cover image Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale

Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale

Laurie Krebs, , illus. by Aurélia Fronty. . Barefoot, $16.99 (32pp) ISBN 978-1-84686-203-8

Peruvian children in colorful native garb make their way to a winter solstice celebration in this glowingly illustrated book. Krebs's (We All Went on Safari ) rhyming couplets build anticipation as each of six young travelers uses different means of transport (bus, pack animal, etc.) to arrive at the ancient Incan festival of Inti Raymi, honoring the Sun God. The verses set a predictable cadence, although place names won't trip easily off American tongues, e.g., “On Arequippa's crowded train,/ Consuela finds a seat,/ A sack of multicolored corn/ Is tucked between her feet.” Fronty's (One City, Two Brothers ) paintings, in a warm, vibrant palette, are contemporary in their compositions but recall folk art in their flat planes and use of patterns. Tile roofs, costumes and the sun's rays incorporate repeated geometric motifs. Meaty endnotes highlight Peru's history, geography and people. Ages 4–10. (Oct.)