Publishers Weekly
★ 09/26/2022
One family’s resilience amid disaster is the soaring note in this full-throated tribute to Puerto Rico’s survival following Hurricane María. At sunrise, amid the rural lushness of the child’s mountain home, narrator Elena climbs atop a corrugated roof to pick from Abuela’s mango tree, its fruit, writes González, “the sweetest snack.” “And when night falls, a song fills the air”—the serenade of the coquí frogs—to which Elena responds, “Co-quí, Co-qui. Oh, how I love thee.” That love proves sustaining as a hurricane tears the roof from the family’s house and defoliates the countryside. The family emerges, “wet and scared, but we are alive,” in a picture book that centers garden as gathering place, “where seeds of hope are planted.” Quiles communicates abundance, joy, and loss through expressive brushwork: the jewel-toned gouache and acrylics, finished digitally, produce detailed, almost-pluckable mangoes, while rough strokes depict the coming-apart of the fabric of daily life. Endnotes convey the larger message: self-determination for Puerto Rico. Available in English and Spanish editions. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"What a story of resilience and community! The Coquies Still Sing gives the reader the opportunity to recognize the things that we can do together to rebuild our lives and take care of our beloved communities. This book is more than beautiful." - Yuyi Morales, Caldecott Honoree and New York Times bestselling creator of Dreamers
"González’s melodic text sings, like Elena’s beloved coquíes, while Quiles’ gouache and acrylic artwork pops with vibrant hues and textures. . . A heartfelt reminder that even in the most difficult times, dreaming of a better tomorrow strengthens family and community." - Kirkus, starred review
"One family’s resilience amid disaster is the soaring note in this full-throated tribute to Puerto Rico’s survival following Hurricane María. . . Quiles communicates abundance, joy, and loss through expressive brushwork: the jewel-toned gouache and acrylics, finished digitally, produce detailed, almost-pluckable mangoes, while rough strokes depict the coming-apart of the fabric of daily life." - Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A hopeful yellow permeates Quiles’s textured gouache and acrylic...illustrations, visible in the flesh of a mango, candlelight during the storm, glowing seeds of “gold,” and finally the returning coquíes. González’s sensory text captures Elena’s complex feelings, the lingering damage in the aftermath of the hurricane, and the ways she finds optimism and strength in her community and nature." - Horn Book Magazine
School Library Journal
07/22/2022
PreS-Gr 2—The strength and hope of a young girl, her family, and her country after a devastating hurricane is shared in this beautiful picture book. When Hurricane María makes landfall in Puerto Rico, Elena and her family take refuge in their home, hiding in the closet as the rain falls in sheets and the wind howls, tearing off the roof and soaking everything in its path. In the aftermath, the mango tree that provided shade, sweet mangoes, and a perch for the coquíes that share their nightly song, stands bare and battered. The coquíes go quiet. Elena's family and their neighbors work to repair their homes, creating a garden where they share fruits and vegetables. Eventually, the mango tree provides shade again, and they hear the song of the coquíes once more. The heartfelt, lyrical text conveys the resilience of Elena and her family; each sentence is full of a simplicity and beauty---in both English and Spanish editions. Even when describing how Elena's family is preparing for what would be one of the most destructive hurricanes in Puerto Rican history, each word is necessary and each sentence reads as an essential part of a larger poem. Readers will sing along with Elena to the lyrical "Co-quí, co-qui" tune, the joy the song brings evident on the characters' faces. The gouache and acrylic illustrations are vibrant and magical, illuminating Elena's home as she shares time with her family and pulling readers into a darkness as the hurricane makes landfall. VERDICT An inspiring picture book full of love and wonder for Puerto Rico, it is highly recommended for library collections for children.—Selenia Paz
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-07-13
The sounds of returning coquí frogs bring hope after a devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico.
Elena, a child, lives with their abuela, papí, and younger brother in an idyllic tropical home. The mango tree in the yard provides sweet fruit and shade, and the coquíes sing their song in the garden every night. Disaster comes in the form of Hurricane María, which makes landfall on Elena’s island. Howling winds and rain pummel the family’s home and devastate the landscape. The storm is harrowing, but the family makes it through. Elena’s beloved mango tree has been severely damaged, and “the coquíes’ song is silent.” Elena and their neighbors work to rebuild their homes and community. Elena processes the numerous losses they have experienced and waits patiently for the coquíes to return. When the mango tree begins to sprout new buds, Abuela reminds Elena how strong they are. When the coquí song again rings out, Elena knows that even though their home is forever changed, some things will always remain the same. This is a poignant family story that details a real-life tragic event and the courage of its survivors. González’s melodic text sings, like Elena’s beloved coquíes, while Quiles’ gouache and acrylic artwork pops with vibrant hues and textures. Elena has brown skin and wavy brown hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A heartfelt reminder that even in the most difficult times, dreaming of a better tomorrow strengthens family and community. (glossary, information on Hurricane María, author’s and illustrator’s notes, list of organizations devoted to conservation and biodiversity efforts) (Picture book. 6-10)
