Mango, Abuela, and Me

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 17, 2015

Review

Mia is not sure about her grandmother from "far-away," her abuela, moving in with the family. The two don't speak the same language and have a difficult time communicating at first. But then Mia remembers how her best friend learned to speak English and she starts pointing to things and giving her abuela the word in English, and receiving the word in Spanish. Mia then labels things all over their apartment so that her abuela can learn. Mia convinces her mom (her mami) to buy a parrot so that her abuela is reminded of the home that she left behind. Together the parrot and abuela learn how to communicate in their worlds, and Mia and her abuela can finally fill their mouths with all of the things that they want to say to one another. A beautifully told story about acclimating to a new person in one's life and to a new situation and language. The reader is drawn in to Mia's hesitation and then to her appreciation for her grandmother. A fantastic story to use around Grandparent's Day, and with any young readers who might have a grandparent living with them. The illustrations capture the color and vibrancy of the Latin heritage of the main characters. The facial expressions are well-drawn as are the pages that set the scene (house between two rivers, the urban street of Mia's family). The cover illustration is a little too large and cartoonish, but young readers could be drawn to the bright colors. They will definitely like the sassy parrot on the back cover.

Overall Book Score: excellent