You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

 

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

What's it About?

A family immigrates to America from India and navigates the culture and lifestyle while clinging to preserving their own culture as they all handle acceptance, change, and growing up in a new place in their own way. Ranee, Sonia, Tara, Shanti, and Anna narrate the generational changes and similarities within the family and Indian culture as they become American and accept the changes that come with clinging to one country and culture and gaining another new and different one at the same time. 

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You Bring the Distant Near

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You Bring the Distant Near is a touching story that follows a family as they transition to a new life in a new land. Capturing the dynamic personalities and generational differences of each character transitioning to America, Perkins immerses the reader in traveling alongside this family on their journey. It's hard not to connect emotionally to how this family navigates their transition.

Mitali Perkins seamlessly includes cultural details in her writing that help understand the viewpoint and movement of each character throughout the book. Following the story Ranee, and her daughters Sonia and Tara as they grow and accept new norms it is clear that the bonds of family tie them together and are passed on through generations. 

This was a lovely read that kept me wanting to see what they were all going to do next. Mitali Perkins, truly connects the reader to the struggle, achievement, and transitions this family experiences as they navigate life and the world over the years.  They struggle, love, learn, and accept each other and the reader absolutely follows this journey with attachment and longing to see how it all works out.

Following their journey was an enjoyable experience. By the end of this story, I felt connected and a part of their story. It left me wanting to go back for more and to revisit them to see where they were and what they were doing today.

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For more information on Mitali Perkins click here

The audible version of this title is highly recommended.

La Princesa and The Pea by Susan Middleton Elya

 

(image taken from Goodreads)

La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya

Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Pura Belpré Award for Illustrator (2018)

What's it About?

A lonely prince in need of affection searches for a wife. There are many prospects but one stands out. Capturing his eye as she passed through his village and invited herself to stay, the Prince falls fast. His mother does her best to find a true princess for her son, even if it means being sneaky. Will his Madre ruin his chances of true love with a tiny el guisante? Determined to marry the maiden he chose, le principe's clever ideas might just work to keep his one true love regardless of how authentic a princess she may be. 

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La Principesa and the Pea

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La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya is an adorable bilingual telling of the classic The Princess and the Pea. Following closely to the traditional storyline this version is well matched with illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal that help bring this version to life. 

Throughout the telling key words are highlighted in Spanish adding some flair and interest to the way this classic is retold. Many of the words in Spanish can be interpreted by English-speaking readers through the illustrations or context making their use seamless throughout the story. The rhyming text adds even more charm to this version of The Princess and Pea keeping the authenticity of the story but adding a little bit of something that might be missing from the original. 

La Princesa and the Pea gives an authentic version of the classic that doesn't dilute interest because the reader may already know the story. The characters in this version are alive with personality aided by the illustrations that seem to come alive on the page.

Truly an enjoyable and sweet retelling that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages. Depicted with colorful, and often humorous illustrations it does not disappoint as a classic of its own.

For more information on Susan Middleton Elya and other bilingual books she's written click here 

Juana Martinez-Neal also has some other diverse and cultural children's books here

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Watercress by Andrea Wang: "a love letter and an apology"

 

(image taken from Goodreads)

Watercress by Andrea Wang: "a love story and an apology"

Caldecott Award winner 2022

Asian /Pacific American Award for Literature for Picture Book 2022

What's it About?

From the backseat of her car, an important lesson about family history and culture arises. As the young Chinese American girl collects watercress from a ditch embarrassment arises and having to eat it for dinner makes it even worse. Learning her family's story from her mom gives way to wanting to be like everyone else and gives watercress a new meaning. 

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Goodreads: Watercress by Andrea Wang

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Watercress is an emotional story of a little girl who learns an important lesson about her family and how who she is, is nothing to be embarrassed about. As children, many of us have time when the things our parents did embarrass us. The world our parents know is marked with experiences and memories we know nothing about and as we grow and learn to understand those things we become more and more connected to who we are. Andrea Wang presents this sentiment in a touching way, highlighting things lost when families come to a new world. 

Andrea Wang describes Watercress as a "love letter and an apology." This autobiographical story presents a touching moment with her family where she learns an emotional lesson about her mom. Her mom's revelation leads to a deeper understanding and compassion for her family and builds new connections to her history. She beautifully weaves the emotion of her experience into the story of picking watercress on the side of the road and eating it for dinner.

Jason Chin illustrates the story by mirroring the tone and mood of Wang's story. Underwhelmed at first by the appeal of the cover illustration that seemed unmatched by many of the “popular” book covers with flashy colors, fonts, and cartoon-like illustrations that tend to attract and draw in young readers, this book was originally left on the back burner. Finally picking this book up, honestly because of its status on award lists, I was touched by the theme of the story and its connection to a part of history that many people may not recognize. Watching the character connect to her family’s history and the sadness connected to that history it became clear how the illustrations in this book could lead to a Caldecott award. 

While it may, in my opinion, have trouble gaining recognition from a child audience (that doesn’t have a connection to the story) the illustrations surely mimic the tone and provide an appropriate illustration of the story, theme, and concept. It's definitely something to expose young readers to and sends a positive message about understanding and recognizing that our history is an important part of who we are and being proud of the struggles that make us who we are.

For more on Andrea Wang click here.

For what Jason Chin says about Watercress, click here.

Nana Akua Goes to School by Trisha Elam Walker & April Harrison | A Grandmother's Hug

(Cover Image taken from Good Reads)

Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walker

Winner of Ezra Jack Keats Award, 2021

What's it About?

Watching how her favorite person in the whole world is treated because of traditional West African markings on her face leaves Zura hesitant to share her with her class. Grandparent's Day at Zura's school has her worried about how Nana will be treated.  Using beauty and confidence along with Zura's quilt Nana has an idea that just might work.

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GoodReads: Nana Akua Goes to School

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Nana Akua Goes to School is a heartwarming story about the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. Relatable to anyone lucky enough to have a grandparent with "hugs that wrap you up in a blanket" the story of Nana and Zura provides a great lesson about confidence and beauty.

Nana Akua's West African facial markings are misunderstood by many and Zura is determined to protect her favorite person in the entire world, even if it means not participating in Grandparent's Day. Traditions and love create the perfect solution. 

Tricia Elam Walker provides a cultural lesson in her story of love between a grandmother and a granddaughter. In Nana Akura Goes to School, Walker delivers a story about a little girl, Zura, and her grandmother, Nana, participating in a school event that most children can relate to wrapped in a lesson about West African culture that solicits acceptance and understanding.

The palpable connection Zura has for Nana evokes love and connection to Nana. There are moments where the reader can feel the love Zura has for her grandmother and the sadness for how her grandmother is treated. A grandmother's hug that is unmatched and the pride in her culture that has marked her grandmother forever emerges simply and with purpose. 

Ultimately it's a simple story that exposes readers to traditions of West African culture that are not understood by many. Introduced to cultural language and not shying away from the idea of sharing cultural traditions with people from different cultures,  this story promotes understanding and acceptance. Nana's clever use of traditions exemplifies confidence and beauty as her facial markings symbolize. 

It would be remiss to not mention the illustrations by April Hamilton. The imagery that solidifies the emotion felt by Zura throughout the story is remarkable. Hamilton somehow visually provides a feeling of warmth and love that mirrors the story written by Walker. 

For more on Tricia Elam Walker click here.