Napi Goes to the Mountain
Author: Antonio Ramirez
Illustrator: Domi
Publisher: Groundwood Books
ISBN-10: 0888997132
ISBN-13: 978-0888997135
Napi is back! Antonio Ramirez brings the wonderful character Napi back along with her little brother in this new book that gives greater insight into the lives of the Mazateca Indians that live in Oaxaca. Domi’s marvelously sweeping illustrations fill the book with great washes of greens and browns that cover every inch of the page.
The story begins with Napi’s father gone missing. He’s been seen being taken away by some men “because we’ve been fighting for our land”. Napi is extremely worried and gets her brother to go with her looking for their father. They go upriver and run into various animals important in Mexican folklore and mythology. To each they ask if they have seen their father and each time the answer is no.
At one point, Napi and her brother are transformed into deer, a very important symbolism to the Mexican indigenous people. The deer is a very spiritual animal for us. The deer means a lot in Mexico. It’s a symbol on the Aztec calendar, the Yaqui Indians have a very famous deer dance, us danzante Aztecas have our prayer dance called venado, the Spanish word for deer, Jesus Helguera used a baby deer in his emotive portrayals of the legend of Iztaciahuatl and Popotepetl (Iztaciahuatl is always seen in his paintings with a fawn on her lap), and the town of Mazatlan in Mexico literally means Land of the Deer in Nahuatl. For Napi and her brother to be transformed into deer brings a heavy and spiritual meaning to the story.
For me, Napi Goes to the Mountain is a very political and deeply spiritual book. It touches on indigenous rights and the fight for land that is going on every day in Mexico. It is told through a child’s eyes and how spiritual children are and how much they see. It also tells me that children are our future and that they bring color and hope to the world. Domi’s illustrations convey the deeper emotion running beneath the text as well as the beauty of the land the indigenous people are fighting for. Both the author and illustrator manage to beautifully mix the battle for tierra y libertad with the magical spirituality of the native people and the beauty of the land. Napi Goes to the Mountain is an incredible story and highly recommended. The Spanish version, Napi va a la montana is even more beautiful as for me the Spanish language seems to add to the magic of the story.
Author: Antonio Ramirez
Illustrator: Domi
Publisher: Groundwood Books
ISBN-10: 0888997132
ISBN-13: 978-0888997135
Napi is back! Antonio Ramirez brings the wonderful character Napi back along with her little brother in this new book that gives greater insight into the lives of the Mazateca Indians that live in Oaxaca. Domi’s marvelously sweeping illustrations fill the book with great washes of greens and browns that cover every inch of the page.
The story begins with Napi’s father gone missing. He’s been seen being taken away by some men “because we’ve been fighting for our land”. Napi is extremely worried and gets her brother to go with her looking for their father. They go upriver and run into various animals important in Mexican folklore and mythology. To each they ask if they have seen their father and each time the answer is no.
At one point, Napi and her brother are transformed into deer, a very important symbolism to the Mexican indigenous people. The deer is a very spiritual animal for us. The deer means a lot in Mexico. It’s a symbol on the Aztec calendar, the Yaqui Indians have a very famous deer dance, us danzante Aztecas have our prayer dance called venado, the Spanish word for deer, Jesus Helguera used a baby deer in his emotive portrayals of the legend of Iztaciahuatl and Popotepetl (Iztaciahuatl is always seen in his paintings with a fawn on her lap), and the town of Mazatlan in Mexico literally means Land of the Deer in Nahuatl. For Napi and her brother to be transformed into deer brings a heavy and spiritual meaning to the story.
For me, Napi Goes to the Mountain is a very political and deeply spiritual book. It touches on indigenous rights and the fight for land that is going on every day in Mexico. It is told through a child’s eyes and how spiritual children are and how much they see. It also tells me that children are our future and that they bring color and hope to the world. Domi’s illustrations convey the deeper emotion running beneath the text as well as the beauty of the land the indigenous people are fighting for. Both the author and illustrator manage to beautifully mix the battle for tierra y libertad with the magical spirituality of the native people and the beauty of the land. Napi Goes to the Mountain is an incredible story and highly recommended. The Spanish version, Napi va a la montana is even more beautiful as for me the Spanish language seems to add to the magic of the story.
3 Comments on Napi Goes to the Mountain, last added: 2/21/2007
Display Comments
Add a Comment
it wouldn't be a spoiler if you revealed the outcome of the kids' quest. i know, "you'll have to read the book to find out".
Sounds great! I'd love to add it to my son's library. The illustrator, Domi, is, I assume, Domitila Dominguez, who also illustrated "Questions & Swords" and "the Story of Colors", both works by Subcomandante Marcos.
Yes, Domi is Domitila Dominguez who illustrated both those books as well as the first Napi.
Sedano, buy the book and find out or come pick up the Spanish version. I have an extra...