Count Me In - by Cynthia Weill

AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER, 2012

Oaxacan dancers and musicians celebrate with a colorful parade. 

Count yourself in the fun!

COUNT ME IN

A Parade of Mexican Folk Art NUMBERS in English and Spanish

By Cynthia Weill, with ceramics by the Aguilar Sisters of Oaxaca

Practice your numbers in English and Spanish when you count the beautiful dancers, playful musicians, and happy children of Oaxaca as the Guelaguetza parade goes by! Pronounced Gal-a-get-zah, the lively celebration—full of traditional dancing and music—takes place every July deep in the heart of southern Mexico. ONE band leader with a big white balloon! DOS hombres with firecrackers! THREE musicians! FOUR giants! All exquisitely handcrafted by the Mexican folk art masters Guillermina, Josefina, Irene, and Concepción Aguilar, in collaboration with author and scholar Cynthia Weill. Bienvenidos! Welcome to the parade!

Cynthia Weill holds a doctorate in education from Teachers College Columbia University.  She is on the board of a foundation, Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art which seeks to promote and preserve the artists and artisanal work of the state.  Count Me In is her fourth book in the First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art Series.

The Aguilar sisters are Mexico’s most beloved artisans. They learned how to make clay figurines from theirmother Isaura Álcantara Diaz. These lively independent women are considered great masters of Mexican folk art and have been presented to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Sofia of Spain, various Mexican presidents and Nelson Rockefeller. Their humorous ceramics of the people of their town and state are in museum collections the world over.

The collection of parade figures from Count Me In was acquired by the Field Museum in Chicago for its permanent collection. 

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Praise for other books in the First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art Series

ABeCedarios Letters in Spanish and English. “Highly recommended...” —Críticas
Opuestos Opposites in Spanish and Enlgish. “Direct and charming.” —Publishers Weekly
Colores de la vida Colors in Spanish and English. “The sculptures are hypnotic.” —Publishers Weekly

Count Me In

ISBN 978-1-935955-39-9 hardback 

 978-1-935955-40-5 e-book

US $14.95 

24 pages / Publishes September 2012

The Aguilar sisters, from left to right, Irene, Conception, Josefina and Guillermina.

For more about the Aguilar Sisters of Oaxaca, go here!

Catrina with Frida Kahlo References