Julia goes to stay with her grandmother for the first time without her parents. And there is Something about Grandma and something about her house, the area she lives, the town and more. The things Julia does with her grandmother are different. They have sugar bread that is brought to them in a basket, that the lady delivery it places on her head. There are different smells, colors and hot chocolate can cure homesickness. Her grandmother knows when Julia has picked limes from the garden, she can see the future when Julia rides her bike too fast, and she has good stories, memories, and Julia fits just right in her arms for snuggles.
The publisher description says heartfelt illustrations that are by Tania de Regil, who also happens to be the author and their text is heartfelt, too. There is a lot of love on and in the pages. You see, de Regil has used hand-written (by her grandmother) poems of her great-grandfather into the backdrop. The entire artwork is delightful, colorful, and clever. It is something to experience.
I would see this working best for one-one-one reading, but due to the fact the grandmother is from Mexico it could work in a classroom if studying current events but are not looking for a specific current event. Or it would work for a study of generations, family, or the history of your or the student’s personal history.
I am not “jumping up and down” over this book, or even think it might become a classic. However, it could find a special place on your reading shelves, and in your reading lineup.
