Pub Date: September 17, 2024
Dewey: B
LCCN: 2023043698
Lexile Code: 0000
Features: Bibliography, Dust Cover, Illustrated, Price on Product
Target Age Group: 07 to 10
Physical Info: 0.41" H x 11.21" L x 8.89" W ( 1.05 lbs) 40 pages
BISAC Categories:
Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography and Autobiography | Women | Places | Caribbean and Latin America
Description:
A stirring picture book biography of one of Latin America's most beloved singers and human rights advocates, Mercedes Sosa.
Brief description:
Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. Learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com.
Review Quotes:
"Accessible Spanish terms used within context pop up throughout the pages, enriching the text. . . . The illustrations add intensity, using rich hues, cutouts, and color overlays to enhance the drama of the action, punctuating the emotions beneath Sosa's lyrics and emphasizing the courage it took to sing those songs during the repressive regime. A fitting tribute to an exceptional woman." -- Booklist
"Pérez-Prado uses accessible, lyrical prose and includes difficult details about Sosa's life and the time period during which she performed. . . . Digital collage illustrations incorporate visual metaphors to emphasize Sosa's culture, including her Indigenous roots." -- The Horn Book
"Distilling Argentina's history into accessible text, the work ends on an uplifting note, discussing how the figure's 'songs of empathy and esperanza, fearlessness and fuerza helped the country begin to heal.'" -- Publishers Weekly
"The jewel-tone, digital collage illustrations are powerful, often alternating between one page to entire spreads with a compelling effect. . . A strong choice for many curricular tie-ins, such as women's, Latin American, Indigenous, and social studies. Purchase for picture book biography shelves." -- School Library Journal
Pedro and Daniel Intersectionality Book Awards Commended Title 2025 - Read Your World
RISE: A Feminist Book Project Booklist 2025 - American Library Association (ALA)
Rhode Island Latino Books Award Nominee 2026 - Rhode Island Latino Arts
Social Justice Literature Award Recommended 2025 - International Literacy Association (ILA)