Yenebi's Drive to School

by Sendy Santamaria

Overview

Dreamers meets School's First Day of School in this vibrant story that puts a whole new spin on one loving family's morning drive to school.

Every morning, I'm up at four o'clock.

I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister Melanie to the car where Mami's waiting for us.

¡Se nos va hacer tarde! ¡Apurarse!

For the next two hours, we'll be in the car driving—past tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That's how we get to school every day. This is our normal. ¡Vamos!

In a winning voice and a bright palette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl's commute—a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi's Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own.

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY: By celebrating the daily details of a child's commute to school that reflects the author's experience, this universal and inviting picture book is truly a mirror, a window, and a door.
 
TIMELY TOPIC: An accessible approach to a serious (and seriously underdocumented) part of American life for many young readers. Teachers, librarians, and parents will appreciate the way this book blends the importance of current events in an easily understandable narrative that kids will enjoy following along with.
 
FAMILY-CENTRIC: The journey described in this story—a loving family's daily trip to school—is timeless and relatable, yet wonderfully specific.
 
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: Like Last Stop on Market Street, this book leans into the narrator (and creator)'s very particular experience and yet makes the individuality of such an experience highly relatable, communicating to readers that even their most personal routines are part of what connects them with all humans. Young readers who take the bus to school or get driven a few blocks by their parents will see what makes them similar to kids like the author, even if the shape of their routines are different.
 
FRESH APPROACH TO A CLASSIC TOPIC: The author turns the "back to school" trope on its head by making the book all about the trip, rather than focusing on apprehension or excitement about school itself. 

Perfect for:

• Teachers and librarians looking for picture books by Latinx creators
• Parents looking for bilingual content and bicultural kids' books
• Kids who want to read about experiences different than their own
• Fans of Dreamers, Our Class is a Family, and The Name Jar

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781797217857
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	06/27/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	101 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sendy Santamaria is an illustrator from San Diego currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up along both sides of the border between San Diego and Tijuana and spent a lot of time daydreaming on the San Diego Blue Line trolley. She received her BFA in Illustration from California College of the Arts. She enjoys storytelling with multiple mediums. Her work celebrates everyday narratives and Chicanx culture. She is inspired by migration, perseverance, pigeons, and love.

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/26/2023

A Latinx child narrates their family’s lengthy morning commute, across hours and over a border, in Santamaria’s vividly rendered, memorable debut. Awakened at 4 a.m. by Mami’s voice, Yenebi prepares for the day ahead: “I pack my backpack. I pack my sister’s too.” Wrapped in blankets, the two snuggle into the backseat of Mami’s car. “When we get on the road, every morning, I confront my archenemy... La Linea”—cars waiting to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. As Yenebi and Mami debate how long it will take, vendors walk between the cars selling goods, while roadside carts offer “anything from avena to tacos al vapor.” Digital illustrations mimic the bold texture of gouache, depicting the slow crawl of traffic, while the family’s bilingual conversations render a close-knit family’s everyday trip in this warm slice-of-life tale. A Spanish edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 3–5. (June)

Publishers Weekly

08/25/2023

K-Gr 2—A girl crosses the Mexico-United States border every day with her mother and sister to attend school in this sweet picture book. Waking up every day at 4 a.m., Yenebi and her younger sister practically sleepwalk through their daily routine. Bleary-eyed, they get dressed, get in the car, eat breakfast, and drive to the border, sometimes taking up to four hours to arrive at school. The family enjoys the commute, listening to banda music and eating yummy treats from the vendors selling their wares. Yenebi's narrative is matter-of-fact, while the cheerful illustrations denote the sense of warmth and connection she feels in her family. While the crossing itself doesn't include much angst, there are guards and dogs, hinting at the not-always-sunny experiences many people have migrating between the two countries. Careful readers might notice how the horizon becomes brighter as it grows later, from dark blues to pinks and turquoises. An author's note illuminates the inspiration behind the debut work, how the daily transit taught Santamaria patience, community, and perseverance. It also delves deeper into why the end papers feature pigeons with backpacks perched on fences—birds that traverse these artificial and unnatural divides with freedom. VERDICT A border story not often depicted in children's books, this is a strong choice for picture book shelves.—Shelley M. Diaz

School Library Journal

★ 2023-04-12
A trip to school takes on new meaning with the addition of a border crossing.

Yenebi’s morning routine is similar to most other students’. Each day the young Latine child wakes up to the sound of Mami’s voice and helps little sister Melanie get ready for the day, packing their backpacks and preparing to head to class. For Yenebi and Melanie, however, their 5 a.m. departure from home marks the beginning of a daily journey that will take several hours and span two countries. Mami drives the kids across la linea, the border, every weekday from their home in Mexico to attend school in the United States. The trip is prolonged by slow-moving traffic through the international checkpoint. Mami’s love is palpable in her words of encouragement and the way she provides for the children along the way. Yenebi’s observations of the wares—tamales, wallets, cellphone charges—that vendors sell along the roadway to the passing cars bring the trip to vivid life. These youthful impressions contrast with Mami’s unspoken desire to provide the children with educational opportunities in the United States and the lengths to which she’ll go to make it happen. Softly rounded illustrations bring the vibrant border towns to life. Spanish phrases and vocabulary are mingled into the English text. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A going-to-school story elevated by a mother’s devotion and a child’s dedication. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews