Amadito and Spider Woman

I liked this book very much as it focuses on the sterling values of strength, character and wisdom. The book offers a charming and intriguing story with beautiful illustrations that would hold a child's attention, yet create a lasting impression about the importance of making the right choices. Every Grandmother who reads this book will want to purchase it for her grandchildren because it teaches about making choices, and how the inner strength and wisdom of adults is sensed and felt by even the youngest of children. Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections

First of all, I love the name Lisa Bear Goldman. Reminds of my old friend Snowflake Rosen (remind me to tell you the story behind her nickname). This is a tale of Amadito, a young Native American child who is mocked by his classmates. His mother tries to say the right thing, but is a little busy, maybe overwhelmed, perhaps a touch emotionally tone deaf. Diego, his older brother, gives him the typical older-male, macho advice, retaliation: "Thos kids are bullies. You have to get mad and let them know you can't push them around." Which is part of the solution but only works if you can pull it off. But Amadito tries to "feel the anger" and cultivate his aggression. But it wasn't any authentic response for him and "that sad, heavy feeling still found a home in his heart." His father also counsels him that "you have to be tough sometimes." Amadito interprets- probably correctly- this to mean building "a strong wall around my heart," repressing those true feelings so that you can survive from moment to moment with a minimum of discomfort. It is his Nana, the Spider Woman, who finally shares some helpful wisdom: "Fear is your own creation" she says, much like Ghandi rallying the masses against the Empire. "When one looks into the nature of a thing, fear usually disappears. It is also true that if there is peace within one's heart, fear can find no resting place inside us." Easier said than done of course, but a nice introduction into mindfulness training. Nana looks around in the animal kingdom for examples of maladaptive coping strategies. The ants are the overachievers, too busy to process their pain. The cactus, with its sharp needles, is like the person who channels their pain into anger and bitterness. The clumsy tortoise ambles by, on cue, to remind Nana of "people who build a strong protection around their hearts just as the tortoise has his shell." Bottom line, be aware of your feelings. Be mindful of how your emotions inform your beliefs and actions, and vice versa. How does one do this: "Look at the small things and then look at the whole world." Ok, Nana might have lost me there a little, but there are many ways for trying to nurture a calm, tranquil feeling inside you, and Nana's is remarkably efficacious for young Amadito. All in all, a very nice kid's book. Probably an even better grown-up's book. I wouldn't push it, just read it and see how the kid's respond, and choose your level of depth based on them and not your own baggage. If the psychotherapeutic angle is over their heads, that might be fine for the time being. You've planted a seed. That's good for now. The story can also serve as a springboard for discussions on nature, culture, metaphysics, and family.

Lisa Goldman and Amado Peña Jr. have crafted a winner in "Amadito and Spider Woman."This book was picked as one of the best children's book on the Southwest Books of the Year list by the Tucson-Pima Public Library. It should be in every elementary school library in the country, every guidance counselor should have one on the shelf, and every grandmother and grandfather should pick up a copy to read to their grandkids.In this thoughtful tale written by Goldman, a young boy seeks advice from family members after being bullied at school. His grandmother eventually provides the answers. She uses parables about the Southwestern Desert to provide the insights that young Amadito needs, and Amadito learns about the wisdom accrued by his elders.Fans of Peña works will love this book. His distinctive style blends in lovely with Goldman's prose.Peña told the Tucson Citizen newspaper that it took him nearly four years to do the drawings because he had to follow the story line, that it "took longer to conceptualize than it took to paint it.''Let's hope there are more Goldman-Peña efforts to come, and soon.