Janet Lowe

Art and Life in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

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Xaman Ha Primaria Library

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The completed Xaman Ha Primaria library, November, 2018.

My Project Leyendo ventured out on it’s own in November 2018 to build a library in the Xaman Ha elementary school in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. There was bright yellow room with east facing windows, ceiling fans and light fixtures but no shelving and no books. I made a presentation to Seaside Rotary in Playa, asking for funds to make this library possible and they came through with a significant donation with which I purchased books from bookstores in Cancun and Playa and online from Amazon.com.mx. They also helped with two tables, four benches and green paint for the wooden shelves.

 
With the help of school parents and Leyendo supporters we assembled sturdy plastic shelving units and painted wooden planks to span the distance between these. The walls needed help so everyone chipped in to paint several “Reading Trees” adorned with alphabet letters and books.

A few Rotarians showed up to help classify the books and get them in place on the awaiting shelves.  An official opening ceremony took place with just a few speeches.  And then the children poured into the library.

We were joined by Alejandra Barradas, a local mural painter, who will help with a huge mural at another library in January. She added a monkey to one of the reading trees and painted the official name on the front of the library.

Ricky Florack, one of my yoga teachers and a professional photographer, joined us for the opening and captured the joy on the kid’s faces. My favorite photos of hers is this one of a little girl leaving the library having been told the time was up.

Time to leave the library for now.

 

On to Philadelphia

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Isaiah Zagar’s mural on South Street, Philadelphia.

No trip to Philadelphia would be complete without viewing at least a dozen murals done in ceramic, mirrors and found objects by Isaiah Zagar. We had one on the front wall of our garden at our home of 30 years on South 2nd Street.

I took a red eye flight from Portland to Los Angeles and then on to Philadelphia so just needed to rest the first day at my younger son, Zack’s house in South Philly. Then met with all three kids for dinner in town and on to my daughter Dorsche’s new home in Wyncote, PA which is near Chestnut Hill. We visited with her best friend, Lindsay Roberts and daughter Simone who is almost 2 years old going on 15. The other day she asked her mother who Brett Kavanaugh was!

I took the train back into Philadelphia Sunday afternoon in order to stay with my older son Max’s dog while he is traveling with friends in Portugal and Spain. Zack lives just a few block from him so I have been treated to home cooking there. Last night was Chick Pea and Carrot Falafels with lots of beer. I came home to find the refrigerator wide open and emptied by Max’s dog, Hunter. He ate 5 pita breads, half a dozen chocolate chip cookies, half a pound of turkey breast, a package of sharp cheese and several slices of rye bread! I screamed and ranted at him but he just gave me a silly look and curled up on the foot of my bed.

So this is life so far in Philadelphia. Home next week to Mexico with plans to build another library this month. I have been gathering Spanish language children’s books  in my travels with funds provided by my Uncle Chuck and now just need to get them back home.

Books Needed for Two New Libraries

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Boys sharing a chair to read a book

With plans for more libraries this Fall Leyendo, my non-profit project in Mexico,  can always use more good Spanish language books, even lightly used ones. I have created a large Wish List that is below.  These books are all available on Amazon.com.mx.  If you would like to donate and have your Amazon purchase sent to Leyendo the address is:

Suzanne Filsinger   

Ret. Chemuyil , Cond. Morada c 106

Playacar Fase 2

Solidaridad, Quintana Roo  77710

Suzanne, my partner in Leyendo, has a man at the gate of her complex who can receive deliveries every day. Otherwise I wait at home for hours for the truck to arrive as they need a signature to leave a package. No slipping it in the screen door or tossing it over the gate in Mexico!

 

