I AM, YO SOY

Orozco Belt pays tribute to the richness of the bicultural, bilingual experience.

Though the author starts off by addressing feelings of alienation—“Some days I feel like I am not from here, ni de aquí”—she emphasizes that identity isn’t a struggle but something worth celebrating. A variety of Latine children, who vary in skin tone, offer personal and unique perspectives, using food, sports, and holidays to render tangible a potentially complex and abstract concept. “I am football—gridiron, pigskin, touchdowns…And I am soccer—pass, shot, goal!” “I am ‘Happy Birthday to You.’ / Blow out the candles and make a wish…And I am ‘The Mornings.’ / Sung in the early morning, filled with joy.” National flags and references to specific customs—dancing bachata, observing Día de los Muertos—emphasize the diversity within Latine cultures. The book opens with a vibrant, contrasting palette, with hot hues set against cooler ones; Ortega maintains this color scheme while shifting to increasingly imaginative and expressive backdrops. Narrated in first person, with Spanish phrases sprinkled throughout (and color-coded translations for the English statements), it’s an engaging, easy-to-follow, and ultimately affirming work sure to leave readers smiling.

Sweet and empowering.