In Ejutla de Crespo, a village in southern Mexico, seventy-seven-year-old Don Ricardo makes piñatas for all the festive occasions. Tio Rico, as the children call him, is clearly valued among children and adults alike in the community. Color photographs and text show how Tio Rico makes both traditional and unusual piñatas for parties and holiday celebrations. A brief authors's note at the end of this bilingual book provides suggestions for making simple piñatas. (Ages 8-10)

Don Ricardo, or Tio Rico as he is called by the children, is the pinata maker of Ejutla de Crespo, a village in southern Mexico. Told in English and Spanish by award-winning author/photographer George Ancona, El Pinatero/The Pinata Maker documents this traditional Latin American art, and offers readers a fascinating glimpse of Mexican village life.