A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp.
It starts with a soft tapping,
Uncle Eduardo drumming his
hands against his dusty jeans.
As the blush of sunset gives way to night in the desert, coyotes, cicadas, and barn owls emerge, each calling out to the moon. Watching from their porch, the family joins the song. One by one, each relative offers their drums, flute, maracas, strings, and voices.
They sing with the insects, birds, snakes and toads; and they sing with their ancestors, an audience glittering in the stars overhead. With each strum of passed-down instruments, memories renew, and those gone are alive and near again.
Desert Song hums and chimes with all the music a front porch and the desert beyond can hold. Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp’s masterfully stirring text dances through Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez’s enchanting and dynamic artwork. Readers will be left with the soothing sense that when creativity flourishes, the past is never out of reach, and the bonds that matter never break.
Simultaneously published in Spanish as Canción del desierto.
*Praise for Desert Song*
“Kemp’s poetic text conveys the desert sky’s magnificence. Gutiérrez Hernández’s delicately stylized illustrations excel, particularly in the many nighttime spreads. Perfectly orchestrated: brava!”
“A desert sunset cues a large family to make music alongside “the coyotes, the cicadas,/ and the giant barn owls....// a chorus in need of a band,” in this lyrical picture book written by Zea Kemp”
“A gorgeous, intergenerational reflection on being mindful of the present while remembering and honoring loved ones from the past.”
“A beautiful book celebrating music and family, offering multiple avenues into lessons on the environment, cultures, family, music, and more.”
From two Pura Belpré award-winning creators comes the charming story of a girl who learns about a beloved family tradition and the symbolism behind the Mexican flower crown.
Today is Corina’s birthday, and she’s excited to wear the biggest crown with the most beautiful flowers picked from her abuela’s garden.
Each flower tells a special story about all the ways Corina is rooted in the family she loves.
With elegant and eye-catching illustrations from award-winning artist Elisa Chavarri, this charming story shares a beloved family tradition through one girl’s journey of self-discovery as she learns about the symbolism behind the Mexican flower crown.
*Praise for A Crown for Corina*
“Colorful and vivid spreads welcome readers to the garden and the celebrations, sharing the beauty of Corina’s world and the love shared with family and friends. A gorgeous picture book celebrating tradition, family, and memories. Highly recommended for school and public libraries.”
“Lush botanical illustrations are paired with a timeless message about the importance of family. Corina’s memories of time spent with loved ones are set against a rich garden tapestry of vibrant colors, enhancing this sincere story. A heartwarming story blooming with tenderness. ”
“Highlighting seasonal cycles and the natural passage of time, it’s a lushly told story that emphasizes the role of the past in the present and future: when Corina asks Abuela why their family wears crowns, she replies that ‘when we place la corona on our head, we become its roots, reaching back through time to hold on to the things that matter.’”