Bringing Cinco de Mayo to life
The next time you’re in Smith’s Variety, be sure to grab a copy of Mountain Brook resident Jim Noles’ children’s book, May 5, 1862: A Story of Cinco de Mayo.
Jim Noles, an attorney at Balch and Bingham, LLP, has written children and adult books for over 10 years now. His newest book gives readers a historical account of the Battle of Pueblo through fictional characters Jean Peter, a French soldier, and Juan Pedro, a Mexican captain. This chapter book takes readers on a journey through the French ambush at Acultzingo, the uphill battle of Pueblo and the first Mexican victory over the French. Noles uses age-appropriate vocabulary and keeps the attention of his readers with the dialogue between Jean and Juan.
The book’s cover is illustrated by Brinkley Edge, a recent Mountain Brook High School graduate and family friend of Noles. Edge was introduced to art as a child by her mother, Liz, who is an artist herself. As a junior, Brinkley began taking art more seriously and took a drawing and painting class at Mountain Brook High School. This year she took an AP art class and experimented with acrylic paints and textures.
Last December, Noles presented Brinkley with the opportunity to illustrate his book.
“He was easy to work with,” she said. “I remember having a lot of tests while trying to work on the illustration for the book, and he was just so nice and understanding.”
Noles speaks highly of Edge as well: “She is a terrific, terrific young lady. She is a talented artist and just a wonderful person.”
Noles’ passion for reading began with his grandmother, who taught him how to read. Growing up in a military family and traveling around the world also ignited his love for literature. He remembers the librarian at an Army Post in Germany who always ordered new Hardy Boys books for him and how living without a television in Yemen allowed plenty of reading time too.
“I think a lot of reading led to a certain ease with respect to writing. And I currently do a lot of writing on my job,” Noles said.
Based on the layout and content of A Story of Cinco de Mayo, Noles plans to write a series of history chapter books for children in the near future. These books will coincide with a particular historical celebration or event for each month.
Noles and his wife, Elizabeth, have two boys, James and John, who both attend Mountain Brook Elementary.