Nine Days to Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Nine Days to Christmas unlocks the Magic of Christmas in Mex
Review: As a child, this book open the world to me. Nine Days to Christmas lets children learn about and explore the traditions of Christmas in Mexico while capturing the thrill and confusion of early childhood. Thirty years after reading this book, I look forward to sharing the magic of Nine Days to Christmas with my own children.

Rating:
Summary: On the ninth day till Christmas my true love gave to me...
Review: I've never seen a book quite like it. Originally published in 1959, and winner of the 1960 Caldecott medal, "Nine Days to Christmas" is the tale of Ceci and her piñata. Ceci is five years old, and at long last her mother has consented to hold a posada (Christmas party) that Ceci may attend. Ceci is delighted, and when choosing a piñata for the posada she grows horribly attached to one in the shape of a beautiful star. When the time comes to break the piñata into pieces, however, Ceci is understandably distraught. Fortunately, the very nature of piñatas rectifies the situation and Ceci finds comfort in the season.

Both visually and textually this book is an original. Ets's Ceci is definitely five years of age. Her every move and thought confirms her youth and excitement at finally getting to participate in the first of nine Christmas parties. What's nice about the story is the amount of time and attention the author pays to the day-to-day living of a wealthy Mexican family like Ceci's. She displays the world around Ceci without ever ignoring the poor or impoverished. Though Ceci is too young to make any judgments about the way the world is, she knows enough to observe a man too poor to own shoes or village women selling flowers. The book never trivializes the situation of the people, and it grants servants the same respect as their employers. I was especially taken with the section in which the servant girls mix and mingle while waiting for the garbage truck to arrive. It's nice to see someone besides the rich having lives of their own in a picture book. My only objection is the author's dedication at the front. She writes, "To all the little Mexican friends and relatives who helped us make this book". I'm going to assume that by "little" she is referring to the children.

The story is rather original for its publication date. I can't imagine that too many kids books with South American plots were making their way into mainstream America in the late 1950s. Above and beyond the storyline, however, are Aurora Labastida's amazing illustrations. Here is an illustrator that matches Ets's well-paced story and dialogue with a true knowledge of Mexican culture. It's such a relief to see Ceci staring transfixed at a Christmastime market that looks so doggone realistic. And when Ceci and her mother stand on the street, the stores and marquees they pass are all written in Spanish (with the possible exception of the transposed Dairy Queen).

Labastida's style is particularly original as well. Most faces of characters are realistic to the point where I began to wonder if Labastida was drawing from photographs. These characters are drawn with pencil, as are the backgrounds and settings. Yet minute carefully selected portions of each picture are colored in beautifully. Ceci's clothing is always colorful and easy to spot. Using this technique, the artist is able to draw the viewer's eye to the parts of the illustration she wants you to pay the most attention to. The effect is both appropriate and beautifully done. If I've any real criticism of the pictures presented in this book it might be directed towards the piñatas. For some reason, Labasta has drawn incredibly cartoony piñatas, floating in an otherwise realistic setting. The effect is jarring, without necessarily ruining the experience of reading the book. I was also a little taken aback at how rarely we ever see Ceci's face, front and center. In most of this book we get a very nice view of the back of her head. Why this is, I'm uncertain. But again, it's a stylistic choice that fits the book itself without drawing any particular attention to itself.

In the end, I'm happy to report that "Nine Days to Christmas" is fully deserving of its Caldecott medal. This was hardly a forgone conclusion. I've read plenty of award winners that could have stood a little less attention. In this book, however, you have a wonderful introduction for children into customs and celebrations sometimes found in Mexico. Such a story rarely goes out of date. In this case, I don't think it ever will.

Rating:
Summary: On the ninth day till Christmas my true love gave to me...
Review: I've never seen a book quite like it. Originally published in 1959, and winner of the 1960 Caldecott medal, "Nine Days to Christmas" is the tale of Ceci and her piñata. Ceci is five years old, and at long last her mother has consented to hold a posada (Christmas party) that Ceci may attend. Ceci is delighted, and when choosing a piñata for the posada she grows horribly attached to one in the shape of a beautiful star. When the time comes to break the piñata into pieces, however, Ceci is understandably distraught. Fortunately, the very nature of piñatas rectifies the situation and Ceci finds comfort in the season.

Both visually and textually this book is an original. Ets's Ceci is definitely five years of age. Her every move and thought confirms her youth and excitement at finally getting to participate in the first of nine Christmas parties. What's nice about the story is the amount of time and attention the author pays to the day-to-day living of a wealthy Mexican family like Ceci's. She displays the world around Ceci without ever ignoring the poor or impoverished. Though Ceci is too young to make any judgments about the way the world is, she knows enough to observe a man too poor to own shoes or village women selling flowers. The book never trivializes the situation of the people, and it grants servants the same respect as their employers. I was especially taken with the section in which the servant girls mix and mingle while waiting for the garbage truck to arrive. It's nice to see someone besides the rich having lives of their own in a picture book. My only objection is the author's dedication at the front. She writes, "To all the little Mexican friends and relatives who helped us make this book". I'm going to assume that by "little" she is referring to the children.

The story is rather original for its publication date. I can't imagine that too many kids books with South American plots were making their way into mainstream America in the late 1950s. Above and beyond the storyline, however, are Aurora Labastida's amazing illustrations. Here is an illustrator that matches Ets's well-paced story and dialogue with a true knowledge of Mexican culture. It's such a relief to see Ceci staring transfixed at a Christmastime market that looks so doggone realistic. And when Ceci and her mother stand on the street, the stores and marquees they pass are all written in Spanish (with the possible exception of the transposed Dairy Queen).

Labastida's style is particularly original as well. Most faces of characters are realistic to the point where I began to wonder if Labastida was drawing from photographs. These characters are drawn with pencil, as are the backgrounds and settings. Yet minute carefully selected portions of each picture are colored in beautifully. Ceci's clothing is always colorful and easy to spot. Using this technique, the artist is able to draw the viewer's eye to the parts of the illustration she wants you to pay the most attention to. The effect is both appropriate and beautifully done. If I've any real criticism of the pictures presented in this book it might be directed towards the piñatas. For some reason, Labasta has drawn incredibly cartoony piñatas, floating in an otherwise realistic setting. The effect is jarring, without necessarily ruining the experience of reading the book. I was also a little taken aback at how rarely we ever see Ceci's face, front and center. In most of this book we get a very nice view of the back of her head. Why this is, I'm uncertain. But again, it's a stylistic choice that fits the book itself without drawing any particular attention to itself.

In the end, I'm happy to report that "Nine Days to Christmas" is fully deserving of its Caldecott medal. This was hardly a forgone conclusion. I've read plenty of award winners that could have stood a little less attention. In this book, however, you have a wonderful introduction for children into customs and celebrations sometimes found in Mexico. Such a story rarely goes out of date. In this case, I don't think it ever will.

Rating:
Summary: Christmas in Mexico
Review: This children's book is about a five-year-old Mexican girl and her first posada (a Christmas festival in Mexico) and her first Christmas piñata. Children have always loved the story and also have used the book to learn more about the culture and life of another country. "Nine Days to Christmas" is highly recommended. Aurora Labastida was the librarian for children's books in Mexico City and she cowrote this story with Marie Ets who was the illustrator. The book won the 1960 Caldecott Medal for best illustration in a children's book.