  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 06/01/2017 *Starred Review* With its uplifting message and smiling characters, Dominguez’s story reminds readers that life’s woes are inevitable but can be mitigated by a song in the heart and an appreciation for serendipity. It is also a tribute to the author’s grandfather, a musician by profession and optimist by disposition. Dominguez (Maria Had a Little Llama, 2014) recalls that when she was young, Abuelo visited from Mexico every year and always brought his guitar and sang to her and her brother each night. Through his songs and stories, the children learned about his history, their family, and about growing stronger from adversity. Dominguez skillfully and subtly balances Abuelo’s stories from his past with the siblings’ lives in the present by alternating between sepia-toned and brighter illustrations respectively. Clean lines and a soft palette of colors bring warmth and movement. The love between the characters comes through in the text as well as the illustrations, which depict the family always in close physical contact, reassuring one another of their connection across time and geography. Images of Abuelo’s emigration during the Mexican Revolution share space with the Dominguez children’s immigration to the U.S., illustrating how his childhood losses are parallel to theirs, and all are underscored with his insistence that a song—even if it is only in your soul—gladdens the heart. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. School Library Journal - 07/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—In this semiautobiographical picture book, Dominguez honors the memory of her grandfather Apolinar, whose music and optimism had a great effect on her. Every year, Abuelo visits from Mexico, bringing his guitar and his joyful outlook. "He would tell us about his life, and if we were sad about something, he would say, 'Sing, don't cry. Because singing gladdens the heart.'?" Abuelo advises that loss can open the door for new opportunities. As Abuelo narrates, the illustrations depict three vignettes of life and loss. One vignette references real events from Apolinar's life (a childhood accident, being alone in a new city), and the other two follow the children in the story, showing everyday troubles such as bullying, losing a beloved toy, failing a test, and not making the team. The examples from Apolinar's lived history prove that the refrain isn't an empty platitude, demonstrating how his positive outlook impacted the events of his life, leading him toward happiness. Dominguez expertly employs color to move the narrative along, interspersing the full-color illustrations of the present-day visit with Abuelo with more monochromatic recollections of the past. Apolinar's scenes are in sepia, and the children's are tinged with reds and blues, coordinating with their clothing. This is indeed a book with a moral, but its roots in family history make it authentic, heartfelt, and relatable rather than didactic. VERDICT With its straightforward text; large, clear illustrations; and joyful message about dealing with adversity, this is a wonderful choice for group sharing. Recommended for all libraries.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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