When We Love Someone We Sing to Them: Cuando Amamos Cantamos
Selected for the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow List. A reclamation of the Mexican serenata tradition, follow the story of a young boy who asks his father if there is a song for a boy who loves a boy. Como reapropiación de la serenata Mexicana, Cuando Amamos Cantamos cuenta la historia de un niño que le pide a su padre que canten una canción para un niño que ama a otro niño.
When We Love Someone We Sing to Them reframes a treasured cultural tradition to include LGBTQ experience. In this book, we learn about the Mexican tradition of singing to family and loved ones through one boy who naturally assumes the tradition includes him and his experience.
Watch a tradition expand as limitations are lifted to include everyone, all the way to remembering Xochipilli, the Mesoamerican deity of creativity, song, and dance.
A perfect book to bring tradition and inclusion into the conversation and support our LGBTQ young ones in knowing that they belong and always have, while providing pride in both our Mexican heritage and our LGBTQ culture and history as families.
A bilingual story with illustrations (English/Spanish)
About the Illustrator: Maya Gonzalez is an award-winning children's book illustrator and author. She has illustrated more than 30 children's books many of which she also wrote. Her books have been recognized by the Pura Belpré award, Américas Book Award, and International Latino Book Awards. She is the co-founder of Reflection Press. As part of the Press' mission to uplift new voices, she served as mentor for the writing of this book.
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Selected for the American Library Association's 2019 Rainbow List.
International Latino Book Award Winner - Best Children's Fiction Picture Book
"What a groundbreaking gem of a book that recognizes and celebrates the first heartbeats of a boy's crush on another boy. This sensitively written story and its stunning illustrations hold up to the light an emotional truth that has heretofore been whispered and sings it to life!"
- Rigoberto González, award-winning author, critic and educator
"A book for parents as much as for children that should have been published centuries ago."
- F. Isabel Campoy, award-winning children's book author and educator
"Families of all backgrounds will love this sweet, evocative, beautifully illustrated book. It transported me to childhood places and reminded me, now as a mom and educator, of how important it is to cultivate our "garden of memories" with mariposas, fuerza, and kindness. Trabajo conmovedor!"
- Renata Moreira, Executive Director, Our Family Coalition
"When We Love Someone We Sing to Them is touching, beautiful, and necessary. The intricate weaving of song through relationships--between parent and child, child and parents, child and love--gives life to a story that children can embrace from the heart."
- Innosanto Nagara, bestselling author of 'A Is for Activist' and more
"Every word and vibrant illustration in this book makes my heart flutter. How wonderfully refreshing to read a story that unstitches tradition to reweave it with enough space for us all."
- Lourdes Rivas, educator and author of They Call Me Mix
"A wonderful reminder to us as parents, guardians, and caregivers that children already recognize the harmony of el bonito amor and need us to help them share it."
- Manuel Muñoz, award-winning author and educator
