The OLL will host a free book and author talk on Wednesday. July 5, at 5:00 pm on the library terrace. Cindy Weill and several guest artisans will talk about the process of story and art in their creations using the artisanal works of Oaxaca. This is a biligual program and families and children most welcome.

"My books use folk arts from around the world to illustrate basic concepts for children. The current series employs handicrafts commissioned from artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico to teach children the alphabet, opposites, colors, numbers, jobs, animal sounds and modes of transport in Spanish and English.

It can take two to four years to create the artwork for each book.  Each piece is hand made by artisanal families living in rural areas of the country. "

Cindy Weill has worked as an educator, in humanitarian assistance and is trained as an art historian.  She became fascinated with Mexican Folk Arts more than 30 years ago when she lived in Mexico City as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange. Her later doctoral work focused on  the Aguilar sister of Ocotlán, Mexico.  As part of the dissertation process, she and the sisters developed the children's book Count Me In! Cindy has published 8 books in the First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art series (Lee and Low)  including ABeCedarios, Opuestos, Colores de la Vida, Count Me In!,  Animal Talk, Mi Familia Calaca, Let's Work and Vámonos. You can read more at cynthiaweill.net.