Francisco X. Alarcón

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Francisco X. Alarcón is an acclaimed poet and educator, author of ten volumes of poetry.

Works

Iguanas in the Snow: And Other Winter Poems

Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Christina Gonzalez

In the final installment in the series, Francisco X. Alarcón shows children a city where people are bridges to each other and children sing poetry in two languages. A family frolic in the snow reminds the poet of the iguanas playing by his grandmother's house in Mexico. Readers are dazzled by the promise of the seedling redwoods — like all children — destined to be the ancestors of tomorrow.

Maya Christina Gonzalez creates a spirited family of children and adults who swing their way through colorful pages. Collages of old maps of Mexico and California provide intriguing backgrounds, and fun-loving iguanas peek out from the most surprising places.

From the Bellybutton of the Moon: And Other Summer Poems

Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Christina Gonzalez

From the Bellybutton of the Moon is renowned poet Francisco X. Alarcon's fresh collection of 22 bilingual poems inspired by his touching recollections of childhood summers in Mexico. With a poet's magical vision, Alarcon takes us back to his childhood when he traveled with his family to Mexico to visit his grandma and other relatives. We travel with him in the family station wagon, across the misty mountain range to the little town of Atoyac. There, in the beloved town of his ancestors, we hear his grandma's stories, sample Auntie Reginalda's tasty breakfasts, learn about the keys to the universe, and take playful dips in the warm sea.

The lighthearted illustrations of Maya Christina Gonzalez perfectly capture the spirit of a summer in Alarcon's Mexico where "colors are more colorful, tastes are tastier, and even time seems to slow down".

Laughing Tomatoes: And Other Spring Poems

Francisco X. Alarcón, Maya Christina Gonzalez

Tomatoes laugh, chiles explode, and tortillas applaud the sun. With joy and tenderness, delight and sadness, Frances X. Alarcón's poems honor life and nature: welcoming the morning sun, remembering his grandmother's songs, paying tribute to children working in the fields, and dreaming of a world filled with gardens.

Artist Maya Christina Gonzalez invites readers to experience the poems with her lively cast of characters - including a spirited grandma, four vivacious children, and playful pets who tease and delight. Follow them from page to page as they bring each poem to colorful life. Laughing Tomatoes is a verbal and visual treat, giving readers eighteen opportunities to see everything for the first time.

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