1. Count Me In! The Story Behind the Book © Copyright Cynthia Susan Weill 2012 All Rights Reserved

2. This is Guillermina. She’s the oldest.

3. Irene

4. Josefina

5. Concepción

6. The sisters live in the town of Ocotlan de Morelos, Mexico.

7. This is the plaza.

8. This is part of the plaza too.

9. The sisters make ceramic figures that look like people in their town. © Copyright Cynthia Susan Weill 2012

10. Their mother, Isaura Alcantara taught them how to work in clay when they were children.

11. Every year in Oaxaca there is a wonderful festival called the Guelaguetza. In the Zapotec language, Guelaguetza means to share. The origins of the festival go back to before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16 th century. To honor the corn goddess Centeotl, people came from all parts of Oaxaca. On a hilltop they shared dances and gave each other gifts of products from their regions.

12. They wore their most beautiful outfits. With the arrival of the Spanish, the festival became a blend of native and…

13. …European traditions.

14. The festival starts with a wonderful parade.

15. The sisters decided to make these parade figures for their book.

16. Irene Aguilar made dance figures that wear the traditional outfit of Ocotlan. © Copyright Cynthia Susan Weill 2012

17. Irene also made the man carrying the marmota. The marmota is the big balloon that tells everyone the parade is coming.

18. Josefina made the chirimia. This is a band that plays pre-hispanic instruments.

19. Guillermina made these gigantes. You can see the person wearing the costume peeking through.

20. Concepción made the chinas oaxaquenas. Chinas are women who work at the local flower market. They make beautiful baskets of blossoms and dance with them.

21. Guillermina made the clay figures that represent some of the regions and the traditional clothing of Oaxaca.

22. Josefina made one of the regional bands.

23. The sisters worked and worked!

24. It took six weeks to make all of the pieces.

25. The sisters decided to honor their mother with their ceramics. There is a special dedication to her in the book.

26. Type:JPG Date:Aug 21, 2008 Camera:Fuji S6000fd Settings:1/600s, f /6.4, ISO 200 Focal length:6mm Flash usage:No flash Exposure bias:0 EV Website for this image The Field museum. Chicago, Illinois, United States Rating: 6.85 worldbestspot.com Full-size image 640 × 480 (Same sizex larger), 117KB More sizes Similar images Image details: FAQFAQ More image info Less image info Images may be subject to copyright. The sisters have never had the time to collaborate together on a project. Because the parade figures are so special, they are now part of the permanent collection at the Field Museum in Chicago.

27. In the spirit of the Guelaguetza, the sisters share their figures with you in Count Me In.