Cinco de Mayo Books

I love this series. Great photos, appropriate vocabulary, rich language. These books are an excellent resource for teachers.

I teach First Grade and I find the Rookie Read-About Holidays series to be a good starter for a lesson. The holiday is explained in a simple way and can lead into a Social Studies or multicultural lesson. I used the Cinco De Mayo book this past Friday. I have about 8 books and I highly recommend them.

Another great Rookie Reader! These books are great for ESOL students of all ages who read at a beginning level. This book provides a very clear idea of how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated.

This is a great teaching source for young children learning about Mexico.

Now here's an iUniverse book well worth their otherwise high price for a paperback. I found it hard to put down for long. The battle which the title's event commemorates is dealt with clearly enough to understand why it went the way it did. But who could have guessed the French troops would decide to have a coffee and pastry break beforehand? I never realized just how inept the French commanders really were in Mexico, though Mexican president Juarez and his loyalists would have been tenacious combatants for any such unscrupulous invader. I knew the installed "Emperor" Maximilian was out of his element, but not that he was so truly foolish--or that his more realistic wife had a nervous breakdown. Austin, Texas author Miles has a great eye for colorful detail, and a lot of it is fascinating, such as that a former colonel of a volunteer New York regiment in the American Civil War almost was executed with Maximilian, until the colonel's resourceful wife talked Juarez into sparing him. It beats the dry histories, while being a respectable, well-footnoted history in itself, and with a nice bibliography for further exploration. Except for a few typos, a misleading blurb on the back cover, and some needless repetition, this is a great read.

Award-winning radio journalist Donald W. Miles presents Cinco de Mayo: What Is Everybody Celebrating?, a historical account of the events that sparked the annual Cinco de Mayo holiday in Mexico. Nearly 150 years ago, when the emperor of France ordered his generals to take over Mexico and use it as a "base" to help the Confederates in the American Civil War against the Union Army, Mexico fought back. On May 5th, 1862, Mexico won a decisive battle against French forces, preserving its independence and preventing foreign interference in the American Civil War, yet it would take Mexico another five years to expel the last of the French soldiers from its borders. Cinco de Mayo chronicles the war between Mexico and France in plain terms, accessible to readers of all backgrounds; notes and an index round out this excellent historical primer especially recommended for public library collections.

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (4/07)

I must admit I had no clue what the celebrations for Cinco de Mayo (May 5) were all about before I read this book. Miles provided an insightful and intuitive book that concentrated mainly on the French and Mexican forces. He also effectively included the ways in which the Civil War that was simultaneously occurring in the United States affected the events of the war in Mexico. It truly made me wonder how history might have turned out differently if the United States had been able to intervene more on Mexico's behalf.

Interestingly, the accounts of this war from France's point of view are similar to what many believe is occurring today in Iraq. As stated on page 81, "the government was concealing the real purposes for going to war, the invading army was led to believe they would be welcomed as liberators" and "there was no plan to deal with the responsibilities after a military victory." He also effectively showed how the U. S. Civil War influenced the war in Mexico."

I appreciated the inclusion of an epilogue that told what happened to many of the major players after the war ended. I enjoy finding out about people's fate after their roles in historical events are lessened with time. For me it provides an end to what would otherwise seem to be an unfinished story.

I think it would be interesting to see this same chain of events written from the French army's point of view for comparison. For me it provided an understanding that there were health issues and food issues involved but I would think the army of a world power would have been more prepared and more successful, especially since other nations did not offer help to the Mexican armed forces.

"Cinco de Mayo" is a comprehensive account of the war between Mexico and France and the role played by the United States. Through the use of vivid descriptions at times I felt I could picture the scenes and see the carnage. This book is an excellent portrayal of the events of May 5, offering immense insight into what happened both before and during the fighting. While not the turning point of the war, the Battle of Puebla inspired the Mexican forces to persevere and accomplish their mission."

