June 24, 2024
As Angélica and her family prepare to travel from the Dominican Republic, where they’ve spent the summer, back to New York, she knows she’ll soon say goodbye to her family. The day before she leaves, Abuelito gives her a family heirloom, a Güira, shows her how to make its characteristic sound, and tells her about its unique power—“It makes the music go slow slow or speed up—fast fast.” But back in Washington Heights, Angélica struggles to find a place to play the Güira, dismissed by her family, the school orchestra, and the neighborhood jazz band. Realizing she can play alone, Angélica picks up the Güira on her building’s front steps, evoking the sounds of her ancestors on the instrument, and is soon joined by neighborhood musicians whose jam session leads to a fantastic block party. Batista’s digitally created art blends vivid, bright colors and fluid imagery that pairs well with Cruz’s uplifting text in this double picture book debut. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Publishing simultaneously in English and Spanish. Ages 5–8.