[review] Tierra, Tierrita/Earth, Little Earth/Tal, Talchin by Jorge Argueta and Felipe Ugalde Alcántara

~ jama

She is the oldest and most beautiful mother of all the elders. At once gentle and powerful, she is mountain, seed, cornfield, flower. Mother Earth. She is all and everything; she is life itself.

In Tierra, Tierrita/Earth, Little Earth (Piñata Books, 2023), Mother Earth introduces herself, detailing her expanse, majesty, and ongoing evolution. The fourth title in Argueta and Alcántara’s award-winning trilingual Madre Tierra/Mother Earth series about the natural world, it follows Agua, Agüita/Water, Little Water; Fuego/Fueguito/Fire, Little Fire; and Viento, Vientito/Wind, Little Wind. All four books illustrate the interconnectedness of all living things and express a deep reverence for our precious planet.

Mi nombre es Tierra
pero todos me conocen por Tierrita.

Yo soy la Madre Tierra
Ilena de todos los colores
y de todos los sabores.

*

My name is Earth
but people call me Little Earth.

I am Mother Earth
full of all the colors
and all the flavors.

Encompassing north, south, east and west, she is the Mother of Water, Fire, and Wind. Though others may call her “planet,” “nature,” or “creation,” she most likes “Mother Earth, Little Earth.” Spinning around the sun since time immemorial, she sings of flora and fauna, and is “the tiniest insect, the juiciest fruit, the most delicious greens you’ve ever tasted.”

Soy la Madre Tierra.

Mi canto es el canto
de todos los animales,
de todos los árboles
y plantas, frutos, hierbas y verduras.

*

I am Mother Earth.

My song is the song
of all the animals,
of all the trees
and the plants, fruits, herbs and vegetables.

Mother Earth is the source of life-giving waters. All the rivers are born within her; she holds the seas in her hands. And we know her many wonders through our senses, whether dew, snow, heat or storm. She is mineral, she dances, she is busy “giving birth at every moment.”

Argueta’s prayerful homage is profound and powerful. Reading his spare lyrical verse, with the repetition of “I am Mother Earth,” feels like being held in a mother’s strong and loving embrace. The use of “Little” as part of the moniker for Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth is endearing, but there’s also a degree of inherent humility there. One small planet, so many wonders, yet where does Earth figure in the greater scheme of things?

Soy la Madre Tierra.

De mis entrañas nacen
todos los ríos.
En mis manos
sostengo el mar.

*

I am Mother Earth.

Within me are born 
all the rivers.
In my hands
I hold the seas.

Alcántara’s lush panoramic paintings showcase some of Mother Earth’s breathtaking landscapes from mountain to shore, forest to field. We are reminded of nature’s abundance in the different habitats supporting all manner of wildlife. From tumbling waterfalls to snow-capped mountains to sultry savannas and cool riverbeds, this is the beautiful planet we inhabit. We have been given the gift of “Little Earth,” and just as she has generously taken care of us, it is imperative that we become her devoted stewards.

Argueta’s simple, friendly language in Tierra, Tierrita/Earth, Little Earth is wholly accessible to children, who will delight in Mother Earth’s joy in describing who and what she is. On a deeper level, older readers may tune into the text’s spiritual subtext — the belief that Mother Earth is sacred and strong, a force who’s been revered and held in awe since ancient times. In addition to the Spanish and English text on each page, the entire poem is featured at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors.

The entire Madre Tierra/Mother Earth series is great for sparking conversations about the environment and conservation. It’s also a good choice for language studies, and for those who like books blending poetry with science. It goes without saying that after reading these books, kids may be inspired to write their own poems about nature. I always enjoy reading Argueta’s books aloud in both Spanish and English for their sheer musicality, and find his deep love of Mother Earth, with its divine implications, both genuine and moving.

*

TIERRA, TIERRITA/EARTH, LITTLE EARTH/TAL, TACHIN
written by Jorge Argueta
illustrated by Felipe Ugalde Alcántara
translated into English by Elizabeth Bell
published by Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, May 2023
Trilingual Poetry Picture Book for ages 4-7, 32 pp.
*Junior Library Guild Selection
**Winner of the Salinas de Alba Award for Latino Children’s Literature
***On shelves May 31, 2023

Amazon
Bookshop
Arte Público Press

♥️ Other books in this series reviewed at Alphabet Soup:

Agua, Agüita/Water, Little Water

Viento, Vientito/Wind, Little Wind

*

The lovely and talented Patricia Franz is hosting the Roundup at her blog Reverie. Be sure to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere this week. Have a nice weekend. 🙂

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2023 Jorge Argueta, illustrations © 2023 Felipe Ugalde Alcántara, published by Piñata Books. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2023 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

30 thoughts on “[review] Tierra, Tierrita/Earth, Little Earth/Tal, Talchin by Jorge Argueta and Felipe Ugalde Alcántara”

  2. Thank you for introducing me to these books! I’m reserving them in 3,2,1,NOW!

    And in your description, I hear echoes of Robin Wall Kimerer (BRAIDING SWEETGRASS): “…just as she has generously taken care of us, it is imperative that we become her devoted stewards.” Yes. And these seem like books we can use to help children fall in love with Mother Earth. And then save her.

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  3. Pingback: chronological book review archive (2008-2023) | Jama's Alphabet Soup

  4. The words feel beautiful to hear but those illustrations, Jama, wow! They are sumptuous. These are all new to me, will find them! Thank you!

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  5. Ooh, those illustrations – and I loved that I could read this both ways. I’m always pleased to find more translated children’s books and this series is really something special. How lovely! Qué especial!

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    1. I’m s-l-o-w-l-y learning some Spanish words because of Jorge’s books. Added bonus: the Nahuat translation at the back.

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  7. First step: getting people to learn more about the environment. Once they actually care, they’ll take action to help conserve and protect it.

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  8. How beautiful! The artwork, the love for Mother Earth in the lines of poetry…all so rich and impactful. I love these poems for my students!

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      1. I just went back and spent some time with the other reviews too (which I somehow missed along the way) and I’m in love with these illustrations.

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  14. This looks/sounds incredible, Jama. Thank you! I’m off to put them all on reserve! I love your thought about little Earth among all the planets. I’m used to thinking of little humans on big earth and big universe. But putting the whole planet in the little category is interesting. Makes me think…

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    1. It’s fun to think of different perspectives. Earth is big to humans, but small when you think of the entire solar system, or the universe. Still, we must take care of our terrestrial home.

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  15. Beautiful and provocative book and post, Jama – if more of us don’t appreciate our Mother Earth on this primal level, how will she survive or thrive, since we now have so much power for good or ill? Thanks for sharing, and the illustrations are dreamy.
    PS – “she is busy ‘giving birth at every moment’.” – love that!

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    1. That was one of my favorite lines too, Robyn, esp. since the artist painted a volcano to illustrate it. It’s so important to instill a sense of personal responsibility in kids, like you say, on a primal level — so they can grow up as caretakers.

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  16. Jama, thank you for the introduction to another fabulous book. I especially like the theme since Mother Earth is a place that we all need to take of. I hope your Memorial Day is full of peace.

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