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“Tales told between generations help build understanding. …In this sweet family history, the children discover that the roots of their future are deeply intertwined with the stories of those who came before them. Melodic text incorporates Spanish phrases throughout; a Spanish glossary is included in the backmatter. Mixed-media illustrations meld past and present with bright colors, swirling lines, and playful artistic elements. A touching reminder that the stories of our ancestors light the way for generations to come.”

– Kirkus Reviews

Not Far from Here

Written by Nydia Armendia-Sánchez
Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
Published by Candlewick

A debut author and an award-winning illustrator unite to craft an entirely bilingual ode to the amor, courage, and memories we carry from one generation to the next, from one country to another.

We worked and worked
juntos
para realizar el sueño
Nuestra familia . . .
nos superamos
as individuals
and
together

Mamá tells her children a story that began when their papá was a niño, not far from here. Their abuelitas told stories of their antepasados, and their abuelo, a blacksmith, taught their papá how to make art from earth and fire. When abuelo died, papá took all those lessons to heart and crossed la frontera to el norte to follow his sueños. There, he worked and overcame barriers, known to many immigrants alike, to forge his own obra maestra: a familia and a future in which anything is possible.

Debut author Nydia Armendia-Sánchez relays a story of immigration, creativity, and comunidad through a translanguage text that moves naturally from English to español and back in a manner that will be familiar to many second and third generations of Latine families—and evocative to immigrant families of any heritage. Brilliantly brought to life by Devon Holzwarth’s rich, imaginative illustrations, this warm abrazo of a book features a glossary of Spanish words.

Primary ISBN: 9781536227062
Publication Date: October 2024
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Unspecified (Latin American), United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Immigrant, 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Source: nydiaarmendia.com