Argentina
156
Baredes, Carla / Pineau, Pablo (text)
Basile, Javier (illus.)
La escuela no fue siempre así (School wasn’t always like this)
[Buenos Aires]: Iamiqué, 2008. – 36 p.
(Las cosas no fueron siempre así)
ISBN 978-987-1217-16-8
School/History – Instruction/History – Education/History
The publishing house Iamiqué, which exclusively pub-lishes non-fiction books,
comes through once again with its series »Las cosas no fueron siempre así«,
proving that one can convey content in a simultaneously competent and
entertaining manner. This volume deals with the history of schooled
education. The chapters, each spread across a double page, deal with a broad
spectrum ranging from ancient times through today, with short texts
accompanied by humorous, coloured illustrations. Some topics include
compulsory education and the right to education, writing utensils, the
furnishing of schoolrooms and the historically exclusive character of
schooled education, which formerly was reserved for the progeny of the
social elites. The book speaks directly to its readers, always keeping the
world experienced by today’s children in view for comparison. (8+)
157
Ferro, Beatriz (text)
Pico, Elenio (illus.)
Radiografía de una bruja (X-ray of a witch)
Buenos Aires: Ed. del Eclipse, 2008. – [30] p.
(Libros álbum del eclipse)
ISBN 978-987-9011-90-4
Witch – Wickedness – The Evil
Though the title might suggest it, this book has nothing to do with a
medical examination. Nonetheless it gets to the bottom of several important
questions: What exactly is a witch and what makes her so wicked (a 110 point
score on a 100-point scale of wickedness!)? Witches are shrewd, wilful, and
straight-laced, while at the same time being quite poor spellers. They
cultivate offspring by laying an egg every 300 years and brooding on it for
just ten minutes. Readers learn this and other absurdities, not the least of
which is that maliciousness easily spreads among human beings, too. Elenio
Pico has illustrated this crooked picture book with miniature witty-wicked
pictures, which visualize the cunning of witchcraft. (5+)
158
Ramos, Pablo
El sueño de los murciélagos (The dream of the bats)
Buenos Aires: Alfaguara, 2009. – 156 p.
(Serie roja)
ISBN 978-987-04-1222-9
Argentina/1980 – Military dictatorship – Economic problem – Friendship
Argentina 1980, during the time of military dictatorship. Their families
facing great financial difficulties due to the country’s economic crisis,
Gabriel, Marisa and some friends try to solve their parents’ money worries
with the help of Sara the »witch«. On the cover and initially, the book
seems to be a piece of fantasy literature; however, it soon reveals itself
to be a realist story that provides a glimpse into a bitter epoch of
Argentinean history. In so doing, the brutality of the authoritarian regime
is broached, as well as the necessity of simple people to overcome all
obstacles – without the help of magic. This book is characterized by clear
language, a quick pace and marvellous humour. (14+)
159
Siemens, Sandra
El hombre de los pies-murciélago (The man with the bat feet)
Buenos Aires: Grupo Ed. Norma, 2009. – 158 p.
(Zona libre)
ISBN 978-987-545-563-4
Outsider – Exclusion – Harassment – Violence – Group pressure
This novel tells the story of Esper, who is ostracized by his schoolmates
and brutally harassed. He does not have the courage to confide in other
people, nor the power to fend off his tormentors. His attempt to make
himself »invisible« by being as unremarkable as possible, in order to avoid
hostility-spurred violence, is unsuccessful. This disturbing, distressing
story, composed like a mosaic with the perspectives of perpetrators and
hangers-on woven in, recalls an ancient tragedy. Inexorably, like a ticking
time bomb and driven by an inner urge, the plot heads toward catastrophe.
The readers are involuntarily made into
powerless witnesses and mute accomplices. (14+) H
160
Yiso, Reinaldo (original text)
Isol (adapt./illus.)
El bazar de los juguetes (The toy shop)
Buenos Aires: Además, 2009. – [22] p.
(2 x 4 = Tango para pibes)
ISBN 978-987-23530-5-6
Tango – Imagination – Poverty
The series »2 x 4 Tango para pibes« makes the exciting attempt to introduce
children to tango, which expresses both a dance and an attitude toward life.
Reinaldo Yiso (1915-1978), rooted to his home town of Buenos Aires his
entire life, is one of the great poets and composers of this genre. His
tango »El bazar del los juguetes«, which starts off this picture book, tells
of a toy shop that awak-ens memories of a childhood lived in poverty and the
love of a mother for her child. On the following pages, Isol interprets
Yiso’s verses using marvellous pictures and few words. They tell about toys
of the sky, of the water, of the air and of dreams, and in the process
summons the power of free, creative, and unlimited imagination. (6+)