Description: This Mexican holiday has become one that has spread over the border and not just to the states that are contiguous to Mexico, but to areas in the United States where there are large concentrations of Mexican Americans. As most other books about this holiday, there is information about its origins-the story of the battle at Puebla and the bravery of a rag tag Mexican army under the leadership of Benito Juarez. The difference in this book is a look further back into Mexican history to get a better understanding of the three major groups that lived there-Maya, Aztek and the Tolteca. The brief history then moves quickly to the Spanish occupation in the 1500s and the borrowing of money by the Mexicans from the French. When they couldn't repay their debt, the French invaded to take control of the country. The Mexican people struggle for five years but eventually won their freedom and when Benito Juarez became President he made May 5th the date of the battle at Pueblo, a national holiday. Some of the foods, music, dances and other festivities are describes as well as the way that Chicanos (Mexican Americans) celebrate this holiday. There is a glossary (difficult words are spelled out phonetically in the text) and there is a section where readers can learn more. It includes books, web sites and museums. There is also an index and a very brief bio of the author and illustrator.

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