Fiesta Femenina

Last updated Thursday, February 6, 2002

Author: Mary-Joan Gerson
Illustrator: Maya Christina Gonzalez
Date of Publication: 2001
ISBN: 1841483656
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Date(s) Used: Mar. 2003

Synopsis: (from the publisher) Deep in the lush Mexican forests, amidst the tall mountains and the rushing rivers, dwells a great goddess. Her broad torso bends to form the sky and her legs rise to become the valleys and deserts. She is the earth, the land of Mexico, and if you listen closely, you will hear her calling "tengo hambre, tengo hambre," for she is always hungry. Gifted storyteller Mary-Joan Gerson draws from Mexico's rich cultural traditions, including tales from the Mayan, Mixtec and Yaqui peoples to create an authentic collection that reflects the many faces of Mexico's heroines.

Craft ideas:

• Pick any story and write what happened next.
• Design a plate to tell one of the stories in the book.
• Why did these women do what they did? Pick one story, and cut out a symbol from it; on that, write what was unique about the women, and why you think they did what they did.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don’t have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!