Opuestos: Mexican Folk Art Opposites in English and Spanish (review)

This triple-faceted gem shines as a concept book, a bilingual vocabulary primer, and an appealing introduction to Oaxacan folk art. Each double-page spread features a plain background with a bright paint-on-plaster texture and a narrow stenciled geometric border, against which cut-out photos of the featured objects appear; the English and Spanish words for each set of opposites are positioned near the bottom of the page. Taking center stage is one or more animalito, a stylized animal figure of carved and painted jacaranda wood, handmade by members of the Santiago family of artisans. The carvings are individual delights, and their juxtaposition is not only effective in demonstrating the opposite but often also in evoking a grin or a chuckle. The deadpan hounds that sit facing each other across the gutter seem at first glance to be identical, but “long/larga—short/corta” is evidenced by their respective tails. “Open/abiertos—closed/cerrados” is enacted by a pair of bright yellow tigers, one with jaws gaping and fangs looming and eyes blazing, the other with the tight-lipped, closed-eyes smile of a cat that’s just polished off a most satisfying dinner. An extra bit of thoughtfulness even extends to the positioning of the cats in “left/izquierda—right/derecha,” where not only do the kitties sit to the relevant side of the page, the direction of their turned-head glances continue the movement. A photograph of Weill and the artists appears at the book’s end, and it seems evident from their broad smiles that they enjoyed producing this title as much as children will enjoy perusing it.