Mitsumasa Anno Anno's Spain

Annotation

Grade 2-8–Detailed pen and ink and watercolors illustrate this wordless travelogue. Anno's aerial tour of Spanish landscapes and townscapes is timeless: along with sightings of 20th-century architectural and artistic icons (Sagrada Familia, Guernica, etc.) there are also scenes of 15th-century ships at sea, olive harvesting, country fairs and religious processions, and the running of the bulls at Pamplona. Throughout, there are nods to Spain's literary, artistic, and cultural heritage. Close observers will catch glimpses of Don Quixote and his corpulent companion, a melting clock à la Dalí, flamenco dancers, and Barcelona's human pyramid. Tableaus (of Las Meninas, scenes from Carmen) add whimsy, while the inclusion of the Alhambra and a Roman aqueduct pay tribute to the country's history. While suitable for picture collections, this title would also be a great addition to Spanish-language classrooms.