Book review: Mango, Abuela, and Me, by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Medina, Meg. Mango, Abuela, and Me. Illustrated by Angela Dominguez. Candlewick Press, 2015. $7.99. ISBN 9780763695132. 31 pgs. Ages 3-8. P7/Q9

When Mia’s Grandmother comes to stay she is worried they don’t have much in common. She wants to know her Abuela but they don’t understand each other and Mia feels frustrated. A present she finds to remind her Abuela of home brings them closer as they learn each other’s language and how important family is.

Verdict: A beautiful story emphasizing the importance of family and learning from our elders this book is a wonderful addition to any home or school library. This book helps introduce the concept of immigration and also focuses on families that live with multiple generations in one home. The illustrations were engaging and the storyline flowed easily while introducing common words in Spanish in a fun way.

November 2017 review by Michelle Cottrell

[Editor’s note: This book was a 2016 honor book in both the author and illustrator categories in the Pura Belpre Awards. ]

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