Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
The modern world and all of its temptations are not strong enough to sever the bonds between Tavio and his grandfather. Noticing that his grandfather, the village basket weaver, is getting old and frail, Tavio begins to play closer attention to the weaving process. As his grandfather nears death, Tavio takes on the task of finishing the village cassava squeezer (a long special basket) and decides that he will carry on the traditional skills of his grandfather. A story with an important message, beautifully illustrated by Crespo whose time in the Caribbean lends authenticity to this modern story of the Caribs of Belize. 1996, Dutton, $14.99. Ages 4 up.

Sally J. K. Davies (Children's Literature)
In a village on the coast of Belize, Tavio watches his grandfather, the village basket weaver, create the long, narrow baskets used by the village residents to strain the poisonous juices from the pulp of the cassava root. The pulp is then made into flour, mixed into dough, and baked into the traditional bread. One day, Tavio notices his grandfather is becoming tired and weak just like the old basket. So he tries to learn to weave by copying his grandfather. When his grandfather becomes ill and his eyes too tired, Tavio finishes making the basket following the verbal instructions from his grandfather. His interest in the traditional methods ensures the continued knowledge of the ancient art of weaving in Belize. From the author and illustrator notes at the end, both the art and text have been meticulously researched. As the copy on the front flap reads, "People need traditions to bring them together, just as traditions need people to keep them alive." 1996, Dutton, $14.99. Ages 5 to 10.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
In the coastal village of Belize, a boy takes over the tradition of basket weaving when his beloved, infirm grandfather can no longer carry on. Grandfather Carpio laments to his grandson Tavio that young people no longer learn from the elders "how to do the dances and sing the old songs." All the old ways, in fact, are in danger of being forgotten. The children of the village grow up and move to cities or go to work for companies that destroy the rain forest. Carpio is the only one who knows how to weave the new cassava squeezer that the village needs to make bread. During Carpio's last days, he teaches Tavio his trade, for the boy has decided to become the new village basket weaver. London (Fireflies, Fireflies, Light My Way, 1996, etc.) makes Tavio's decision inevitable but not predictable; Tavio is tugged, as readers will be, by the beauty of the old ways. Crespo effectively recreates the tropical warmth of the Caribbean--the waves seem to lap at the shores. A thoughtful tale about the importance of keeping traditions alive. 1996, Dutton, $14.99. © 1996 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1996)
Tavio learns from his grandfather the craft of fashioning baskets and comes to know his aging relative while gaining a sense of their heritage. When he learns that his grandfather is dying, Tavio also comes to know his own future, carrying on his grandfather's work. The naively stylized full-color illustrations suggest the culture of this Carib village in Belize. Category: Fiction. 1996, Dutton, 32pp.. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 3: Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and/or illustration.