Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Viking Books (1959), Hardcover
Description
Ceci anxiously awaits her first posada, the special Mexican Christmas party, and the opportunity to select a piñata for it.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kellidenise
This is a story of a young Mexican girl named Ceci who is now old enough to join her family for the tradition of posados-special Christmas parties. Ceci is excited to learn she will have her own posado because she will have a pinata. The story follows Ceci through the days before Christmas as she
This was a cute book about another culture's traditions. I don't think it would make a good read aloud book though. I liked how Ceci pestered her mother about the pinata. That makes her believeable to me. I also liked how the pinatas talked to Ceci, showing she is an imaginative child.
In the classroom, this would be a good book to pair with others to teach the students about traditions in different cultures. Then, we can discuss what kinds of holiday traditions the students have with their families. I also like the idea of making our own pinata or each child making a small one to carry home. It might aslo be fun to explore the world for a week. Each day the class could discuss a new culture and have activities regarding that culture's traditions.
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asks her mother when she can get her pinata. Finally, the day before her posada, Ceci's mother takes her to the old Mexican market to choose a pinata. Ceci is overwhelmed as all the pinatas beg to be chosen by the little girl. Ceci finally settles on a large star. At the posada the family reinacts the story of Mary and Joseph and then proceeds to break the pinata. Ceci begs for them not to break it, but afterwards she realizes that since it was broken at her first posada it has become a real star, shining bright in the sky.This was a cute book about another culture's traditions. I don't think it would make a good read aloud book though. I liked how Ceci pestered her mother about the pinata. That makes her believeable to me. I also liked how the pinatas talked to Ceci, showing she is an imaginative child.
In the classroom, this would be a good book to pair with others to teach the students about traditions in different cultures. Then, we can discuss what kinds of holiday traditions the students have with their families. I also like the idea of making our own pinata or each child making a small one to carry home. It might aslo be fun to explore the world for a week. Each day the class could discuss a new culture and have activities regarding that culture's traditions.
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LibraryThing member petajaye
An outstanding classic on an outstanding Mexican holiday tradition, the Posadas.
LibraryThing member MarthaL
This is a wonderful story read to a loud to pre-school and early elementary age children at Christmas time. Presents an Hispanic tradition.
LibraryThing member tnelson725
Caldecott Award. In this multicultural story, Ceci wants to have her own Posada, which is a party nine days before Christmas. Ceci begins learning more about her culture and her mother decides that it is time for her Posada. As Christmas grows near, Ceci begins to fear for her pinata. Afterwards,
Great multicultural book. The illustrations and colors appropriately fit the book and Mexican culture. Children will enjoy seeing another culture through the eyes of someone their own age.
For the classroom, teach the students select Spanish words and use them to play Simon Says. The students could also learn the words to Feliz Navidad. Teaching a simplified version of the Mexican Hat Dance would also be fun.
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she realizes that the pinata has a surprise of its own after it is broken. Great multicultural book. The illustrations and colors appropriately fit the book and Mexican culture. Children will enjoy seeing another culture through the eyes of someone their own age.
For the classroom, teach the students select Spanish words and use them to play Simon Says. The students could also learn the words to Feliz Navidad. Teaching a simplified version of the Mexican Hat Dance would also be fun.
Show Less
LibraryThing member caltstatt
Little Ceci learns the traditions of her family who live in Mexico as they tell her there will be a party each night for the nine days before Christmas and she gets to have a party. Ceci is very excited and gets to pick out her own pinata. She is sad though when her pretty star pinata is broken.
Young children could learn about another culture by reading this book. The teacher could discuss with them how their traditions are different from our own.
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Young children could learn about another culture by reading this book. The teacher could discuss with them how their traditions are different from our own.
