My Abuelita
By Tony Johnston; Yuyi Morales (Illustrator)
(Harcourt Children's Books, Hardcover, 9780152163303, 32pp.)
Publication Date: September 2009
Categories: Business, Careers, Occupations, Family - Multigenerational, People & Places - Mexico
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Winner of a 2010 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor!
Abuelita’s hair is the color of salt. Her face is as crinkled as a dried chile. She booms out words as wild as blossoms blooming. She stuffs her carcacha—her jalopy—with all the things she needs: a plumed snake, a castle, a skeleton, and more. Her grandson knows he has the most amazing grandmother ever—with a very important job. What does Abuelita do? With her booming voice and wonderful props, Abuelita is a storyteller. Next to being a grandmother, that may be the most important job of all.
Sprinkled with Spanish and infused with love, My Abuelita is a glorious celebration of family, imagination, and the power of story.
YUYI MORALES is a promising new picture book illustrator. A native of Mexico, she now lives in San Francisco where she is pursuing a degree in creative writing and developing her career as an artist. She is also a puppet-maker and the host of a Spanish-language storytelling radio show.
"The digital photographs of Morales’s unique polymer-clay sculptures, surrounded by elements and colors distinctive of traditional Mexican crafts, create a surrealistic atmosphere that transforms the locations where this story take place—a humble home and a school—into fantastic places. Children and adults, especially those who love listening and telling stories, will be thrilled to discover Abuelita’s enchanting profession."--Kirkus Reviews
"A young boy narrates an affectionate ode to his beloved grandmother in this fanciful picture book . . . the many Spanish terms are well defined within the boy’s engaging and poetic narrative, in which he conveys his admiration and affection for his appealingly peppy grandmother . . . the eye-catching, mixed-media illustrations, sparked with bright patterns, textures, and color, will help reinforce the meaning in the words. A charming tribute to family and the joys and inspiration that storytelling can bring."--Booklist
"The vignettes seamlessly knit together realism and fantasy, giving every spread a dreamy physicality "--Publishers Weekly
"It seems a touch unfair that any one person should have as much talent in her bones as Yuyi Morales."--Betsy Bird, Fuse #8 - SLJ blog
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