complicated relationship between old traditions and modern influences that make his art such a good complement to Amescua’s text."
Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "Amescua's spare yet lyrical text reminds readers that Luz was a 'child of the flower-song people, / . . . who lost their land, but who did not disappear.' She also notes the harsh treatment Luz endured at government schools designed to stifle Indigenous culture. Tonatiuh's signature Mixtec-inspired art is a delight... Luz's traditional stories are depicted as outlined carvings in the mountainous landscape and seem to emanate from Luz's mouth somewhat like a speech balloon."
author of King of the Tightrope Donna Janell Bowman
"Threaded with cultural insights, poetic language, and stylized art, Jiménez comes to life. . .. A timely and thought-provoking true story.
author of The People’s Painter Cynthia Levinson
"Child of the Flower-Song People is a gift to young readers, all of whom should know how Luz Jiménez carried on the skills, beauty, and pride of native Mexican people."
From the Publisher
**STARRED REVIEW** "Amescua's spare yet lyrical text reminds readers that Luz was a 'child of the flower-song people, / . . . who lost their land, but who did not disappear.' She also notes the harsh treatment Luz endured at government schools designed to stifle Indigenous culture. Tonatiuh's signature Mixtec-inspired art is a delight... Luz's traditional stories are depicted as outlined carvings in the mountainous landscape and seem to emanate from Luz's mouth somewhat like a speech balloon."—Booklist
**STARRED REVIEW** "Amescua sensitively excavates the compelling story of the woman known as “the spirit of Mexico”. . .Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged images mix motifs from Indigenous Mexican art with modern textures, celebrating the endurance and resilience of treasured traditions in a changing world." —Publishers Weekly
**STARRED REVIEW** "Tonatiuh’s beautiful pre-Columbian illustrations provide a vivid play-by-play of events and evoke Jiménez’s ultimate impact on the art world. An author’s note gives more historical context, and a time line, glossary, and bibliography make this a valuable source for student researchers." —School Library Journal
"Threaded with cultural insights, poetic language, and stylized art, Jiménez comes to life. . .. A timely and thought-provoking true story.” —Donna Janell Bowman, author of King of the Tightrope
"Child of the Flower-Song People is a gift to young readers, all of whom should know how Luz Jiménez carried on the skills, beauty, and pride of native Mexican people."—Cynthia Levinson, author of The People’s Painter
"Child of the Flower-Song People deftly balances fascinating biographical moments with an earnest sense of social justice for the indigenous people of Mexico."—David Bowles, author of My Two Border Towns
"Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged illustrations, with an iconographic nod to the Mixtec codices, are rich in color and texture. Indeed, it’s this complicated relationship between old traditions and modern influences that make his art such a good complement to Amescua’s text." —The Horn Book Magazine
"Amescua enhances her flowing prose with natural imagery (mountains, winds, blossoms), as if Amescua is re-grounding Luz's Nahua identity into the very earth. Tonatiuh's magnificent signature style. . .couldn't be more ideal for animating Amescua's illuminating text. . .This perfectly paired collaboration provides both reclamation and revelation." —Shelf Awareness
"Amescua succeeds in introducing Luz. . .Closely following the text, the illustrations bring Luz to life. An important window into the ravages of colonialism and the plight of the Indigenous peoples of Mexico." —Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
2021-06-16
Luz Jiménez lives with her family in a Mexican village.
They do not speak the language of their Spanish conquerors among themselves. Nahuatl is what they, the descendants of the powerful Aztecs, speak instead. Luz learns how to weave, to make tortillas, and to find medicinal herbs, but she also wants to learn how to read. When the Mexican government decides to “modernize” the Indigenous peoples, Native children are forced to adapt to the European style of dress and to forget their culture and languages. However, Luz does not forget. After her father is killed in a massacre by revolutionary soldiers, her mother flees with her and her sisters to Mexico City, where she comes to the attention of artists, photographers, and anthropologists. Finally, Luz’s culture and language are being recognized and appreciated. College students and anthropologists learn and record them before they disappear forever, and Luz is proud to have helped save the flower-song of her people. Amescua succeeds in introducing Luz, who became the embodiment of the “soul of Mexico.” The author’s note serves to fill in any informational gaps. Tonatiuh’s signature artwork once again nearly tells the story by itself. Closely following the text, the illustrations bring Luz to life. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An important window into the ravages of colonialism and the plight of the Indigenous peoples of Mexico. (timeline, glossary, notes, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-11)
