Where Wonder Grows
Description
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, American Library Association (ALA)
ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Books, American Library Association (ALA)
Best Books, Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of the Year, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Skipping Stones Honor Award, Skipping Stones Magazine
Bookstagang Best Books of the Year, Bookstagang
A 2023 Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Winner
From the creators of the award-winning picture book All Around Us comes another lyrical intergenerational story exploring our connections to nature, family, and traditions.
When Grandma walks to her special garden, her granddaughters know to follow her there. Grandma invites the girls to explore her collection of treasures--magical rocks, crystals, seashells, and meteorites--to see what wonders they reveal. "They are alive with wisdom," Grandma says. As her granddaughters look closely, the treasures spark the girls' imaginations. They find stories in the strength of rocks shaped by volcanoes, the cleansing power of beautiful crystals, the mystery of the sea that houses shells and shapes the environment, and the long journey meteorites took to find their way to Earth. This is the power of Grandma's special garden, where wonder grows and stories blossom.
Product Details
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About the Author
Xelena González practices the healing arts through writing and movement. She is a storyteller, dancer, and visiting author who centers self-love in her multi-disciplinary workshops for all ages. Her award-winning picture books include All Around Us and Where Wonder Grows. A former librarian and enrolled member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, Xelena has become a sought-after speaker on topics such as radical self love, creative early literacy strategies, inhabiting story through music and movement, and reclaiming indigenous identity in Latinx communities. She still lives in San Antonio, where she grew up. Find out more at xelena.space.
Adriana M. Garcia is a visual artist, a muralist, and an illustrator. She is the recipient of a Pura Belpré Illustrator Award for Where Wonder Grows and a Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor for All Around Us, both picture books by Xelena González. Garcia has exhibited her artwork nationally and has presented at conferences, schools, and museums around the United States. She especially loves painting portraits of strong women to honor those who have come before and those who continue to lead by example. Garcia lives in San Antonio, Texas, and you can find her online at adrianamjgarcia.com.
Reviews
* "Enchanting. . . It's a sweet summoning emboldened by González's starry-eyed text, an assortment of phrases and statements that gesture toward the promise found in young readers everywhere. Garcia's muralist background lends itself here to striking, gorgeous artwork that embodies a whimsical sense of cosmic compassion. . . Simply dazzling." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Lyrical words by González (a member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation) emphasize the intergenerational ties that bind the characters and show Indigenous knowledge in the process of being passed down. Garcia's portraits center affectionate familial gestures alongside mural-like views of sunset skies and evocative representations of fire, earth, air, and water." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"González's poetic, eloquent writing is successfully complemented by Garcia's stunning paintings, full of color and energy. . . A thought-provoking, mind-expanding piece of art that shows gratitude to our planet." -- Booklist
"The team behind the Pura Belpré Illustration Honoree All Around Us here introduce readers to the wonder and healing power of the natural world and the importance of sharing in cultural traditions. . . Garcia's illustrations have a dream-like quality that pairs beautifully with González's spiritual yet grounded narration." -- Shelf Awareness
"Beautiful and meditative." -- Juana Martinez-Neal, award-winning author & illustrator
"A lyrical, wise story that explores family by exploring the earth. This book should be in every classroom and every home." -- Matt de la Peña, New York Times bestselling author
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, American Library Association (ALA)
ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Books, American Library Association (ALA)
Best Books, Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of the Year, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
Skipping Stones Honor Award, Skipping Stones Magazine
Bookstagang Best Books of the Year, Bookstagang
Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book, Texas Institute of Letters
Southwest Books of the Year, Pima County Public Library
