Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. If you think Jeanne Willis' Tadpole's Promise0 (2005), 0 in which a romantically involved tadpole and caterpillar metamorphose into predator and prey, is too much of a downer, here's a happier interspecies romance--one that puts magical flourishes on a Mexican folktale Ryan heard from her grandmother. Nacho is a pitacoche 0 bird that "carries all the colors of the world in his feathers," but he longs for a companion. Then he meets a migratory swallow named Lolita, and ooh-la-la! He cannot fly well enough to return with her to South America, so he converts his enchanted feathers into bright flowers that cloak the landscape and guide the returning Lolita back to his side. Although the seams between truthful animal behavior and anthropomorphic fantasy seem a bit rough, Ryan's cozy storytelling will draw listeners close, and the Colombian-born illustrator cleverly exploits the contrast between the drought-scarred backdrops and Nacho's brilliance to achieve a vibrancy that is unusual in colored-pencil illustrations. A fanciful, broadly appealing affirmation of the transforming power of love. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A sense of enchantment pervades this tender love story, which begins when a mysterious bird called a pitacoche, arrives in the San Juan valley. Rueda (Going to Grandma's Farm) depicts the gray-brown adobe town as dull in hue but elegant in its simplicity, a striking contrast to Nacho, who "carried the colors of the world in his feathers." The bird's magnificent appearance and "haunting" evening song, cause the villagers to speculate that the winged visitor is "a spirit from the past" or "a prophet of the future." But Nacho, although proud of his gifts, has a lonely heart: he is "the only pitacoche for thousands of miles and hundreds of years." When las golondrinas (the swallows) arrive on St. Joseph's feast day, Nacho forms a strong attachment to one of them, Lolita, offering her one of his wondrous feathers (a gray feather grows back in its place) and when the swallow accepts it, "by the mystery of the ages, it became a blue hibiscus." Throughout the ensuing months, Nacho helps all the swallows build nests and gather food, and when it comes time to migrate, Nacho tries to fly south too, without success. "That night... Nacho's song ached with sadness. 'Low-leeeee-tah, I loooove you.' " Nacho then makes a great sacrifice in hopes of luring the swallows ("especially Lolita") back in the spring. Rueda's wordless spreads pay tribute to the enormity of Nacho's offering, which transforms the valley. Ages 4-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-Like Leo Politi's Song of the Swallows (S & S, 1981), this picture book celebrates the fascinating migratory patterns of the birds that call Mission San Juan Capistrano home for the spring and summer. Each year on the March feast day of St. Joseph, the swallows return to the Mission. This tale is told from the perspective of another avian wonder, a once-colorful pitacoche. How it becomes a plainer-looking creature is at the heart of this pourquoi tale. Nacho, an extravagantly colored bird who lands at the Mission, is unimpressed with the arid landscape, but nonetheless does his best to entertain the native peoples and friars with his haunting melodies and bright appearance. Human acclaim, however, does not compare with the company of other birds, and so he eagerly anticipates the rumored return of the swallows. Nacho bonds with them and in particular with a sweet little female named Lolita. Much as he would like to accompany the swallows when the flock departs, it proves impossible for the big, ungainly bird. Initially distraught, he channels his energy into creating a surprise for them upon their return, and as a by-product leaves a lasting legacy of color and beauty for the Mission. This plot progression is reflected visually as the fairly subdued, dry landscapes morph into vivid abundance of flowers and fruit trees by the story's conclusion. An author's note that details the sources for this Mexican folktale-inspired book should enhance readers' enjoyment of the playfully illustrated ode.-Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Nacho, a pitacoche bird, comes to San Juan Capistrano and falls for Lolita, a swallow. Unable to migrate with the swallows, he makes a sacrifice to see his love again. Appropriate to the story, colored-pencil illustrations highlight the brilliance of Nacho's plumage. An author's note explains that the story is loosely based on a folktale. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
