My Abuela Is a Bruja
About My Abuela Is a Bruja
From an award-winning author comes a vibrant and heartwarming story of the bond between grandmother and grandchild, with a touch of Puerto Rican magic!
My abuela is a bruja.
There is magic in everything she does.
There is nothing more magical than a grandmother’s love. But one lucky girl suspects her grandmother has actual magic. It’s in the tun-tun-tun of the way she dances salsa, in the warmth of her hugs, and the delicious smell of her cooking. The granddaughter wonders: will I have magic of my own one day?
Follow the magic in this heartfelt picture book that features extensive backmatter that includes two special recipes from Mayra Cuevas and uplifiting illustrations from Lorena Alvarez Gómez.
Trade Reviews:
School Library Journal STARED REVIEW –This book is a resounding triumph…
A day spent in a lush land with a girl and her abuela, deeply connected to nature and each other. Based on the author’s own upbringing in Puerto Rico, this lyrical story shows a little girl spending the day with her grandmother, whom she thinks is a witch because she can grow a bountiful garden and make delicious food. They show affection and respect for one another; they talk about the women who came before them, and those who will come after. This book is a resounding triumph, where heritage, family, nature, history, and love come together. The breathtaking illustrations and color palette will transport readers to a luminous, vibrant, tropical place. The detailed images invite children to explore each page with wonder and awe. The abuela and most characters have brown skin. The English edition includes Spanish throughout, and a glossary at the end. Both editions have photos and letters from the author, in addition to recipes. VERDICT A first purchase for libraries serving Spanish-speaking communities, especially those with Puerto Rican patrons.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books STARRED REVIEW - Cuevas’ writing carries a richness equal to the illustrations, with turns of phrase that capture the imagination…
Our young narrator revels in all the joy and fun her Abuela creates when the two are together in Puerto Rico—after all, Abuela is a witch of all kinds of magic, a bruja of the island, of the garden, of cooking, and of flan (to name just a few). Readers are treated to a walk-through of the girl and Abuela’s wondrous days that include swimming in waterfalls, making music with chancletas, preparing a delicious bruja feast, and snacking on flan for a nighttime treat. Fans of Alvarez Gómez’s graphic novel Nightlights (BCCB 2/17) will be pleased to see this picture book shares that title’s artistic style, with vivid color creating a visual feast and a skillful use of negative space capturing the vast raptures of the sky. Fantastical motifs create a dreamy atmosphere, as stars float through scenes to become Abuela’s kisses in the final pages, and notes from a guitar transform into coquis, hummingbirds, maracas, books, fruits, flowers, and seals. Cuevas’ writing carries a richness equal to the illustrations, with turns of phrase that capture the imagination that make the mundane miraculous, such as when the child turns a hose up toward the sky to water a garden and together child and grandmother “dance under the rainbow rain.” It is worth noting that in the Spanish version, seemingly written by Cuevas, there are not necessarily direct translations. The potent “la magia de mi abuela siempre vivirá en mí” (the magic of my grandmother will always live within me) is “Abuela’s magic will always be with me” in the English edition; still touching, but a notable difference. It’s therefore worthwhile obtaining both versions as they will move English and Spanish readers alike. Children and their adult readers will find a resonance with lines like “There’s magic in everything she does/hay magia en todo lo que hace, ” sure to call to mind a beloved woman in their lives. Back matter in both editions includes recipes for sofrito and flan.
Booklist STARRED REVIEW - A lovely, luminous story that reminds readers to look for a little bit of magic in everything they do.
“My abuela is a bruja,” a little girl confidently declares, and it’s easy to believe, as her Puerto Rican grandmother conjures swirling images with her songs and stories. She lives on a verdant hillside and infuses magic into every activity, from cultivating her flourishing garden to cooking up delicious dishes and calling on the frogs to sing them to sleep. The girl is desperate to know her abuela’s secret for making magic, but her grandmother reassures her that it already resides in her, just as it lived in all her ancestors and will reside in all their descendants. This beautiful book teems with life and love, and every vibrant spread is imbued with a wonderful warmth. Spanish words and phrases are woven throughout, and the text is joyful and lively. The stunning spreads are inviting and intimate, from the softly lit, record-stuffed house to the gloriously lush garden, and readers will long for repeat visits to this wondrous world. Back matter includes a glossary of Spanish vocabulary, recipes, a bit of Indigenous Puerto Rican history, and photos of the author’s own grandmother. A lovely, luminous story that reminds readers to look for a little bit of magic in everything they do.
KIRKUS REVIEW A heartfelt tribute to family, culture, and the everyday magic that connects us.
A child and her abuela spend cherished time together. The girl affectionately calls her grandmother a bruja—a witch—because of the magic that seems to infuse her every activity. Whether growing a garden rife with “rich beds of yuca” or whipping up flan that tastes of “sugary kisses and caramel dreams,” Abuela performs each task with such confidence and grace that witchcraft seems the only possible explanation. Eager to uncover Abuela’s secrets, the girl pays close attention to everything she does; she longs to discover her own magic, but Abuela gently counsels patience. She reveals that magic has always been within her, passed down through generations from their Taíno ancestors. Slowly, the girl begins to understand. Cuevas and Alvarez Gómez beautifully capture the tender bond between grandmother and granddaughter, set against the vibrant backdrop of Puerto Rico. Melodic language blends with illustrations bursting with color and detail, such as reinitas (black and yellow birds) and the güiro (a traditional Puerto Rican instrument). Tastes, sounds, scents, and feelings come alive on every page; this is a tale that celebrates cultural heritage and encourages readers to find magic in the quotidian. Abuela is brown-skinned with curly black-and-gray hair, while her granddaughter has light brown skin and curly black hair. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. A heartfelt tribute to family, culture, and the everyday magic that connects us. (glossary, recipes) (Picture book. 4-9)