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George Ancona
In 2002, George Ancona received the Washington Post-Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award for work that "has contributed significantly to the quality of nonfiction for children." In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, George Ancona talks about his photo-illustrated books and how he uses photography to offer insight into the everyday lives of children from different cultures.
Click on the links below§ to watch this interview online . You can also read the interview transcript or a short biography of George Ancona, or see a selected list of his children's books.
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- Homemade Mexican chocolate (:40)
In this video clip, George Ancona recalls the warmth of his mother's kitchen.
- An immigrant neighborhood (1:10)
Ancona describes what it was like growing up with friends and neighbors from all over the world.
- Never say never (:45)
When his dad asked him to help agitate prints in the darkroom, Ancona swore he would never become a photographer.
- A risk that paid off (2:20)
With a wife and three kids, Ancona quit his day job in hope of becoming a freelance photographer.
- More than 30 seconds (2:00)
For George Ancona, photography is much more than taking pictures and leaving. In this video clip, he tells the story of attending Pablo's wedding in Mexico.
- Day of the dead (1:20)
Ancona explains how this Mexican holiday confronts death while still celebrating life.
- Adventure in Mexico (2:10)
After high school, Ancona took a five-day bus ride to Mexico City, where he met some of the great Mexican artists.
- The best of both worlds (1:00)
Although his dual identity was confusing in his youth, Ancona now feels fortunate to be Mexican-American.
§ To play this clip, you'll need a copy of the free RealOne Player. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.
