My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papa Diego y yo: Memories of My Father and His…

Part family memoir, part artistic retrospective, this picture-book from Guadalupe Rivera Marin does give some background information about the life of her famous father, the celebrated Mexican painter Diego Rivera, but it focuses more on his artwork, and on giving the stories behind some of his well-known paintings. From Picos con Naranja, in which the author herself is depicted (with orange) as a young girl, to La familia, in which an impoverished family, taken in and aided by Diego Rivera, is shown, the paintings are each accompanied by a short description, in both English and Spanish, of the people and events depicted. The result is a book that, while it doesn't give the best sense of the trajectory of Rivera's life, will build greater understanding of, and appreciation for his work.

As the artwork here is all by Diego Rivera himself, it's probably pretty redundant to say that it is excellent. I've always enjoyed Rivera's paintings, so it was a foregone conclusion that I enjoyed My Papa Diego and Me/Mi papa Diego y yo. I was a little disappointed that I didn't learn more about Rivera's life, but then, I think I went in with the wrong expectations. As an exploration of his work, and of how it felt to grow up as his daughter, this is an excellent title, one that I highly recommend to all young readers with an interest in art, or in Diego Rivera specifically. ( )

This is a wonderful book for readers of all ages. I love the way I get to know the family through the art work. It makes it that much more meaningful for me. The bilingual writing also makes me feel close to their culture. ( )