Good morning, today is Easter Morning. I wanted to share a last-minute addition to our Easter Gift Guide 2023: Yenebi’s Drive to School. I was BLESSED and received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. This children’s book is for ages 5-8. The nice part is the story is available in English and Spanish) from debut author Sendy Santamaria from ChronicleBooks.com.
Charlie can be so funny at times and its always random times when he comes up with these things. When Charlie does its so unexpected that it takes you off your feet. Which is what happened when Charlie saw our new children’s book sitting on my desk. Charlie says mom this is in Spanish. Do you know something I didn’t know.
Charlie can be so funny at times and its always random times when he comes up with these things. When Charlie does its so unexpected that it takes you off your feet. Which is what happened when Charlie saw our new children’s book sitting on my desk. Charlie says mom this is in Spanish. Do you know something I didn’t know.
I asked Charlie what you did mean? Charlie says this book is in Spanish. I didn’t know you could read Spanish. I just shook my head at Charlie and said no, only the first name might be considered Spanish. Charlie said mom look at the rest of the writing I can’t read that. I said yes, you can that is only Fancy Writing it’s not even cursive. Charlie took a closer look and said mom your right I can read the title. Then I let Charlie know if he wanted to learn Spanish which he had wanted to do in the past that.
We opened the book up for me to read and before I could start the story Charlie began to read the book to us. As David heard Charlie reading, he came and sat down beside us. As the story progressed, we had fun discussing what was happening and by the end of the book none of us wanted the story to end.
Charlie and I were so surprised to find out getting to school could take up to 4 hours. Would you want to drive that far to school because Charlie and I wouldn’t want to. I did like finding out there is vendors in the streets to purchase food from. I wish they did that here because sometimes we get stuck in traffic as well.
There were words like Border Patrol Charlie wasn’t sure of which we were able to look up for homeschool and add to our spelling test. Charlie also liked knowing they had a Dog with them, and we’ve decided to study that breed in our school. Before you ask us what type of dog it you must read the book to find out.
All in all, my family enjoyed Yenebi’s Drive to School and the beautiful illustrations. I believe this book should be in every school library as well as any Spanish Class the school has. As well as all children’s libraries. The book is for younger children but both older children and adults as well will enjoy the storyline.
About the book :
“Dreamers meets School’s First Day of School in this vibrant story that puts a whole new spin on one loving family’s morning drive to school.
Every morning, I’m up at four o’clock.
I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister Melanie to the car where Mami’s waiting for us.
Se nos va hacer tarde! Apurarse!
For the next two hours, we’ll be in the car driving-past Tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That’s how we get to school every day. This is our normal. Vamos!
In a winning, Sunny voice in a bright, friendly palette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl’s commute, a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi’s Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own.
Spanish Edition: El viaje de Yenebi a la escuela (Yenebi’s Drive to School Spanish edition)
Entre semana me levanto a las cuatro de la mañana.
Me cepillo los dientes, me visto y arrastro a mi hermana Melanie hasta el carro donde nos espera mami.
¡Se nos va a hacer tarde! ¡Apúrense!
Durante las siguientes dos horas viajaremos en carro. Pasaremos por los vendedores de tamales (mi parte favorita), por la línea (mi parte menos favorita) y cruzaremos la frontera hacia los Estados Unidos. Así es como llegamos a la escuela todos los días. Esta es nuestra rutina. ¡Vamos!
Con un tono ganador y radiante, y con una paleta brillante y cordial, la autora-ilustradora Sendy Santamaria hace su debut con esta historia sobre el viaje de una niña, un viaje que la propia Sendy hacía de niña como ciudadana estadounidense residente en México. El viaje a la escuela de Yenebi lleva a los lectores a recorrer un trayecto que muchos reconocerán como muy similar al propio.
Author Bio:
Sendy Santamaria is an Oakland-based Xicana illustrator and designer from the US-Mexico border region. She primarily paints traditionally with acrylic but has extended her palette with a variety of mediums including embroidery, ceramics, hand-lettering, printmaking, and mural arts. Her work celebrates hard work, family tradition, and observational narratives. She currently works at 826 Valencia: Tenderloin Center as a Design Associate, and she lives in Oakland, California.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
