Tíos and Primos

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* “A little girl is traveling to visit her father’s homeland for the first time, and she is a little nervous. Will she be able to communicate with her family without knowing a lot of Spanish? . . . When they all come together to celebrate, the small girl finds that they understand each other more than she thought they would, and that communicating with her loved ones comes easily and naturally. Vibrant illustrations spread the love of the family across the pages, with readers immediately immersed in the world and the happiness of them all. The text is fast-paced and filled with excitement as father and daughter visit one family member and then the next, with Spanish words appearing as the young girl has different conversations with relatives. Readers will spot special words, such as familia, amor, and te quiero. A beautiful picture book about the love that connects families, even across distance and language barriers, this would be an excellent addition to children’s picture book collections.” —School Library Journal, 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