THE HEART OF MI FAMILIA

The story begins with the young narrator, who is depicted with long, wavy brown hair and light-brown skin, explaining that “In my home, two worlds become one. My family is a mix of dos culturas, I am bicultural.” The narrator shares a short family history: of their mommy’s European ancestor who traveled to North America long ago, and of their daddy, who was born in Central America and came to the U.S. as a child. Readers take a look at the homes of two grandparents: a Latinx abuela and a white grandma. While these two women are very different, the similarities in visits to their homes are abundant: aunts and uncles who discuss work and politics, food from their respective traditions, pets, and gathering for celebrations. Visual details, such Grandma’s pieced quilt and a Central American textile pillow on the narrator’s bed, underscore the fluidity of biculturalism. A reader’s note after the story helps parents understand strategies for discussing cultural identity with children, supporting exploration of their culture and race, and dealing with discrimination. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inch double-page spreads viewed at 68% of actual size.)

Bicultural kids will feel seen in this sweet family story.