oyalty perseverance respect responsibility teamwork · pdf file · 2014-03-19oyalty...

Commitment Compassion Courage Determinationirness Friendship Generosity Honesty Kindness Loyalty oyalty Perseverance Respect Responsibility Teamwork amwork Tolerance Commitment Compassion Courage ermination Fairness Friendship Generosity Honestyttndness Loyalty Perseverance Respect Responsibility y ility Teamwork Commitment Compassion Courage

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ISBN 978-0-7406-3562-5

MEXICO COLLECTION

Mexico

TheMariachi Kid

Mexico

THE M

AR

IAC

HI K

ID

Maureen is the Mariachi Kid. She shows an amazing determination to be a great mariachi singer. She loves keeping the traditions of Mexican music alive!

Written by Janine ScottPhotography by Jennifer and Brian LuptonETA 404041

mexico2 trio covers.indd 1mexico2 trio covers.indd 1 2/12/07 12:03:16 PM2/12/07 12:03:16 PM

The Mariachi Kid

Written by Janine Scott Photography by Jennifer and Brian Lupton

The Mariachi Kid_US 11-66 2/12/07 11:27 AM Page 1

ContentsThe Mariachi Kid 4

Explore Mexico 14

Historic Mexico 16

Family Time 18

Fiesta Fun 20

Mexican Art 22

What Do You Think? 24

Index 24

determination a drive to succeed

Maureen has a great deal of determination for a youngsinger. She belongs to amariachi band. Like manychildren in the United States,Maureen keeps the culture and traditions of her family’sMexican past alive through her music.

Mexico


4

mariachi a Mexican folk band and the music they play

Maureen’s dog is named Archie, which is short for mariachi.

Did You Know?

Everyone has a special talent.

What are you good at doing?

5

In the old days, mariachis werestreet singers who strolledfrom village to village. Somepeople believe that the wordmariachi first came from theFrench word mariage, whichmeans “marriage.” This isbecause mariachi bands werehired to play at the weddings ofFrench soldiers. Other peoplebelieve that the word comesfrom the name of the woodused to make dance platforms.Some people believe it comesfrom the name María.

The Mariachi KidThe Mariachi Kid’s real name is Maureen Sanchez.Maureen has a special talent. She is a very goodsinger. She has been singing mariachi music sinceshe was five years old. Maureen now sings mariachisongs in a mariachi band. She is a little singer with a very big voice!

The Mariachi Kid_US 11-66 2/12/07 11:27 AM

6 7

Maureen dresses up before she sings. Sometimes she wears a traditional costume. It has a jacket and a long skirt with gold decorations. Sometimes she wears a beautiful purple dress. It has Mexicandancers and guitars on it.

tradition an old and special way of doing things

The costumes of mariachimusicians are like thecostumes of charros, whoare Mexican horsemen.The men in mariachibands sometimes wearcowboy boots and hatswith wide brims.


8 9

Maureen performs at mariachi festivals. Bands fromall over Mexico and the United States come to playand sing in the festivals. It is a good way to keepMexican culture and traditions alive.

Maureen is famous in the mariachi world. She is one of the youngest singers. Maureen has won many awards. Sometimes she even wins when she competes against adult singers!

Maureen’s grandmother is an excellent singer. She has won a singing contest on television. She inspired Maureen to sing. Who in your family inspires you?


10 11

Maureen goes to singing school for voice lessons. She went to her first singing school when she was five years old. Her teacher is a famous mariachisinger. Maureen spends many hours a day practicing. She is determined to be one of the best singers in the mariachi world.

1. Paint two plastic bottles with bright colorsand designs.Allow them to dry.

2. Put a little dry rice in the bottlesand then put on the caps.

3. Play some music andshake your maracas to the rhythm of the music!

Make Mexican Maracas

Maureen’s singing teacher is Heriberto Molina. He hasperformed mariachi songs for many important people,including the King and Queenof Spain and the Queen of England.

Maracas are traditional rhythminstruments.


