PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : The Interpreter by Olivia Abtahi & Monica Arnaldo

 

THE INTERPRETER

words by Olivia Abtahi, pictures by Monica Arnaldo

Kokila, 2025

ISBN: 978-0-593-62044-1

Source: purchased

Ages 6-10

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.Some kids have one to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work. Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?Olivia Abtahi’s clever text and Monica Arnaldo’s charming illustrations capture a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.

REVIEW

Cecilia has two jobs. The first is to be a soccer-loving kid. The second job is to serve as an interpreter for her parents. But working two jobs proves to be quite challenging for Cecilia. The illustrator highlights Cecilia's different roles using different clothing. When she's a kid, she dresses like one, often wearing her soccer uniform. When she's helping as an interpreter, she's wearing an extra large green suit with brown dress shoes. But what happens when juggling both 'jobs' becomes overwhelming? This loving tribute to immigrant families provides a glimpse into one of the challenges of being an immigrant family. The solution proves to be very satisfying. This wonderful window/mirror book fills an important need, highlighting a common experience. The combination of Spanish and English makes a nice touch allowing listeners and readers to get a feel for what it's like to switch between languages. The illustrations are not only adorable but highlight the change in languages making it easier to understand what's happening. A beautiful book all around. Highly recommended.