On This Beautiful Island

by Edwin Fontanez

This storybook is a lyrical and beautifully illustrated account of a day in the life of a Taíno boy living 500 years ago on the island of Puerto Rico. It gives a child's-eye account of the strong bonds that these ancient peoples had with the natural world and each other. From poetic descriptions of the morning gathering of the crops to the magic of storytelling by the evening fire with Mother and Father, young readers will discover the rewards of a life lived close to the earth. Children will find additional pleasure in the antics of Tahite, a colorful pet parrot, and in vivid illustrations of the island's inhabitants, from the smallest coqui frog to the mightiest ceiba tree. As readers become enthralled with the workings of the ancient Taíno culture, a philosophy of strength of community, respect for resources, and the value of friendship will inspire them to enjoy and protect the natural world that surrounds them.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Edwin Fontánez is an award-winning artist, author, illustrator, and graphic designer. He is a graduate of the School of Plastic Arts of the Institue of Culture in San Juan, PR. He also holds an Associates degree in Graphic Design from Pratt Institute in New York. From the age of six, Fontánez’s talent began to show itself. When he was small, he drew pictures on the walls of his grandmother Doña Ramona’s house. Fortunately, Fontánez eventually transferred his artistic expression to sketchbooks and canvas.

The artistic and literary work of Fontánez is inspired by the themes of nature and animals and characterized by magic and poetry that this talented artist infuses with his creative force. His inspiring books serve as a new and exciting presence in Latin American children’s literature. His most recent work is the illustrated YA novel, The Illuminated Forest.

Reviews

[Aliraluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautiful book of our Taíno culture. Cannot wait to recommend this book to our library readers.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

On this Beautiful Island is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book. This book takes the child through a colourful exotic journey led by Guanín and his close-to-the-heart friend Tahite, a parrot. Guanín shows his new friends a little about his daily life and about his traditional Taíno culture. These traditions date back more than 2,000 years from the area known today as Puerto Rico. A video called Taíno: Guanín's Story and a companion activity book are also available for those interested in learning more about Guanín and his cultural traditions.

On this Beautiful Island is a story that entertains and teaches at the same time. The book illustrates a lifestyle that is likely very different from the young reader while also showing that some things about being a kid are universal. The story is charming and completely entertaining. However, it pales in comparison to the illustrations in this book which are completely breathtaking. Young readers will spend hours studying these colourful pictures looking for hidden coquíes.

[Terry]

The illustrations are incredibly beautiful. It is difficult to tell, at times, whether this is to be a rhyming verse or descriptive poem. Read the full review to see what our preschool audience thought.