With Nancy Andrews-GoebelAuthor of The Pot That Juan Built
While on vacation in Mexico in 1995, Nancy Andrews-Goebel met Juan Quezada, the premier potter of the land, and was immediately fascinated by his work and inspired by his spirit. Two years later she and her husband made a documentary video about Mata Ortiz pottery and more recently, she was inspired (motivated) to write the picture book, The Pot That Juan Built. "The idea [for this book] came to me one evening after reading another adaptation of The House That Jack Built to a group of students," explains Andrews-Goebel. "After simply playing around with the words for a while, I realized that this was an engaging and important story worth researching and refining." The Pot That Juan Built tells the story of Juan Quezada’s discovery of ancient pottery-making techniques. With local materials and primitive methods of the Casas Grandes people—including using human hair to make brushes and cow manure to feed the flames that fire his pots—Juan creates stunning pots in the traditional style. Each is a work of art unlike any other. This celebratory story also tells how Juan’s pioneering work has transformed Mata Ortiz, the northern Mexican village where Juan began and continues to work, from an impoverished village into a prosperous community of world-renowned artists. Andrews-Goebel, a native of Baskersfield, California, is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Andrews-Goebel, a substitute teacher, earned her Bachelors degree from the University of California. She has written multicultural training materials and produced cross-cultural videos for Head Start (1988-90). Andrews-Goebel also co-produced and wrote the documentary video, "Mata Ortiz Pottery: An Inside Look" with her husband, Ron Goebel (1997). In addition to writing, Andrews-Goebel enjoys traveling, herb gardening, and beachcombing. She and her husband live in the northern California town of Cayucos with their three cats: Kitty, Flanna, and Alice. The Pot That Juan Built is her first book. Andrews-Goebel’s love for travel energizes her love for telling stories. "[My ideas for stories come] from the interesting, out-of-the-way places I visit and from the extraordinary people I've had the privilege to know. I lived in Mata Ortiz for a year and continue to visit often. The story of Juan Quezada is almost mythological. He is such a positive and non-traditional role model for children and artists everywhere." ...learn more about The Pot That Juan Built Check out BookTalk with the Illustrator of The Pot That Juan Built David Diaz other BookTalks |
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