Benito Juárez Fights for Justice by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez was in a collection of old online reader links I had. This book is from 2023 so it is not as old as some I recently found, but it is not new either. However, the great thing about it is that it is relevant any time. Of course, that also is one of the drawbacks to things as it is dealing with the injustices minority peoples are still facing all over the world, even in the US. But Hernandez takes us to Mexico where a young boy, who was assumed to follow the status quo and go into a career around religion, would grow to become the leader his people and country needed. He would make history, he would fight wars, he would do the best he could to stop the corruption he saw.
The publisher’s description says it is “A fascinating picture book biography of Benito Juarez, president of Mexico during its tumultuous time of Liberal Reform.” And on the surface it is that. It is also a poetic look at that time and the people around Juarez. Definitely a pro-biography of the man, it does not shy away from some of the negatives surrounding things, but also is not graphic, or overly descriptive. It is good for the at least five and up crowd, however, due to its lack of traditional action it might not capture the attention of the more active reader/listener. It would work well in a classroom setting, or with someone who wants to learn more about Mexico but is not “at grade level” for the third and fourth grade reader.
What caught my attention was the illustrations. These are colorful and really bring to life the spirit and the colors of the villages, places and the county of Mexico as a whole. The details are a mixture of realistic but also can have a dreamy quality. This somewhat abstract element might not appeal to l listeners and might not appreciate their unique style, and the older reader might be on the fence about them as well, but have a more appreciation for them as artistic expression. However, they are more adult in looks and their presentation.