Book of the Day: The Story of Colors

The Story of Colors
La Historia de los Colores
Author:  Subcomandante Marcos
Illustrator:  Domitila Dominguez
Cinco Puntos Press 1996

While perusing my sisters book shelves, I stumbled upon several copies of this book.   The first thing that caught my eye was the stunning pictures--bright splashes of paint, almost looking like ancient wall art, very textured and rich. I got excited to share this with Mirette.  The illustrator Domitila Dominguez is an indigenous artist from Mexico with no formal training.

http://www.cincopuntos.com/artists_detail.sstg?id=44

Example of artwork:
 http://www.tallerlatino.org/GalleryArchive/ExhibitsPrevious.php  (scroll down until you see her name)

The second thing I noticed is that the book was written by Subcomandante Marcos. What.   Hmmm?  How interesting.   "Isn't he a revolutionary guy, not a children's book author?"  Look at these photos of him:
https://www.google.com/search?q=subcomandante+Marcos&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSNA_enUS392US392&prmd=imvnsob&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=UTnVTqnAF8qTiQKuxtzFDg&ved=0CD8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=552

Does this look like the kind-of guy who sits around and writes kids books?  Well, yes, in addition to being a mask-wearing, pipe-puffing revolutionary, it seems he used to be a philosophy professor and wants to bring the folklore and struggles of the indigenous peoples of Chiapas to light.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1214676.stm

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/10/19-7

I asked my sister why she had several copies of this book hanging out and she told me that a theater troupe she works with was going to use the book.   http://www.stridinglion.org/About.html

At last, I sat down to read this book to Mirette, very excited to see what Subcomante Marcos wanted to tell the people.   First line (both in English and Spanish),   "I light my pipe and after three ceremonial puffs, I begin to tell you. . .and then later, "He catches his breath while he rolls another cigarette." 

Okay, come on, what modern American story talks of cigarette smoking? Isn't that a taboo subject these days?   I'm already getting into the revolutionary vibe.  But better yet, a few pages later:   "And the men and women they were making love which is a nice way to become tired and then go to sleep."  

In all the books I've read to Mirette there's never been a sentence devoted to the wonderful act of making love.   And I started to wonder why not?  Perhaps that is why children giggle about sex.  Why can't we just talk about it as the beautiful, amazing, sleep-inducing thing that it is.   He's right, drifting off into sleep after making love is one of the most delicious of human experiences.

But admittedly, there was another prudish part of me that wanted to put the book down, fearing that I'd be exposing my child to evil things--cigarette smoke, love-making--things she should not know about right now.   She's only 2 and a half.  

This made me reflect upon children's literature.  What do we want our children to know or not know?  How do our books reflect the mores of our culture?    I decided to share this book because I've been thinking about it ever since--the hidden culture of our storybooks.   In the end, I decided that reading to my kid a book where cigarette' and love-making make an appearance is not going to turn her into a rebellious teenager in a few years.   I want to expose her to all kinds of things and as long as there is a feeling of safety, I think it's okay to experience many different cultural ways, styles of writing, and forms that are unfamiliar to us here in the USA.

And if you can get past all that, it's a lovely book with a charm all its own.