Review by Booklist Review
Gómez's bittersweet and beautiful picture book, inspired by her own childhood experiences, shows how a grandmother's house can feel like a magical, safe space for unexpected adventures. While the storyline here is simple--a grandmother and granddaughter take care of an injured bird and set it free--the meticulous images bring to life a more important, emotional lesson. The eloquent, poetic Spanish translation mirrors the comfort and joy the narrator feels in her grandmother's home, surrounded by compassion, nostalgia, and empathy for all living things, even when that means letting them go. Young readers will delight in the collage-like illustrations, where a bright yellow bird flits about, spreading joy and wonder. The lively palette and multimedia artwork come together to create a cozy haven in the house of Abuela, where life lessons are learned and cherished.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
A child and her abuela are walking in the snow when they discover an injured bird. They bring the bird home, and Abuela nurses it back to health. The bird has a cage, but Abuela lets it fly through the apartment as it recovers, to the child's (and the reader's) delight. When the creature is healed, Abuela sends it off to fly free, and it disappears into the clouds above the city. In the spring, the bird returns; the child wants to keep it, but Abuela says it should remain free but is welcome to visit whenever it wants. Spare, simple, first-person text, narrated from the child's point of view, leaves room for the sweet, collage-like illustrations to pull readers' attention into the story and hold them in this magical space. The illustrations exude the warmth and coziness of a dear relationship between a young child and loving caregiver, and this cherished relationship is enhanced by the new friend they make together. A combination of neutral and bright colors in the art creates eye-catching layers, while the straight lines of rooms and buildings balance the rounded shapes of the characters. The small yellow bird brightens up their apartment in the city, and Abuela's gentle lessons through her actions and words are easily inferred. Published concurrently in Spanish as Un pajaro en casa. Autumn Allen July/August 2021 p.80(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.