Where Are You From?

by Yamile Saied Méndez

Hardcover, 2019

Status

Available

Collections

Favorites, Picture books

Publication

HarperCollins (2019), Edition: Illustrated, 40 pages

Description

"When a young girl is asked where she's from--where she's really from--she's no longer as she was. She decides to turn to her dear abuelo for some help with this ever-persistent question. But he doesn't quite give her the answer she expects."--Page [2] of cover.

User reviews

LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26

When classmates and acquaintances persistently ask her where she is from, refusing to accept her answer that she is from here, a young girl turns to her Abuelo (grandfather) for answers in this lovely new picture-book from author Yamile Saied Méndez and illustrator Jaime Kim. His poetic answers

allude to the young girl's Argentine and (possible) Puerto Rican heritage, but when she persists in her question, he replies that she is from his heart, and from the heart of all her ancestors...

A picture-book debut from Méndez, Where Are You From? highlights the unfortunate fact that some American citizens face rather insensitive questions about their heritage, questions that imply that somehow they (the ones being questioned) are less American than others. I appreciated the wisdom of Abuelo's replies, but I also appreciated the fact that the young girl here continues to question, in the face of those replies. Curiosity is natural, and much like her own interrogators, the girl wants definite answers. I'm not sure that parallel was one the author intended to highlight, but I thought it was interesting nevertheless. It's clear from various references - mention of the pampas and the condor in the text, a memorial to the May Revolution in the artwork - that the girl is part Argentine. Given that Méndez is married to a Puerto Rican, I would assume that the references here to a Caribbean island indicate that the girl is also of that heritage. This makes me think that perhaps the girl is one of the author's own children, and that perhaps this story reflects an experience she had?

Whatever the case may be, Where Are You From? is a lovely book, one which offers affirmation to children who may have confronted this kind of experience. It highlights the idea that while it's important to know where we come from, from a cultural heritage perspective, it is just as important to know that our families love us. The artwork from Jaime Kim, who also worked on Kate DiCamillo's La La La: A Story of Hope, is beautiful, boasting a deep and vibrant color palette and cute, stylized figures. Recommended to children who may have confronted this kind of questioning, or to anyone looking for children's stories exploring identity and heritage.

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LibraryThing member Jeneshyia

This diverse picture book tells the story of a young young who is constantly asked about where she is from by adults and her peers. Every question is a microagression. She turns to her grandfather, Abuelo, for answers. He responds with scenarios and situations that encompass where she is from. The

girl learns that she is from the heart of her ancestors. This book would be good to share with young readers during the beginning of a school year to build friendship and unity in the classroom.

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LibraryThing member stoehrkr

This sweet picture book would be a great easy introduction to how to talk about diversity with younger students. The unnamed young character is asked by other kids "where are you really from?" and she goes to ask her Abuelo. He tells her about all of the far off places in her history, noting a

characteristic that could be a headscarf or a thunderstorm. A teacher might talk about a particular page, how her Abuelo talks about both the southern and northern hemispheres. He finishes with telling her that she's from the love of all of the people who dreamed of her.

A great jumping off point to talk about differences and similarities of people, the different places people live and the same love and care of families.

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