My Tata's Remedies / Los remedios de mi Tata

By Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford

Illustrated by Antonio Castro L.

•    Age Range: 7 - 11 years
•    Grade Level: 1 - 6
•    Hardcover: 40 pages
•    Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press (May 5, 2015)
•    Language: English
•    ISBN-10: 1935955918
•    ISBN-13: 978-1935955917

A bilingual story of family and traditional wisdom: Tata teaches grandson Aaron natural remedies through healing neighbors and family.

"This charming little book will introduce young readers to safe and effective natural remedies from the native traditions of the American Southwest. A good way to learn about the healing power of plants."—Andrew Weil, MD

Aaron has asked his grandfather Tata to teach him about the healing remedies he uses. Tata is a neighbor and family elder. People come to him all the time for his soothing solutions and for his compassionate touch and gentle wisdom. Tata knows how to use herbs, teas, and plants to help each one. His wife, Grandmother Nana, is there too, bringing delicious food and humor to help Tata's patients heal. An herbal remedies glossary at the end of the book includes useful information about each plant, plus botanically correct drawings.

Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford grew up in Nogales on the Arizona-Mexico border. Born into a pioneering Jewish family with roots in Eastern Europe, Roni embraced the languages, cultures, and people on both sides of the border. Now a retired bilingual educator, her first book, My Nana's Remedies / Los Remedios de mi Nana, is a classic, a parent's and teacher's friend for teaching children traditional values.

Antonio Castro Lopez (L.) was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and has lived in the Juarez-El Paso area for most of his life. He has illustrated dozens of childrens’ books including Barry, the Bravest Saint Bernard (Random House), Pajaro Verde, The Treasure on Gold Street, The Day It Snowed Tortillas, The Gum-Chewing Rattler, and most recently, My Pet Rattlesnake, his fourth collaboration with renowned storyteller Joe Hayes.

Antonio often works with his son, Antonio Castro H., who is one of Cinco Puntos' primary designers. When Antonio illustrates a book, his son and he plan the book design and the artwork together so that the books they create are made hand in hand by father and son.

In 2005, the government of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, commissioned Antonio to paint a mural for the government palace. The mural commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Tomochic. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Texas, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Spain and Italy.