Mila's Mask/La Máscara de Mila was written by Mexico By Hand's founder, Peggy Stein. It's the story of a little girl in the United States who spends a great deal of time at her grandparent's house which is full of colorful Mexican folk art. The bilingual book features color photographs of crafts and artisans, and is intended for teachers and parents to read aloud to children-- providing an opportunity for language learning as well an appreciation for Mexican folk art.

Author's note-- Why I wrote this book:

"I used to think that the only thing Mexico By Hand  had of interest to kids were the Ocumicho clay whistles. Then our granddaughter Mila arrived and I noticed her fascination with many of our other pieces of folk art and crafts. As a newborn, she intently focused her gaze on our brightly colored figures, skeletons, and masks. She wasn’t frightened by them-- they enthralled her. As Mila grew more verbal, she enjoyed interacting with them. And then there was a point when she didn’t want to leave the room after her nap (which was our gallery) because she insisted on looking at the pottery on the shelves. I couldn’t believe it really. It was then I realized our little two year old granddaughter was a fan of Mexican folk art and crafts."

"There’s another story as well. We’re losing many of our master artisans, some recently to Covid, and many others are aging and unfortunately their children aren’t choosing to continue the work. Those of us who appreciate beautiful things made by hand are concerned. I want to share the passion I have for Mexican artesania with the world, and also tell a personal story about my granddaughter Mila."

Bilingual English/Spanish. Recommended ages 4-8. Softcover, 21 pages. *See sample pages below. We'll mail First Class to anywhere in the U.S.