Leyendo Wish List  5/31/18

Spanish Language Children’s Book Wish List,
Available on Amazon.com.mx

Roald Dahl
  Matilda
  Las Brujas
  Charlie y la Fabrica de Chocolate
  James y el Melocoton Giagante
  Charlie y el Gran Ascensor
  La Mervavillosa Medicina de Jorge
H. A. Rey
  Jorge el Curioso El Jonron
  Jorge el Curioso y La Pinata
  All Curious George books
Pam Munoz Ryan
  El Sonador
  Yo Naomi Leon
  Esperanza Renace
  Pinta el Viento
Julia Alvarez
  Tia Lola books
  Antes de ser libres
  Devolver al Remitente
  En el Tiempo de las Maripos
Mary Pope Osborne
  La Casa de Arbol books (40 volumes)
  La Noche de las Ninjas
  Tigre Dientes de sable en el ocaso
Beverly Cleary
  Ratoncito de la moto
  Querido Senor Henshaw
  Ramona la chinche
  Ramona empieza el curso
  La Escapada de Ralph
  Charlie y el Gran Ascensor de Cristal
  The BFG
  El Superzorro
  La Marvillosoa Medicina de Jorge
Rachel Renee Russel
  Diario de Nikki 12 or 13 volumes
  Jeff Kinney
  Diario de Greg 10 volumes
C. S. Lewis
  El leon, La Bruja y el Ropero
       and the rest of the Narnia series
  Jose Saramago – Viaje del elefante
R. L. Stine
  Goosebump books like: Zombietown &
  Criature del mas
  Escape de Horrolandia
R. J. Palacio
  Wonder
  Wonder: Charlotte tiene la palabre
  Wonder: El Juego de Christopher
  Wonder: Todos Somos Unicos
  Wonder: La Historia de Julian
  La Leccion de August
Sandra Cisneros – La Casa en Mango Street
Alma Flor Ada – Me Llamo Maria Isabel
Lynn Joseph – Color de mis Palabras
Francisco Jimenez – Cajas de Carton
Lincoln Peirce – Nate el Grande
Isabel Allende – Mas Alla del Invierno
Diana Lopez – Coco. the novel
James Buckley, Jr.
  Quienes Fureron los Hermanos Wright?
  Roberto Clemente
  Raina Telgemeier
  Fantsmas
  Sonrie
  Hermanas
Norman Bridwell – All Clifford books
Alexandra Diaz
  El Unico Destino
  La Encrucijada
Michelle Cueas – Confesiones de un amigo imaginario
Luigi Garlando – GOL! Series of books about futbol
Betty Birney
  La Amistad de Acuerda a Humphrey
  El Mundo de Acuerdo a Humphrey
Mark Teague
  Los Tres Cerditos y el Lobo no tan Feroz
  Como son Buenos Amigos los Dinosarios
       And many more Dinosario books
David Shannon
  No David!
  Crece ya, David
  Un Caso Grave de Rayas
Ezra Jack Keats – Un Dia de Nieve
David McKee – Odio a mi Oso de Peluche
Anthony Browne
  Ramon Preocupan
  Watly Piper
  La Pequena Locomotora que si Puedo
Jano Mendoza – Plan de Vuelvo
Elizabeth Shaw – La Ovejita Negra
Mario Vargas Llosa – Foncito y la Luna
Helme Heine – Ricardo
Christel Gruczka – El Hipo de Lola
Maria Barand – Arrullo
Munro Leaf – Ferdinando el Toro
Eric Carle
   El Artista que Pinto un Caballo Azul
   La Oruga Muy Hambrienta
   Panqueques, Panqueques
   La Arana muy Ocupada
   Una Casa Para el Congrejo Ermitano
   La Semillita
   De la Cabeza a los Pies
   El Conguro Tiena Mama?
   Ha Visto a mi Gato?
Michael Bond – Paddington Bear books
Martha Riva Palacio Obon
   Beso
   Ella Trae la Lluvia
   Las Sirenas Suenan con Trilobites
   Buenas Noches Laika
   Lunatica
Judith Viorst
   Alexander y el Dia Terrible
   Alexander, Que de Ninguna Morera
Vera B. Williams
   Un Sillon para me Mama
   Un Silon para Siempre
Gene Zion – Harry, el Perrito Sucio
Jennifer Torres
   Stef Soto, La Reina del Taco
   En Pas de la Musica
L M Montgomery – Ana de las Tejas Verdes
Terri Libenson – Emmie es Invisible
Jennifer L. Holm
   El Pez Number Catorce
   Penny, Caida del Cielo
Ken Mochizuki
   Pasaje a la Libertad
   El Beisbol nos Salvo
Georgina Lazaro Leon
   Viva La Tortuga
   Don Quixote pare Siempre
   Conoce Gabriela Mistral
Juan Felipe Herrera
   El Canto de los Palomas
   Las Meras Meras Remateros
Kevin Henkes
   Cristantemo
   Owen
   Prudencia Se Preocupa
   Julius, El Rey de la Casa
   El Gran Dia de Lily
   Esperando
   La Primera Luna Llena De Gatita
   Palabras de Piedra
Jean de Brunoff – La Historia de Babar
Laurent de Brunoff – Babar y los Juegos Olimpicos
Margarita Engle
   Aire Encanto
   Bravo! Poemas sobre Hispanicos
   Extraordinarios
Jacqueline Woodson – El Dia en que Descubres Quien Eres

New Leyendo Libraries in the Planning

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Inside courtyard of Escuela Primaria Xaman Ha.

Activities of my Leyendo non-profit have been quiet during the hot, hot summer here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Schools have been closed so planning for libraries has been on the back burner. But this past week the Directors of two primary schools contacted me and I will meet with them Friday afternoon.

The first is Xaman Ha Primaria which is just a few blocks from my home in the center of Playa. A teacher at Rudolfo Menendez Primaria where we made a library last Spring, put us in contact with the Director. The other is Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Primaria in the Mision de las Flores neighborhood at the far western edge of Playa. Both a teacher there and the Director have been in touch with me.

These are the two rooms that are available. Neither have any shelving so we need to buy/construct those. One is filled with tables but they will collapse and can be stacked next door. They both have air conditioners but the one in the yellow room does not work but here are functional ceiling fans.

I currently have boxes of donated books in my house that are waiting patiently for a home. Many of these came as donations from the students and families of Papalote Private School here in Playa. The administrators of that school want their students to get involved this Fall with reading to younger children in the libraries Leyendo has created. Also the local English speaking Rotary club, Seaside Rotary, granted Leyendo some funds for the libraries and want to go on shopping trips to local bookstores to help choose books.

So things are moving again. I will take off for the month of September to care for my mother in the US, but I look forward to cooler weather on my return and new projects for the children of Playa del Carmen.

6th Grade Graduation in Mexico

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Guests of honor who awarded the diplomas including me from Leyendo and Suzanne Filsinger from KKIS Project.

Many students don’t continue their education after elementary school in Mexico. Work permits are allowed at age 12 and families need their income. Consequently there are two elementary schools with morning and afternoon sessions in this neighborhood, only one junior high school with just a morning session and no high school in the vicinity.

So the end of the school year means Sixth Grade graduation ceremonies and parties. Last week I was invited to help award diplomas at two primary schools where Leyendo has built libraries. It has gotten hot and humid here but we were provided with little bits of shade.

At the beginning of the Adrian Cupul Itza Primaria ceremony we were treated to a dance performance by a dance troupe in the Veracruz style which included several of the graduates.
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The tradition is that the graduating class choreographs and performs a dance at the ceremony, they receive their diplomas and then there is formal dance for students with their godparents. And lots of photos of course.