From the Publisher
A PURA BELPRÉ AUTHOR HONOR WINNER
★ "A heartening story emphasizing the real ways generous people step up in a crisis." —Booklist, starred review
"A hopeful story that encourages compassion." —Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
07/22/2022
PreS-Gr 2—When their community is no longer safe and with more of their friends leaving, Noemi and her mother begin the journey to the border. Alone at first, they are soon joined by others hoping to cross into the United States. Noemi and her mother are worried to find that they must wait until their number is called before they can try to receive permission to cross—a number that is recorded in a notebook by the notebook keeper, Belinda. As days turn to weeks and Noemi sees the difficulties people around her are also facing, she is inspired by Belinda's kindness and begins to spread that kindness with her actions. When Belinda's own number is called, she chooses Noemi and her mother to continue the work as notebook keepers. The color pencil and gouache illustrations depict the many families that have made the journey for a better life and their life in the camp, while also showing readers the worry and fears etched into the faces of Noemi, her mother, and those around them. The short sentences and soft narration, from Noemi's point of view, are sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases and convey her worries as well as her determination to be a source of encouragement for others as they wait their turns. VERDICT A unique perspective on the difficulties facing families who wait at the border that makes abstract occurrences relatable and realistic, this picture book's young narrator spreads a message of hope and kindness.—Selenia Paz
SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
The talented and capable María José Zuniga narrates this story about kindness at the Mexican-American border. Young Noemi and her mother, who are seeking asylum, arrive at the border and put their names in a notebook. The notebook lists people waiting to plead their cases to the American authorities. A kind woman named Belinda, the notebook keeper, encourages everyone to remain positive. Zuniga skillfully switches between a Mexican accent to a neutral American accent, making the English dialogue in the audiobook sound authentic. Words and phrases in Spanish are spoken in a perfect Mexican accent. Zuniga conveys fear and uncertainty by effectively using a quivering voice. She also successfully expresses happiness and positivity. The production starts and ends with Mexican music. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
The talented and capable María José Zuniga narrates this story about kindness at the Mexican-American border. Young Noemi and her mother, who are seeking asylum, arrive at the border and put their names in a notebook. The notebook lists people waiting to plead their cases to the American authorities. A kind woman named Belinda, the notebook keeper, encourages everyone to remain positive. Zuniga skillfully switches between a Mexican accent to a neutral American accent, making the English dialogue in the audiobook sound authentic. Words and phrases in Spanish are spoken in a perfect Mexican accent. Zuniga conveys fear and uncertainty by effectively using a quivering voice. She also successfully expresses happiness and positivity. The production starts and ends with Mexican music. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-04-27
Waiting to cross the border is no easy task.
A young girl named Noemi and her mother leave Mexico in search of a safer place to live. Arriving at the border, they must wait. They give their names and country of origin to the kind Notebook Keeper, Belinda, a volunteer tasked with keeping track of asylum seekers waiting to plead their cases. Each day, Belinda calls out the names of those who can move forward in the process. The author’s note explains that this is based on a real-life process at the San Ysidro Border Crossing in Tijuana. Noemi and Mamá wait for days, then weeks. Belinda encourages them to stay hopeful and explains that she was picked to become the Notebook Keeper—and how she will select her own replacement when her number is finally called. Taking a cue from Belinda, Noemi decides to stay positive and be kind to those around her. She and her mother are eventually chosen to be the new Notebook Keepers when Belinda’s number comes up. Noemi and Mamá are Mexican and brown-skinned; other asylum seekers at the border represent a variety of ethnicities and brown skin tones. The story is uncomplicated and earnest while explaining a deeply nuanced aspect of attempting to enter the United States as a refugee. Dreamy colored pencil, pastel, gouache, and Photoshop collage illustrations put a human face on the real struggle facing so many refugees today. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A hopeful story that encourages compassion. (sources) (Picture book. 5-10)
