Argentina
158
Aguirre, Sergio
El hormiguero (The ant nest)
Buenos Aires: Grupo Ed.
Norma, 2008. – 102 p.
(Torre de Papel: Amarilla)
ISBN 978-987-545-481-1
Ant – Nature – Horror – Persecution complex
This story, which begins like a harmless vacation tale, is not for the weak
of heart. Omar drives alone to his aunt Poli, who lives in a comfortable
house somewhere in the country. The aunt is affable and chummy; only her
obviously very close connection to nature sometimes seems odd. Insecurity
and fright silently invade this summer idyll in the form of ants. The
animals – present yet not catchable – cause Omar’s emotions to escalate from
diffuse discomfort to utter dismay. In this unusual piece of children’s
literature, which stands in the tradition of Latin American authors such as
Horacio Quiroga or Julio Cortázar, sparingly used fantastical and surreal
elements create unsettling fissures on the surface of the real world.
(11+)
159
Grau, Didi (text)
Montenegro, Christian (illus.) / Varsky, Laura (design)
Peleonas, mentirosas y haraganas (Feisty, fibby, and lazy)
Buenos Aires: Ed. Del
Eclipse, 2007. – [24] p.
(Libros álbum del eclipse)
ISBN 978-987-9011-89-8
Pugnacity – Misanthropy – Bridal quest
A trio of sisters like no
other! The three dressed up misses Fulana, Zutana, and Mengana (Anyhow,
Anytown, and You-know-who) are uptight, pretentious, and anything but
lovable, until three men of the same name begin to court them and – all’s
well that end’s well – end up tying the knot. The appeal of this travesty of
the fairytale genre lies in the illustrations and the eye-catching design of
the book’s
pages. The figures, stencil-like characters made out of geometrical forms
and lines, recall two-dimensional paper dolls, which capture exceedingly
well the character of the protagonists with their mannerisms. The
typography, which makes use of the most varying font sizes and types, is
just as playful. Its delightful interplay with the illustrations makes this
picture book a true attention grabber. (6+)
160
Gusti (text)
Decis, Anne (illus.)
Mi papá estuvo en la selva (My father was in the jungle)
Buenos Aires: Pequeño Editor, 2008. – 33 p.
(Incluso los grandes)
ISBN 978-987-1374-06-9
Jungle – Amazonia
The first-person narrator reports on his father’s trip to »the mother of all
jungles«, the Amazons. The father’s experiences – encounters with snakes,
spiders, birds and, of course, with people and their lifestyles – are
described in simple words and linked to the personal world of the child. So,
for instance, the boy, curious, unafraid, and without reservation, tries out
the larvae-eating custom of the inhabitants of the Amazons, using earthworms
found in his own garden. The simple colour illustrations on a lined
background aptly play on the idea of an essay or diary entry written by a
child. The author and illustrator offer an interesting mixture of
non-fiction and fiction with this entertaining, respectful book.
(5+)
161
Wolf, Ema (text)
Tabaré (illus.)
La galleta marinera (The hardtack)
Buenos Aires: Sudamericana, 2008. – 61 p.
(Pan flauta; 78) (Primera Sudamericana )
ISBN 978-950-07-2927-7
Sea – Seatravel
In the eight stories contained in this volume, Ema Wolf yet again
demonstrates her special talent for absurd ideas, crooked characters, and
imaginative nonsense. On a few pages each, she spins literary miniatures
that should delight both young and old readers. She confidently helps
herself to the most various of elements, among others history, the Bible,
and ancient folklore. Thus we read in a passage from Noah’s diary that he
feels slightly over-whelmed by the capricious animal passengers on the ark
and is plagued by the incompetent veterinarian Dr. Münzenmayer. Or we
witness how a shrewd trade representative gets on board Christopher
Columbus’s ship – shortly before landing in America! – and peddles useful
items such as a potato peeler and a set for preparing maté-tea. A great fun
to read! (11+) l