PICTURE BOOK REVIEW: We Are One by Jackie Azua Kramer & Raissa Figueroa & Nina Mata
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATORS
Jackie Azúa Kramer is the author of many books, including The Boy and the Gorilla, illustrated by Cindy Derby; I Wish You Knew, illustrated by Magdalena Mora; and The Green Umbrella, illustrated by Maral Sassouni. Her books have been named a Best of the Best Book by the Chicago Public Library and to Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list. Jackie lives with her family in New York. Visit her at www.jackieazuakramer.com.
Instagram: @jackie_azua_kramer
Twitter: @JackieKramer422
Niña Mata has illustrated many children’s books, including New York Times bestsellers She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez and I Promise by LeBron James, and the Ty’s Travels series by Kelly Starling Lyons, for which she became a Theodor Seuss Geisel Award honoree. Niña lives in New Jersey with her family. Find her online at www.ninamata.com.
Instagram: @ninamataart
Twitter:@msbeautifique
Raissa Figueroa is the illustrator of a number of children’s books, including We Wait for the Sun by Katie McCabe and Dovey Roundtree, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor book; as well as the Oona series, written by Kelly DiPucchio; and Princess Unlimited by Jacob Sager Weinstein. She lives in California. You can visit her at www.rizzyfig.com.
Instagram: @rizzyfig
Twitter: @rizzyfig
REVIEW
The gorgeous combined illustrations by Raissa Figueroa and Nina Mata jumped out at me as soon as I picked up the book. It's fascinating the way the two families are portrayed by the different illustrators and then come together. I don't know how they integrated the two styles so seamlessly but they do so beautifully. The illustrations follow the experiences of two girls getting ready for and traveling to a lantern festival with their families. One girl goes with her mother and dog, the other girl goes with her two dads and brother. The text is a poem about the connections we all share: "You and me and all around us... All that we see, touch, hear ... we are one". Using a variety of different comparisons such as waves and seashells, harmony and chorus, spark and idea, the author shows how despite our differences we can come together to create beautiful things. The two girls and their families meet at the festival where they build and release a lantern together. The imagery is beautiful but abstract enough that some young readers may need some help understanding it. This would be a great book for children to read together with someone.
SAMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS
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