Review 6 - Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border

    Perkins, Mitali and illustrations by Palacios, Sara. Between us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019. Ages 3 and up.


Do you have a little one with questions about the border? This book follows the story of a family meeting up with their grandmother for Las Posadas Sin Fronteras, which is a Mexican celebration that occurs on the border of Tijuana and Los Angeles. The book has sprinkles of the Spanish language and highlights the resilience and struggles of families separated by the border. It is an informative read with moving, expressive illustrations to further connect readers to the story. The illustrations are detailed, colorful, and highly engaging. They further aids in the understanding of how the border works while highlighting culture and unity. Readers might relate to the family or just want exposure to another culture. The book highlights the theme of family separation, keeping memories alive, and a great discussion started for immigration and deportations happening today. That being said, one thing to note is how positive and uplifting this story is portrayed while the realities of deportation rarely result in happy endings. As a kids book, I would recommend it to parents as a starting point and does a great job sharing of the Las Posadas Sin Fronteras holiday


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