Colombia
161
Heredia, María Fernanda (text)
Díaz, Carlos Manuel (illus.)
Amigo se escribe con H (You write Amigo with H)
Bogotá [et al.] : Grupo Ed. Norma,
2003. – 125 p.
(Torre de papel : Azul) – ISBN 958-04-7160-6
Friendship – First love
María Antonia, the 10-year-old first-person narrator, is an alert girl,
sometimes terribly disheartened, at other times courageous. She relates her
everyday life – in which H, a boy from the neighbourhood, plays an important
role – with a keen sense of observation, wit, and a hint of black humour. On
the cusp between childhood and adolescence, things just seem to become more
complicated – especially if they concern love and the first sexual
sensations. That’s exactly what happens to María Antonia and H. The
Ecuadorian author captures happy and less happy moments of a normal young life
with great sensitivity and respect for the emotional turmoil of her two
protagonists. (9+)
(Premio Latinoamericano de Literatura Infantil y Juvenil Norma-Fundalectura;
2003)
162
Ródez (illus.)
Zootica <pun>
Bogotá : Ed. Trescabezas, 2003. – each
vol. [24] p.
ISBN 958-33-4674-8 – (4 volumes in a slipcase: Zooacuático; Zooaéreo; Zooígneo;
Zootelúrico)
Animals – Imagination
Zootica presents a magnificent panoply of animals. The four
square little volumes, with their black cloth binding and differently coloured
dust jackets are gathered in an appealing cardboard slipcase and immediately
catch the reader’s attention. Each of the books without words deals with one
of the four natural elements: fire, water, air, and earth. Mysterious and
bizarre fantasy creatures, which seem to have been inspired by Hieronymus
Bosch, surrealist art, or maybe the imagery of American Indians’ folk art,
fill the pages. With long tentacles, sharp spines, flame-like tongues, etc.,
they inspire the reader’s imagination and eagerness to interpret the
pictures. (6+)