... very readable ... story on the French intervention in Mexico ... great usefulness to readers who want to want to know how ... Cinco de Mayo fits into the ... struggle to keep Mexico from becoming a European colony. [Don Miles] brings out many human and colorful aspects ... often lost in traditionally technical histories. His intimate knowledge of the Mexican culture is reflected in all that he writes.
--Dr. Robert Pierce, Professor Emeritus, Journalism & Communications, University of Florida

Mexico attack the US!?!?!? Terry Money's imagination makes it plausible as a radical Mexican faction turns a secret US weapon against its designers. Some tongue-in-cheek humor (VP Dick Cheney with alzheimer's) and a small, efficient group of US agents turn the tide when Mexico holds the Southwestern US hostage.

Mamas, let the kiddoes read this one. Nary a foul word nor a sexual context to be found. Just a good yarn with one more warning about the a lack of focus on protecting our borders.

Fantastic book! Hard to find a subject today that has not already been done but somehow the author did! It's one of those books that's hard to put down once you get going! Fantastic book!

In "Bane of Cinco de Mayo," Author Mitchell provides a third view of the CIA and how it does business. (His two earlier works, "The ProCon Conspiracy" and "The Pro Patria Project" also dealt with the CIA and its crime-fighting techniques). In "...Cinco de Mayo" the hero, Jesus Garcia aka WC-99, becomes an operative the hard way and moves up fast. After succeeding on several "black missions" out of CIA Headquarters in Langley, he gets transferred to the West Coast to be closer to his ailing father. He becomes disgruntled by what he perceives as xenophobia and ethnic bias, and decides to get even. Pursued by a Latina ex-lover who wants him dead because he dumped her for an Anglo beauty, Agent Garcia becomes a killing machine. Fed up with the system and its hypocrisy, he turns into a wet rogue agent and metes out justice in his own way. He uses his special skills to assassinate a Colombian drug lord, apprehend and eliminate international terrorists, and serve as a bodyguard for a governor whom he later decides to murder. The author cleverly weaves intriguing subplots into the main theme to keep the reader rooting for heroes who turn into villains, and vice-versa. The third of Mitchell's novels published in 2000, "...Cinco de Mayo" is an excellent depiction of what is possible from the men and women who serve in one of this nation's most furtive, controversial institutions. Hopefully, the ultimate motion picture will do the book justice.

I think people should really read this book to find out why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I also never knew that Mexico and the United States worked together in history. The pictures are great!

"Cinco de Mayo" is a masterpiece of literature, the great American novel. Nothing else Gnojewski has written is even in the water with it. Steibeck can't touch it, and no giant's shoulders would let Faulkner wade near it. Gnojewski invokes Hegel, Ibsen, and Kierkegaard to explain novel concepts, i.e "Jomo Kenyatta rhymes with pinata", "...did you know that the Pueblans made beefalo jerky, too, just like our own Plains Indians?", and "Benito Juarez was a skilled helicopter pilot who also invented the water balloon." Just think ---- If the French had won, we'd be eating frog legs with our tacos! Kudos to you, authoress Gnojewski. You done good!

"Una valiosa lección de historia que debieran aprender los historiadores de partido, casta incorregible de destructores de la verdad. Es, ade más, un servicio a México, porque se esfuerza por entender posiciones y personajes protagónicos y por sintetizar en vez de proscribir." (Efraín González Luna)

"El esfuerzo de investigacion que revela esta obra es excelente; pero es sobre todo valiosa para mí su afirmación de la historia verdadera contra la mentira que asfixia a México. " (Manuel Gómez Morín)

"Con la obra de Fuentes Mares caen todos los mitos que acerca de aquel personaje de nuestra historia se habían erigido. Benito Juárez, puede decirse, ha empezado a morir como héroe, como hito en la historia de México." (Rubén Salazar Mallén)

I grew up reading Argentina Palacios' books and I can't believe I'm the first person to review this one, probably her masterpiece (although she is young still, and I wouldn't put it past her to write another good one). Palacios is the Panamanian-born New York based author of several children's books and she has always done a fine job re-telling the legends and folk tales of the indigenous people of Peru, Latin America, Central America, even the Spanish speaking people of the West Indies; and she has often provided for the children of those lands up todate and accurate translations of the beloved US children's writers (like Beverly Cleary).

