Josefina's parents modeled clay. She watched them when she was a little girl, making the art her own as she grew up. When she had her own family, she continued to model these clay dolls. She began incorporating her Mexican heritage and experiences through her art. Strangely, a counting scheme is added to the end of the book. I feel this is misplaced and could have been another book entirely. Winter should have stuck to the woman empowering theme of art and creativity. I think she should have added a portion to the story that Josefina's nine children began to create using clay to create a more family tradition dynamic. ( )

Use to teach about Mexican culture and counting simultaneously.

Josefina tells a story about a Mexican female artist who creates representative clay sculptures of the things she sees in her community and world. She brings life to these sculptures by giving them the care and individual appreciation of being symbols to the real life models they are made after. While this story is a culturally based one, it is also a counting book, starting at the point where Josefina makes one sculpture of the sun all the way through ten clay stars that she decorates her home with.
I found this story to be especially intriguing to read. The way I see it, it not only shows another culture and its influence on the narrative and stylistic quality of the book, but also empowers women and artists as well. Since the main character is a creative, strong female figure, it displays how girls of all ages are capable of accomplishing and being successful in their field of interest. I also think that artistically this is great because how the images are rendered to be colorful and bold, but also in the content. Since Josefina already represents a double minority (woman of color), this is pushed further in the idea that she is also an artist. The book does not stereotype the character in being submissive, passive and solely focused on providing and pleasing the family, but rather, it shows how dynamic and happy one can be in satisfying all of the realms that make them who they are.

A cute book with a counting theme. The book tells of a woman making clay figures of people and things important to Mexican culture. She makes one of this, two of that, three of that, etc. It was an okay book, but seemed like the counting bit was thrown in there strangely.

Might be good in teaching about Mexican arts and crafts or Mexican culture. ( )

This (so much more than a) counting book tells the story of a Mexican folk artist, Josefina Aguilar. Acrylics in the style, texture, and color of traditional Mexican art show how Josefina creats and paints clay figures that remind her of all that happens around her. Each two-page spread shows Josefina creating the figures that are being counted and, on the second page, show the creation in a frame which includes the word in Spanish.