A little girl meets more relatives than she can count—but how will she communicate with them if she can’t speak their language?It’s a little girl’s first trip
to her papa’s homeland, and she’s wowed by all the amazing sights and sounds—and especially by the size of her enormous family! But she only knows a little Spanish, and it’s hard not to be able to share jokes and stories. Fortunately, her relatives help her see that there are other ways they can connect, and soon she feels like she’s right where she belongs: in the heart of a loving family, learning as she goes along.
Jacqueline Alcántara (JacquelineAlcantara.com) is the award-winning illustrator of many picture books, including
Jam, Too? by JaNay Brown-Wood,
The Field by Baptiste Paul,
Freedom Soup by Tami Charles,
Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams, and Kirkus Prize finalist
Your Mama by NoNieqa Ramos. Her books have been named Best Books of the Year by
Kirkus Reviews,
School Library Journal,
Shelf Awareness, and
The Horn Book.
Tíos and Primos is Jacqueline’s author-artist debut and was inspired by her visits to Honduras with her father. She draws and teaches illustration in Chicago, Illinois.
* “A young girl connects with her family on a trip to Honduras with her father despite language barriers. Equipped with a simple ‘Hi, how are you?’ in Spanish, the child prepares to meet her tíos and tías, primos and primas. . . . Through all the banter and stories shared between family, the girl comprehends only a few words, and her attempts to speak Spanish falter when her primos don’t understand
her. Papa and the child drive up a mountain until they arrive at a little house where Abuela lives. There, the girl discovers new ways to bond with the familia she initially didn’t know. In her debut as author/illustrator, Alcántara deftly explores the unintended but oh-so-relatable awkwardness that sometimes crops up among families due to language barriers. A palpable sense of hope progressively pervades each encounter as the protagonist slowly breaks through that initial discomfort to forge connections, offering encouragement to readers in similar situations. Meanwhile, the vibrant gouache, marker, and Photoshop artwork features earth tones in its vivid portrait of Honduras. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. This thoughtful and meaningful look at extended familia is a true gem.” —
Kirkus Reviews,
starred review
“Through sharing a meal, playing soccer, and laughing together, the girl realizes that some connections transcend language barriers. . . . The period of awkward self-consciousness because of language quickly fades away, leaving the girl to ponder, ‘And I feel as close to them as if I’d known them forever.’ The bright illustrations created with markers, gouache, and Photoshop add vibrant, joyful colors. Speech bubbles and the main text intermingle, adding visual interest. Spanish words and phrases throughout the book highlight the language barrier, yet kind facial expressions convey warmth and love.” —
Booklist
