"Abuelo, the Sea, and Me"

Written by Ismée Williams                Illustrated by Tatiana Gardel

Image Source: Macmillan Publishers

        When looking at the illustrations in "Abuelo, the Sea, and Me", each spread complements the corresponding text and the setting. The first spread has bright, vivid warm colors to highlight the summer season on the ocean. Once Abuelo and the girl put their feet in the water the images use more blues and greens to highlight the cold water on their feet. Once the story shifts to fall, Gardel uses deep pinks and purples to highlight the early setting sun in the fall and allude to the cold that is coming. While Abuelo describes his past with winning medals for swimming the image of the medals washed up on the shore is very dull and the colors muted as he thinks of his past. The next page has a bright warm yellow that signifies hope when the girl tells her Abuelo that someday she may win a medal. The illustrations in the season of winter have a muted blue tone to them to help envoke the cold and darkness of winter. At the end of the book, we come full circle to the beginning of spring and the blue is starting to be overtaken by a brighter yellow that is warming up the air but also representing the hope and rebirth of spring. There is also a beautiful detail that the illustrator left with the clouds. After Abuelo describes growing up seeing dolphins and marlin, the girl imagines them in the sky. After that page anytime there is a cloud it is in the shape of a dolphin or marlin.

        The text throughout the book is appropriate throughout the book. They also include Spanish words that the little girl typically "translates" on the consecutive page of the spread. The plot feels realistic and well constructed without. While it does cover all of the seasons, the pace does not feel rushed. The theme feels very natural, as many children really love spending time with a grandparent. The text feels like a genuine experience with a grandparent.

        This book is important to share with children because we have non-white characters of different generations sharing sweet moments on the beach. This book is a sweet reminder that grandparents can have complicated pasts that grandchildren will get small pieces of throughout their lifetimes. This is also an important story of showing a healthy family dynamic across generations. This is also a heartwarming story of the immigrant experience of missing the past but hope for the future of your family. I would add this book to my personal library, as I believe it is so important to have books that are different from my own experience. It was also reviewed professionally, including by Kirkus Reviews.

Williams, Ismée. Abuelo, the Sea, and Me. Illustrated by Tatiana Gardel. Roaring Brook Press, 2024. 32 pages. Tr. $15.99, ISBN 978-1-250-84877-2.