GRANDMA’S HAIR IS ANKLE LENGTH / EL CABELLO DE ABUELA LE LLEGA HASTA LOS TOBILLOS

Written by Adriana Camacho-Church

Illustrations by Carmen Lop

 

ISBN: 978-1-55885-989-0

Publication Date: May 31, 2024

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Imprint: Piñata Books

Ages: 4-8

 

Bilingual picture book highlights the loving relationship between a child and her elder and the beauty of the natural world  

 

In this poetic ode to grandmothers, a young girl likens her abuela’s long hair to strength, security and understanding. The black strands speak of “finding courage in the unknown,” while the white ones represent wisdom and hope.

 

Camacho-Church evokes the natural world with references to creatures such as owls and dragonflies, plants like roses and wildflowers, and sunlight, the moon and waterfalls. The girl wonders if her own hair will one day tell stories, and her grandmother assures her it already “holds the whispers of her ancestors.”

 

With stunningly beautiful illustrations by Carmen Lop that depict a loving intergenerational relationship playing out against the backdrop of nature, this bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 confirms both the importance of the world in which we live and the love between an elder and a child. “Grandma and I hug, and our hair flows together as one.”

 

 

“In this bilingual story told in English and Spanish, a child sees magic, beauty and wonder in a beloved grandmother’s hair. This lyrical story makes clear that self-love can be passed down and taught through generations. With time and encouragement, young people can become as strong and powerful as those they admired when they were young. Vibrant and expressive illustrations filled with swirling, vivid linework emphasize the bonds between family members and make references to Mesoamerican ancestry and gods. Both characters are brown-skinned and cued Latine. A gentle lullaby: poetic, sweet, and moving.”—Kirkus Reviews

 

 

Adriana Camacho-Church is the author of a picture book, Grandma, Where Will Your Love Go? / Abuela, ¿adónde irá tu amor? She was born in Colombia and grew up in Chicago and Los Angeles. She currently lives and works in Delaware.

Carmen Lop is a Mexican artist based in Los Angeles. Her work has been selected for inclusion in the 3rd Biennial of Illustration by Pictoline 2022 and the XXXVI Catálogo de Ilustradores de CONACULTA 2016. This is her first picture book.