12 13

Maureen has recorded two CDs. King Clave,a famous musician from Argentina, wrote the songs for Maureen’s first CD.When Maureen records, she sings the songsover and over until she gets them right. It can take up to two hours to record just one song!

Maureen made her first CD

when she was eight years old.


MEXICO

15

PACIFICOCEAN

Gulf of Mexico

BELIZE

GUATEMALA

14

Explore MexicoMexico is the northernmost country in LatinAmerica. It borders the United States. The borderthat separates Mexico and the United States ismostly formed by a large river, the Rio Grande. The south of Mexico borders Belize and Guatemala.

The capital of Mexico is Mexico City. It is one of the largest cities in the world. The people of Mexico speak mainly Spanish.

What day is a special familyday in Mexico?

Go to Page 18

What special festival is held on December 23 in Oaxaca?

Go to Page 21

What metal is mined inMexico and used to makejewelry?

Go to Page 23

On the Go!

U.S.A.

Mexico City

Mexico City has been the capital of Mexicosince 1821, when Mexicobecame independent from Spain.

RioGrande


16 17

ruins the remains of things built long ago

Historic MexicoMexico is filled with history. Mexicans are proud of their cultural past. Many museums, churches, and ruins can be found in and around cities andtowns. Just a short drive from Mexico City lie ruinsof the great Aztec civilization. Thousands of yearsago, the Aztecs built pyramids, which people stillclimb today.

This Aztec ruin is called the Pyramid of the Moon.Many tourists come each year to explore it.


18

Family TimeFamily life is important in Mexico. Sunday is a special family day. Families often go for lunch at a restaurant where they can hear a mariachi band play.

Another important tradition is the afternoon rest, or siesta. This break is during the hottest part of the day. It can be a good time for the whole family to rest after sharing a middaymeal together.

Burritos

Tacos

Tostadas

19

Piñatas are often popular at family birthday parties.The children are blindfolded and try to break open the piñata, which is filled with treats.

maize corn that is light yellowor slightly orange

Have You Tried These?

These dishes are served in Mexicanrestaurants all around the world.They are made from tortillas.A tortilla is a flat bread made of maize or flour.


20

Fiesta FunAt fiestas and on other special occasions, peopleoften wear traditional clothing. Long ago, peoplestarted wearing these clothes for a practicalpurpose. Mexico is mainly a hot country, so peoplewore wide brim hats to protect their faces from thesun. They also wore white clothes, which kept themcool by reflecting the sun’s heat.

The Radish Festival

The Night of the Radishes, or La Noche de Rábanos, is an event held in the plaza of Oaxaca onDecember 23. People from all overMexico come to watch as radishes are carved into figures and scenes.

Fiestas are colorful and noisy occasions. Sometimes people set offfireworks and ring bells.There is always music and dancing. Some festivals even have rodeos.

The radish festival has taken placesince 1897. It started when localfarmers gathered in the square to selltheir vegetables.To attract customers,they carved radish figures.

21

The Mexican people fought long and hard for freedom.Theycelebrate Independence Day with colorful fiestas, or festivals.


22 23

Some areas of Mexico are well knownfor the handicrafts that they produce. In some areas, people specialize inweaving. In other areas, they makepottery. Silver is mined in Mexico and is used to produce jewelry and otherbeautiful items.

mosaic a pattern or a picture made from pieces of glass, tile, or stone

What traditional art is popular

in your country or state?

The sun and the moonare often featured in Mexican pottery.

A Diego Rivera mural

Mexican ArtMexicans have made beautiful handicrafts forhundreds of years. Today, Mexico is famous for its brightly colored pottery, painting, mosaics, andother crafts. It has produced many famous artists,such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.


24

What Do You Think?1 Siesta is a custom in much of

Mexico. What other customsdoes Mexico have?

2 What skills would someone need to be a mariachi singer?

Indexart 22–23cities 14–15, 16clothes 6, 20 families 18fiestas 20–21food 18–19history 16maracas 11music 4–6, 8–13, 18, 21

Why is determinationimportant if you want

to become good at something?


oyalty perseverance respect responsibility teamwork · pdf file · 2014-03-19oyalty...

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