Cinco de Mayo
by Alice K. Flanagan
Published 2003 by Compass Point Books

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780756504809

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Jacket Notes:

- Table of contents, index, and glossary

- Additional resources

- Activities

12/01/2003 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-Each book covers the history, customs, and symbols of its respective event, as well as specifics about how it is celebrated. For example, Chinese New Year tells how dragons, lions, and firecrackers became associated with the holiday. Information about "Things You Might See" and "What You Can Do" is also included. The short chapters are easy to understand and are accompanied by full-page illustrations. The pictures in Cinco de Mayo have vibrant colors and black outlines, while those in the other two titles are softer. Highlighted words are defined in the glossaries. These books are similar to Gail Gibbons's nonfiction holiday titles, but they have a bit more information. Solid, practical choices for collections needing more books on these topics.-Shauna Yusko, King County Library System, Bellevue, WA

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating Hispanic Pride
by Carol Gnojewski
Published 2002 by Enslow Elementary

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780766015753

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Jacket Notes:

-- Each title in the Finding Out About Holidays series explores the history of different holidays and describes how they are observed in the United States.

-- Each book is in chapter format, with simple sentences for ease of reading and color photographs throughout.

11/01/2002 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 3-4-The annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the Mexican victory at Puebla, is presented in eight chapters. The life of Benito Ju rez; the Mexican battle for freedom; the country's government today; the celebration itself; and Mexican music, dance, and food are all given brief coverage in jerky, disconnected prose that, while it does not misinform, is surely no pleasure to read. Wide margins, large print, and good leading combine with a plethora of well-placed color photos and reproductions to produce an open, nonthreatening look, attractive to younger readers. Marginal sidebars, only some of which pertain to the adjacent text, give information on food, dance, and social conventions. Instructions for a Cinco de Mayo project and a 12-word glossary (with no pronunciations given) are included. Janet Riehecky's Cinco de Mayo (Children's, 1993; o.p.), preferable for composition and narrative flow, contains similar information.-Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Cinco de Mayo: Holiday Celebrations
by Kieran Walsh
Published 2003 by Rourke Publishing

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9781589522213

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01/01/2003 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-3-Information about the Chinese calendar, how the holiday began, and some of the activities that occur during the celebration such as the Lantern Festival are highlighted in the first book. Cinco de Mayo includes facts about parades, food, dances, and games, and the war between Mexico and France is simply explained. Each paragraph of text faces a vivid photo that shows the people of the respective culture celebrating the holiday. These will be good replacements for older titles with outdated photos.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

Cinco de Mayo: Yesterday and Today
by Maria Cristina Urrutia
Published 1999 by Groundwood Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780888993557

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09/01/1999 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-4 This holiday commemorates a battle in which outnumbered Mexican troops managed to defeat the invading French at Puebla in 1862. This book presents a simplified account of the battle, based on war reports from the Mexican army, interspersed with information about the reenactment held each year in San Miguel Tlaixpan. The illustrations consist of hand-colored French and Mexican engravings along with full-color photographs of a contemporary celebration. There is some confusion resulting from the shifts between past and present. Dianne MacMillan's Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo (Enslow, 1997), which is illustrated with photographs, gives a more detailed account of both the battle and the holiday. Pam Gosner, formerly at Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ

Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo
by Dianne M. MacMillan
Published 1997 by Enslow Publishers

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780894908163

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08/01/1997 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-4--Three series entries that introduce the history of their respective holidays and how they are celebrated. The well-written texts aptly describe the traditions and customs and capture the flavor of the festivals. The open, spacious format makes the books accessible, and the full-color and black-and-white photos lend interest. However, some of them are more filler than substance, and the captions add little or no information. Additional purchases where needed.--Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA

Cinco de Mayo
by Leia Tait
Published 2006 by Weigl Publishers

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9781590364604

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Jacket Notes:

Cinco de Mayo, part of the 12-title American Holidays series, highlights the historical, cultural, social, and political background of this holiday and how it is observed in the United States. This title also presents some of the crafts, recipes, and activities that bring this holiday to life.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
by Joanne Mattern
Published 2006 by Enslow Publishers

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780766025790

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Jacket Notes:

- Middle School holiday information books for reports

- Covers important and many multicultural holidays

- Explains the history, significance, and current celebrations

- Supports the History/Social Studies curriculum

- Illus. with color photographs and illustrations

- Contains chapter notes, a further reading list, Internet addresses, a glossary, factboxes, a project, and an index

01/01/2007 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 3-6- These books explain the background, development, cultural significance, signs and symbols, and celebrants of three holidays.New Year contains a collection of dryly written facts, sometimes confusing in their organization because of a lack of adequate topic sentences, transitions, and chapter titles. Although average-quality photographs show recent global celebrations, the majority of the text covers traditions within China, with the exception of a chapter highlighting international festivities. Information on cooking, arts and crafts, related legends, and the development of Chinese timekeeping is also included. The book concludes with seven pages of chapter notes of both primary and secondary sources, and its comprehensiveness will suit capable, curious researchers. Other students may find Judith Jango-Cohen'sChinese New Year (Carolrhoda, 2005) more accessible.Cinco de Mayo details the origin of the holiday in Mexican history and its ideological ties to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Differences between celebrations in the U.S. and in Mexico are explained.Columbus Day shows how the explorer's voyages shaped American history. The word "discovery" is used infrequently and always in quotes; Native American views on the event are outlined, explaining that people lived in America prior to Columbus, and that he never actually visited the U.S. mainland. Wikipedia is listed as a source, and conflicting dates are offered for two separate events. The illustrations inColumbus Day , primarily color photographs with a few drawings, can be poor in quality, and, inChinese New Year , their placement does not always correspond to the text. Despite minor flaws, these titles will serve as additional report sources.-Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Island Branch Library, Stevensville, MD

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo: With Fiestas, Music, and Dance
by Carolyn Otto
Published 2008 by National Geographic Society

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781426302152

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04/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-In Mexico and the United States, Cinco de Mayo honors the Mexican army that defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Otto uses a first-person plural voice to describe the events of the day, "We celebrate with music and dance." "We have parades." "We hit the piñata." This approach is often distracting as there is no apparent narrator with whom children can relate. End matter includes directions on how to dance La Raspa, facts about Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and various activities that are held throughout the U.S. to commemorate this day. Also included is a recipe for a burrito and a map of the U.S. with states highlighted that were discussed. Vivid, full-color photographs, many full page, show people celebrating and proudly displaying the Mexican flag, and the captions, written in third person, provide additional information. Amanda Doering's Cinco de Mayo (Capstone, 2005) contains similar information for young readers.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrating the Traditions of Mexico
by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith
Published 2008 by Holiday House

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780823421077

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04/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Hoyt-Goldsmith and Migdale's latest photo-essay uses the tried-and-true format of their earlier collaborations to follow Rosalba (Rosie) Rosas and her family as they celebrate Cinco de Mayo in her Mexican-American community in California. Hoyt-Goldsmith quickly sets the record straight-the holiday is not an observation of Mexico's independence, but a celebration of a victory over the French in 1862. Other historical notes include a brief overview of immigration to the United States and the origin of mariachi music. The prose comes alive when paired with Migdale's vibrant photographs of Rosie's family life: the running of their grocery store, the traditional dance performances, and the public fiesta for the holiday are juxtaposed with the private celebration of her grandmother's birthday. It is this masterful blend of information with universal family moments that makes this title such a welcome addition.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library

Fiesta!
by June Behrens
Published 1988 by Children's Press(CT)

Paperback, English. ISBN: 9780516488158

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