Varela, J. Romon Perez. Mi Papá es un Agrícola / My Father, the Farmworker. José Ramírez, Illus. Lil’ Libros, 04/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-948066-75-4. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.
A story of love shared by an admiring son, this tale draws us into his father’s life through one full day of working the land from dawn to dusk. Recognized with the Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor, the deeply hued, bold illustrations bring the intensity of the earth’s tones and the sun’s glow into every full spread of vibrant acrylic and enamel paintings. With parallel text in English and Spanish, the words carry a poetic cadence to follow the rhythm of the land, the sun, the moon, and the labor of a loving father. From home to field and back again, the daily lives of campesinos with their families are honored. The endpapers hold them all warmly between the first signs of sunrise and the last of sunset. In the final notes, the author and illustrator both share heartfelt gratitude for the experiences of their hard-working fathers who sacrificed so much, giving hope to the next generation.
Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library