Kemp, Laekan Zea. Crown for Corina, A. Eliza Chavarri, Illus. Little, Brown, 02/2023. [33]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 4. $18.99. 978-0-7595-5684-3. OUTSTANDING.
On Corina’s birthday, her abuela guides her in making a Mexican flower crown, where each flower holds a special meaning and tells the story of her family. The illustrations are bright and detailed like papel picado and match the magic of a garden with their vibrant energy. The text is in Corina’s voice and flows well for a readaloud, with a few sentences on every other page. The sweet connection between Corina and her abuela shines through the text, with Abuela poetically explaining and Corina so excited to learn. In addition to being a book about celebrating Mexican traditions, Corina is an overweight child with an adorably illustrated double chin just like her abuela. Such a positive representation of fat kids is so rare and so needed. This book is perfect for a spring storytime and would appeal to young readers of a wide age range.
Megan Wolf—Mendocino County Library, Ukiah Branch