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LibraryThing member amoore1
Ceci is a kindergarten girl in Mexico. She is having her very first posada, which seems to be a traditional Mexican Christmas ceremony. The posada includes a pinata. Ceci has picked out the most becautiful pinata in the shape of a star but she does not want anyone to break it. The pinata eventually
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breaks. Ceci is sad at first but then sees that the pinata has turned into a real star, and in the sky it can never be broken. The illustrations are pretty. The drawings are detailed and mostly black and white. Some items are colored in either yellow, orange, or pink, which I belive mimics the star pinata. This is a cool traditional book. I think it may be hard to keep student's attention. If i were to read this book in class it would be around Christmas time. We could maybe do a series of multicultural Christmas books. Show Less
LibraryThing member A.Smith
This is a nice story for studying Christmas around the World. Great pictures and traditions from Mexico. A little bit long for my younger ones. Gabina's a cute kid. Was trying to guess where the book takes place... the pond looks like a park I went to in Mexico City. I loved this book!!!
LibraryThing member Cfmichel
A young girl learns about the traditions of her family and culture. Great display of what Christmas looks like to other people around the world. A bit long for the littles but has great illustrations that a pencil-like and use primary colors, especially the color red. Could show illustrations to
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younger students and have them guess what is going on or read to them in a few days instead of all at once. Nice story about different cultures, possibly use in a multi-cultural prop-box?! Show Less
LibraryThing member MissJessicaGaines
This book teaches a kindergaten girl names Ceci's Christmas family tradition. They throw nine parties "posadas" before Christmas. She chooses a pinata that she falls and love with and when the children break the pinata she is relieved to find out that it becomes a star in the sky.
I felt invited
I would enjoy comparing and contrasting Christmas traditions between students.
I felt invited
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into a new culture full of tradition. I enjoyed Christmas from a different perspective.I would enjoy comparing and contrasting Christmas traditions between students.
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LibraryThing member Phill242
Caldecott winner, 1960
Ceci, 5 yrs old, waits anxiously for her very own posada (Christmas party) which is to happen 9 days before Christmas
Ceci, 5 yrs old, waits anxiously for her very own posada (Christmas party) which is to happen 9 days before Christmas
LibraryThing member bp0128bd
Caldecott winner, 1960
Ceci, 5 yrs old, waits anxiously for her very own posada (Christmas party) which is to happen 9 days before Christmas
Ceci, 5 yrs old, waits anxiously for her very own posada (Christmas party) which is to happen 9 days before Christmas
LibraryThing member ecarlson2014
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Informational
Age: 3rd-5th
Summary: This book tells the story of a little girl and her very first Posadas. Which is a celebration for nine days before Christmas, celebrated in Mexico. It gives lots of information about Posadas and also tells a wonderful story of a little
Age: 3rd-5th
Summary: This book tells the story of a little girl and her very first Posadas. Which is a celebration for nine days before Christmas, celebrated in Mexico. It gives lots of information about Posadas and also tells a wonderful story of a little
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girl experiencing it for the first time. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Lovely. A little long, a little quiet - but I love Ceci, and I appreciate that Ets (as it says in her note) tried to be authentic to contemporary Mexico, avoiding the cliches of the peasants & burros.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Awarded a Caldecott Medal in 1960, this lovely Christmas tale from co-authors Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida follows the story of young Ceci, a Mexican girl who is excited to learn that she is to host her very first posada, or Christmas party. Full of eager anticipation, Ceci has many exciting
Although Ets was an established children's author in the 1950s and 60s, and wrote and illustrated a number of picture-books, her co-author, Aurora Labastida, who was a librarian at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City during the period, only ever worked on this one book. Apparently it was partially written to counteract some of the more stereotypical depictions on Mexican people abroad in American children's books at the time. Although I am not in a position to judge how well the authors succeeded in that goal, Nine Days to Christmas does feel authentic and respectful to me, depicting a then contemporary child and her many daily activities with sensitivity and affection. The artwork, appropriately enough, given that this won the Caldecott Medal, is lovely. I particularly liked the nighttime scenes, with the glowing candles. Recommended to anyone looking for Christmas stories for younger children with a Mexican cultural setting.
