Checking Availibility...Description
In this touching, empowering picture book debut, a girl and her beloved abuelita lean on each other as they contend with racism while running errands in the city.
Spending time at home with Abuelita means pancakes, puddle-jumping, and nail-painting. But venturing out into the city is not always as fun. On the bus and at the grocery store, people are impatient and suspicious--sometimes they even yell. Sad, angry, and scared, the story's young narrator decides not to leave home again . . . until a moment of empowerment helps her see the strength she and Abuelita share when they face the world together. Warm, expressive illustrations by Rafael Mayani highlight the tenderness in Abuelita and the narrator's relationship.
About this Author
LEONARDA CARRANZA was raised in Tkaronto, and born in Cuscatlán (El Salvador) to a mixed-race family of Afro-Indigenous ancestry. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto. She is the winner of Briarpatch Magazine's Writing in the Margins contest, and Room's 2018 short forms contest. Leonarda lives in Brampton, ON, part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
RAFAEL MAYANI is a Mexican artist based in Vancouver, Canada. He draws inspiration from the vibrant colours and shapes of Mexico and the natural beauty of Canadian landscapes.
Reviews
"A beautiful story with equally resplendent illustrations!"
"Carranza poignantly addresses racism and microaggressions in this book about a brave and observant child . . . Mayani's expressive illustrations use vibrant colors and warm tones to convey the story's difficult topic in a comforting manner."
"The book itself is very powerful and deals with many strong emotions that are realistic. Throughout ABUELITA AND ME, the artwork helps to convey when the emotions are light and happy or dark and angry . . . Highly Recommended."
"With bright, expressive illustrations, this is an accessible, tender exploration of the ways in which many marginalized people experience the world."
"A bus driver's prejudice forces a child to grapple with difficult emotions in this affecting story . . . A subtle resolution underlines pride in a personal act in lieu of real equity won, but the incident itself should prompt discussion of systemic racism and its manifold effects."
"A resonant, intergenerational picture book about an important and necessary topic; highly recommended for children's picture book collections."
"An important book that reminds readers about the individual, collective and systemic actions needed to create fair and just communities."
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