Search results for ""Author . Politi""

"Song of the Swallows", which won the Caldecott Medal when it was first published in 1948, was written and illustrated by Leo Politi. It tells the famous story of the yearly return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano through the eyes of a small child, Julian, the bell ringer of the Mission, tells Juan, a young boy who also lives at the Mission, the story of the swallows and how - without anyone really knowing why or how - they return each year from their winter home in South America to San Juan Capistrano in California. Thrilled by the story, Juan makes his own small garden in the hope that at least one family of swallows will nest there when they return. This delightful book also includes the music and lyrics for "La Golondrina", a song about the swallows that Politi composed himself, and Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout the story.

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This Caldecott Honor book from beloved children's book author Leo Politi, originally published in 1946, is set on Olvera Street, the site of Los Angeles' original Latino settlement, which is still preserved very much as it once was - a busy and colourful melange of small artisan shops, restaurants, and strolling musicians. "Pedro" tells of the community's Christmas tradition of the 'posada', a procession that re-enacts Mary and Joseph's pilgrimage to Bethlehem, and of the 'pinata', a papier-mache vessel filled with toys that children break open at the Posada's end. "Pedro" hopes to find a music box among the toys that will spill out of the pinata. But first, he is asked to don the red wings of an angel and lead the procession. Because he not only is costumed like an angel but also sings like one, he is asked to lead the chorus in the traditional Posada song. Music and lyrics for the song are included, and with them children may create their own Posada pageant.

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