I SEE THE SUN IN MEXICO Selected as a ForeWord Book of the Year Finalist

"I See the Sun in Mexico/Veo el Sol en México," the fifth book in the award-winning I See the Sun in. . . . series has been named a finalist in ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Awards established to bring increased attention to independent publishers and their authors. Finalists are chosen based on editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, author credentials relative to the book, and the value the book adds to its genre. ForeWord rewards titles that expand a reader's world, introduce a voice society needs to hear, offer practical knowledge where none existed before, or simply entertain so compellingly that all distractions fall away. With "I See The Sun in Mexico/Veo el Sol en Mexico", author Dedie King and illustrator Judith Inglese have once again combined their talents to offer a unique perspective for young readers that is simply not available anywhere else!

The story takes place in the city of La Paz, on the Sea of Cortez. Lush illustrations and a bilingual story in English and Spanish offer young Luis's view of his beautiful country. Like the other books in the I See the Sun in... series published by Satya House, "I See the Sun in Mexico" was first written in English, then translated into Spanish by native, Julio Ortiz Manzo. It is richly illustrated with collages made from original photographs and colorful drawings. It also includes an overview of the country, a glossary of unfamiliar words, and a map that highlights where Mexico is on the globe.

"The basic theme is that no matter where we live, we share this wonderful planet and we all need and see the same sun," says King. "Our hope is that readers will recognize the commonality of family, mealtimes, school, friends and chores, yet also be intrigued by the cultural differences."

"Both Dedie and I have lived in other countries. We hope that by depicting a child's experience in a country we can show the essential humanity of each culture," adds illustrator Inglese. "It's an age-appropriate introduction to life in other countries."

The I See the Sun in... series includes:

• I See the Sun in China (Learning Magazine's 2011 Teacher's Choice Award for the Family)
• I See the Sun in Nepal
• I See the Sun in Afghanistan (also a finalist in the Children's Picture Book category for ForeWord's Book of the Year Awards in 2012)
• I See the Sun in Russia.

The next title in this unique series will be "I See the Sun in Myanmar/Burma" (June 2013), followed by "I See the Sun in India" (Fall 2013).

Each book in the series focuses on one country and one day in the life of one child with a story told from the child's perspective, providing a unique introduction to the culture, family life and language of one particular country in a way that is age-appropriate (5+) and sensitive to the true environment.

Dedie and Judith also offer innovative presentations at schools, libraries and other groups. These can be for individual classes or larger assemblies. Some schools that have hosted them are The Little Red Schoolhouse in NYC, and The Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, PA and the ESL class at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot School in Dorchester, MA. A grant from the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust helped to support a presentation at the Leverett (MA) Elementary School, which spawned an "I See the Sun" all school art show and music performance. Their presentations enhance multicultural studies and student book making projects. The series can be an inspiration for children to think about their own lives in a different way and their connection to the larger world, prompting them to lead their own creative projects in the future.

For more information, visit http://www.satyahouse.com.

About the Author: Dedie King was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal. During her two years there, she also travelled in other parts of Asia including India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. She holds a MEd and besides teaching in the Peace Corps, has taught elementary school and children with learning disabilities. Dedie has practiced Chinese medicine for 28 years. Her Taoist acupuncture practice and ten years of farming experience have heightened her awareness of how nature and environment affect our well-being and outlook.

About the Illustrator: Judith Inglese designs and fabricates ceramic tile murals in public venues as a way to share art that both personalizes a space and creates community for all to enjoy. Her commissions include libraries, schools, hospitals and institutional buildings like the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Her murals often focus on the play and imagination of children as well as cross-cultural exchange and community. The I See the Sun in... series has given her another medium for examining these themes and celebrating children around the world.

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