Mercedes Sosa: Voice of the People- Mercedes Sosa: La voz del pueblo

Written and Illustrated by Aixa Pérez-Prado

Publisher: Lee & Low Books; Standard Edition (September 17, 2024)

Hardcover: ‎40 pages

ISBN-10: 0892394706

ISBN-13: 978-0892394708

A stirring picture book biography of one of Latin America's most beloved singers and political activists, Mercedes Sosa.

Have you ever heard a song that made your heart soar?

A canción that captured your corazón?

A voice so powerful that it made you feel ready to change the world?

This is the story of a singer whose voice sailed through the air like the wings of a condor,

inspiring people everywhere.

Written and illustrated by Aixa Pérez-Prado, this is the powerful biography of Argentinean folksinger and activist Mercedes Sosa. Affectionately known as La Negra, Mercedes used her musical talents and powerful voice to speak out against poverty and inequality in her home country. In the face of a cruel dictatorship, Mercedes refused to be silenced. She bravely stepped on stage to lend a "voice to the voiceless" with uplifting songs of empathy and empowerment. Her unforgettable music and messages of hope continue to resonate with people across the world to this day.

Una conmovedora biografía ilustrada de una de las cantantes y activistas políticas más queridas de América Latina, Mercedes Sosa.

¿Alguna vez has oído una canción que te elevó a lo más alto?

¿Una canción que capturó tu corazón?

¿Una voz tan poderosa que te hizo sentir listo para cambiar el mundo?

Esta es la historia de una cantora cuya voz navegó por el aire como las alas de un cóndor,

inspirando al pueblo en cada latido de la tierra.

Escrita e ilustrada por Aixa Pérez-Prado, esta es la conmovedora historia de la cantante folklórica y activista política argentina Mercedes Sosa. Conocida cariñosamente como la Negra, Mercedes utilizó su talento musical y su poderosa voz para denunciar la pobreza y la desigualdad en su país. Ante una cruel dictadura, Mercedes se negó a ser silenciada. Con valentía subió al escenario para "dar voz a los que no tienen voz" con canciones edificantes de empatía y empoderamiento. Su música inolvidable y sus mensajes de esperanza continúan resonando en personas de todo el mundo hasta el día de hoy.

Review

"Distilling Argentina's history into accessible text, the work ends on an uplifting note, discussing how the figure's 'songs of empathy and esperanza, fearlessness and fuerza helped the country begin to heal.'" -- Publishers Weekly

"Accessible Spanish terms used within context pop up throughout the pages, enriching the text.... The illustrations add intensity, using rich hues, cutouts, and color overlays to enhance the drama of the action, punctuating the emotions beneath Sosa's lyrics and emphasizing the courage it took to sing those songs during the repressive regime. A fitting tribute to an exceptional woman." -- Booklist

Aixa Pérez-Prado is an author, an illustrator, and a university professor of linguistic and cultural studies. Originally from Buenos Aires, she crafts stories that explore intersectional identities, the need for belonging, and the richness of bilingualism. In her early years, Aixa found inspiration in the powerful voice of Mercedes Sosa and was drawn to the profound messages of social justice, human rights, and compassion in her music. These messages prompted her to embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, exploring her own blended Indigenous and European heritage through the mediums of art, literature, and music. Aixa lives with her family in Miami, Florida. You can learn more about her at aixaperezprado.com.