OAXACAN WOODCARVING: The Magic in the Trees _ by Shepard Barbash, photography by Vicki Ragan (Chronicle Books: $17.95; 107 pp., paperback original). _ In recent years, the brightly colored,

simply carved figures of humans and animals created by artisans in the Oaxacan region of southern Mexico have become highly prized collectibles in the United States. Barbash’s text includes

brief biographies of some important carvers and observations on how the sudden influx of wealth has affected life in this impoverished area. Ragan’s photographs capture the special charms

and strengths of this vibrant folk art. MORE TO READ