Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Subject Topic: November Author Fiesta - Leo Politi Post ReplyPost New Topic
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MaryM
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Posted: Nov 07 2008 at 10:34am | IP Logged Quote MaryM
Well, here we are already a week into our new month. Just a heads up to let you know that the featured author for November's Author Fiesta is Leo Politi.

Mr. Politi was an author and illustrator that helped shape the children's picture book genre in the mid-20th century. He was a California native of Italian decent, who moved with his family to Italy, returning to the US as a young man. He would have been 100 years old this month (Nov. 21) so we are celebrating his life and works. He is particularly known for his portrayal of the various ethnic groups in California in his stories about children from those cultures. The stories are very sweet and lyrical. The illustrations engaging. We also painted many murals of California cultural life. You can see examples of his art here He was a devout Catholic and images and elements of the Faith are present in so many of his books. It is so beautiful and comforting to read.

I am so excited about this author. I have read a few of his books but as so many are out of print I certainly haven't read them all. My goal this month is to get as many as possible through our library's loan system - I think I have about 14 so far. He is best known for The Song of the Swallows, a story about an Hispanic boy who awaits the return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano on St. Joseph's feast day. He won a Caldecott for this book. He was also awarded the prestigious Regina Medal, from the Catholic Library Association for his body of works.

Interestingly, the anniversary of the founding of the mission of San Juan Capistrano in 1776 is also this month. Fun to discuss when you read the book (or if you can get your hands on The Mission Bell - which is Politi's book about the founding the Californnia missions).

I just finished his Columbus book, The Columbus Story- which portrays Colombus' faith in God in a positive light and a priest is pictured going ashore with him. Very refreshing for a Columbus book, wouldn't you say.

Also just read A Boat for Peppe also, which is about a little boy in Monterey, CA - who is an Intalian-American in fishing family. Shares their life with ample coverage of their devotion to St. Rosalia, patron of Sicilian fishermen. I loved reading as they prayed for her intercession and celebrated the festival in her honor. I could gush on....

We read his Saint Francis and the Animals book in October for his feast. That was the first year I had been able to get it. It is lovely.

...and oh, so many more....


Please join in - you'll be in for a real treat.


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Mary M. in Denver

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