Abuelita Full of Life/Abuelita llena de vida.

Reviewed by Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA -- Críticas, 5/1/2007

K-Gr 2–José’s grandmother is old when she comes from Mexico to live with the family. Her long braids are gray and she has a deeply lined face. Her skin is soft and wrinkled, her hands are knotted. When she speaks, her voice trembles a bit. But none of this really matters to José. Abuelita is always busy. She cooks and knits; she strings chiles, and rips tortillas to feed the birds. She draws with José, counts beans with his sister, and tells both children stories. More importantly, she brings home the richness of their heritage, speaking in Spanish and giving them an appreciation for Mexican music. Despite her age, she is truly full of life. This rhythmic celebration of heritage, equally readable in English and the accomplished Spanish translation, highlights the connections between young and old in a gentle way that will enchant children. Aviles’s bright acrylic illustrations have the same homey charm found in the work of the late Lorna Balian, adding dimension to a completely believable grandmother. Similar in feel to Omar S. Casteneda’s Abuela’s Weave (Lee & Low, 1993), this is a good purchase for libraries and bookstores.