VIVA MEXICO is a little diofferent for her, but it just goes to show you, a talented writer doesn't have to depend on re-telling the same old folk tales. This book is a remarkable book of history--with no talking animals here--and it just "happens" to be written for kids, with cute illustrations in bright, primary colors, and it tells the story of Benito Juarez, a boy from the Zapotec Indian tribe who grew up the lowest of the low and yet somehow found it within himself to climb and scratch his way to the Presidential Palace of Mexico City and sit on its throne there.

Life wasn't all peaches and cream for Juarez, for he had to fight one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on this continent, the so-called Battle of Puebla. It so happens that this battle took place on May 5--in Spanish we say, "Cinco de Mayo" and school children and patriotic adults celebrate it everywhere we honor the spirit of a free Mexico.

It's funny hearing the explanation of phrases you've heard your whole life long and never understood the meaning of, and that's why we are so grateful to author Palacios.

By the way, this book, like the AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X, was edited by the great Alex (ROOTS) Haley. Maybe one of these days Sra. Palacios will drop her cloak of silence and pen an autobiography of her own, revealing among other things what it was like to work with Alex Haley while creating her own masterpiece. Here's hoping!

I've been looking for descriptions of festivities from the Latin American world for a long time. And it's not easy ! Too often it's assumed that everyone knows whar Cinco de Mayo is all abour, but it's all mysterious and novel in my part of the world.

Thank you very much Valerie Menard for your excellent resource

Its really great you can learn about the different celebrations of the Latino culture. You'll also find some traditional recipes, and other little fact we might have never bothered to learn from our parents. Its a nice and easy read. Its a great book for us latinos who want to know more about our traditions and or those who are interested in our culture. Everyone Latino and NON alike should go out and get this book its a great reference guide into the Latino culture, celebrations, and traditions.

When my sister-in-law was planning to get married, I wanted to get her a gift that she could keep and refer to throughout her future. We come from a large Hispanic family, so when I saw this book I was impressed. It made a cute gift and she was really excited to have gotten it. It goes thru all the different Mexican-themed holidays, offering history and ways to celebrate. Once she has kids, I know they will like it too!

There are not a lot of comprehensive books on Latin American Holidays (many on individual holidays, but few books that offer a solid description of multiple holidays). This book, though it focuses exclusively on the holidays and how they are celebrated in the United States, does manage to describe a number of holidays, and best of all, gives lots of ideas for activities (whether its recipes, or children's activity, or websites to visit for more information) that would work just as well in a classroom or in your own home, whether you hope to resurrect your own families' traditions, or create new traditions of your own. The layout is lovely, and the information is fairly complete, giving historical descriptions as well as descriptions of the traditions associated with the holiday. I highly recommend this book. Also note that the book is available in Spanish, under the title (I believe) _Tradiciones_.

There is a necessity for a book like this, although this book could have done a more even job of filling the need. A resource on some of the latino holiday/celebrations, slanted towards how they are celebrated in the U.S., this is can be a helpful resource.
The down side is not all the celbrations are covered that you would expect; practically nothing about how Carneval (Mardi Gras) is celebrated in Latin America itself, only a mention of the Miami, Florida festivity. And there is absolutely no mention of Semana Santa, the week before Easter. On the other hand, a good job of describing the difference between Cinco de Mayo and the real Mexican Independence day in September; as well as receipes and insights that give the book a light-hearted feel. If you are looking for information on a specific holiday, this good be a good resource or a complete blank: If you are looking to find out more about Lation culture, this will be helpful. This is not a travel resource to prepare so much for visiting Latin America during festivals, meant more for understanding the celebrations here in the States, how they are celebrated, why, and their origins.

There are 23 pages of actual information, that cover such topics as: Fiestas & Festivals, The People, Benito Juarez, The Battle of Pueblo (what Cinco de Mayo celebrates), Costumes, Music, Dances, Parades & Parties, Food, and directions to make a "Farolito" (a decorated paper bag you put sand & a flashlite in for the evening celebrations). They list that this book is for kids 9-12. However with it's simplistic writing and the colorful pictures, it could also be used to "read to" younger children.

The text is dry and impersonal; it is a string of facts versus a story. I found it most useful for understanding the history of the celebration of Cinco de Mayo but wished it offered more entertainment value. The many (though small) photos enhance the book. The best images are of the various costumes and traditional dress worn in parades and performances.