Abuela's Weave

by Omar CastaņedaLee & Low Books; $6.95.For ages 4 to 9.

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Young Esperanza and her grandmother sit side by side, weaving on a backstrap loom, preparing for market day. But the young girl is a worrier, anxious that her elaborate tapestry of the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya, will not sell. The happy ending emphasizes family cohesiveness and the tension created by Esperanza's concerns, both of which will engage youngsters. Abuela's Weave features accurate depictions of a Guatemalan village and a Guatemalan city. The illustrations sparkle with reds and blues, outlined in a golden glow. One particularly breathtaking illustration shows Esperanza and her grandmother weaving at night. The use of the backstrap loom, images of the bus trip, and scenes from the marketplace all evoke different, but culturally correct, images of the country.

Reviewed by Laurie R. Weaver.

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