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experiences in the days leading up to the big party, culminating in accompanying her mother to the market to select a pinata. When the posada finally comes however, Ceci isn't sure how she feels about her lovely star pinata being broken apart...Although Ets was an established children's author in the 1950s and 60s, and wrote and illustrated a number of picture-books, her co-author, Aurora Labastida, who was a librarian at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City during the period, only ever worked on this one book. Apparently it was partially written to counteract some of the more stereotypical depictions on Mexican people abroad in American children's books at the time. Although I am not in a position to judge how well the authors succeeded in that goal, Nine Days to Christmas does feel authentic and respectful to me, depicting a then contemporary child and her many daily activities with sensitivity and affection. The artwork, appropriately enough, given that this won the Caldecott Medal, is lovely. I particularly liked the nighttime scenes, with the glowing candles. Recommended to anyone looking for Christmas stories for younger children with a Mexican cultural setting.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
By Marie Hall Ets and Aurora Labastida
The subtitle is: A Story of Mexico, and this picture book details the preparations and festivities surrounding las posadas, a procession and celebration of Joseph and Mary seeking shelter in Bethlehem. When Ceci’s mother tells her that she is now old enough
This is a charming story, and the illustrations by Ets are wonderfully detailed. They really took me to the streets of Mexico City. I found myself pouring over the drawings, picking out details, such as the name of stores, the traffic policeman, the tortilla makers, or gaily decorated market stalls. I particularly loved the one drawing where Ceci is with the family’s maid, Maria, on her morning errands; Ceci stands near Maria, clutching the hem of the maid’s skirt. It’s just a loving image, and I have memories of similar events in my childhood.
I didn’t find anything about Labastida in the Goodreads profile, so I did a little extra research and found THIS article from Illinois.edu. Labastida was the children’s librarian at the Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico City. She wrote most of the text of the book, although Ets did polish it. Their collaboration successfully brought the story to life.
My only complaint about this Caldecott-winning picture book, is that most of the drawings are almost uniformly gray, except for a few highlights of bright color – a shawl, Ceci’s hair ribbons, a striped awning, etc. On the other hand, this technique clearly focuses the viewer’s attention on key elements of the illustration.
I think this is a book I’ll want to read again … at Christmas time, while listening to my favorite Mexican Christmas songs album.
The subtitle is: A Story of Mexico, and this picture book details the preparations and festivities surrounding las posadas, a procession and celebration of Joseph and Mary seeking shelter in Bethlehem. When Ceci’s mother tells her that she is now old enough
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to stay up for the festivities, she promises that Ceci will be able to have her very own posada, complete with a piñata! This is a charming story, and the illustrations by Ets are wonderfully detailed. They really took me to the streets of Mexico City. I found myself pouring over the drawings, picking out details, such as the name of stores, the traffic policeman, the tortilla makers, or gaily decorated market stalls. I particularly loved the one drawing where Ceci is with the family’s maid, Maria, on her morning errands; Ceci stands near Maria, clutching the hem of the maid’s skirt. It’s just a loving image, and I have memories of similar events in my childhood.
I didn’t find anything about Labastida in the Goodreads profile, so I did a little extra research and found THIS article from Illinois.edu. Labastida was the children’s librarian at the Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico City. She wrote most of the text of the book, although Ets did polish it. Their collaboration successfully brought the story to life.
My only complaint about this Caldecott-winning picture book, is that most of the drawings are almost uniformly gray, except for a few highlights of bright color – a shawl, Ceci’s hair ribbons, a striped awning, etc. On the other hand, this technique clearly focuses the viewer’s attention on key elements of the illustration.
I think this is a book I’ll want to read again … at Christmas time, while listening to my favorite Mexican Christmas songs album.
Show Less
Awards
Caldecott Medal (Medal Winner — 1960)
Language
Original publication date
1959
Physical description
48 p.; 11.32 inches
ISBN
0670513504 / 9780670513505