Juan Quezada is the premier potter in Mexico. With local materials and the primitive methods of the Casas Grandes people - including using human hair to make brushes and cow manure to feed the flames
Juan Quezada is the premier potter in Mexico. With local materials and the primitive methods of the Casas Grandes people - including using human hair to make brushes and cow manure to feed the flames that fire his pots - Juan creates stunning pots in the traditional style. Each is a work of art unlike any other.
This is the pot that Juan built.
These are the flames so sizzling hot
That flickered and flared and fired the pot,
The beautiful pot that Juan built.
The text is written in the form of "The House That Jack Built" and accompanied by a comprehensive afterword with photos and information about Juan's technique as well as a history of Mata Ortiz, the northern Mexican village where Juan began and continues to work. This celebratory story tells how Juan's pioneering work has transformed Mata Ortiz from an impoverished village into a prosperous community of world-renowned artists.
With vibrant illustrations by Caldecott Medal winner David Diaz, The Pot that Juan Built is sure to enlighten all who are fascinated by traditional art forms, Mexican culture, and the power of the human spirit to find inspiration from the past.
Interest Level
Grades 1 - 6
Reading Level
Grades 2 - 3
Themes
Art, Historical Interest, Latino/Hispanic/Mexican Interest, Occupations, Sharing & Giving, Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader
Level: 6.2
Points: .5
View Description for teachers/educators
Nancy Andrews-Goebel met Juan Quezada in 1995 while on vacation in Mexico. Fascinated by his work and inspired by his wonderful spirit, she and her husband co-produced a documentary entitled Mata Ortiz Pottery: An Inside Look. Andrews-Goebel and her husband live in the northern California town of Cayucos. The Pot That Juan Built is her first book.
David Diaz won the Caldecott Medal in 1995 for Smoky Night. He is the illustrator of many other popular children's books as well, including December, Roadrunner's Dance, Going Home, and Wilma Unlimited. Diaz is also an accomplished potter, and he has sold his work to collectors throughout the country. He lives in Carlsbad, California.
View Biographical note