• Age: 4 to 8
• Grade: p to 3

Sometimes all you need is a keepsake to make any place feel like home.

Aurelia has left her home, and her beloved grandmother — Abuelita — to move to Canada with her mother. At first she’s excited about her new neighbourhood with the big trees. She loves her room, which Mami says she can paint any colour she wants. And she’s looking forward to starting school and making new friends.

But school isn’t what she expected. Some of her classmates tease her for being different, and she’s left out of schoolyard games. She ends up feeling quite alone. With the help of a blanket Abuelita has given her, and the love it signifies, Aurelia returns to school with a new perspective and makes a true connection.

Inspired by the author’s own experiences, this story is a touching and age-appropriate depiction of what it’s like to experience racism and exclusion, and what it means to find friendship.

LEONARDA CARRANZA est née à San Salvador, au Salvador, et vit maintenant à Brampton, en Ontario. Elle est titulaire d’un doctorat en éducation à la justice sociale de l’Université de Toronto. Son premier album illustré, Abuelita and Me, a été mis en nomination pour le prix Blue Spruce et a gagné le prix International Latino Book en 2022.

LEONARDA CARRANZA was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, and currently lives in Brampton, Ontario. She holds a PhD in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto. She is the winner of Briarpatch Magazine’s Writing in the Margins contest. Her picture book Abuelita and Me (Annick) was nominated for the Blue Spruce Award and won the International Latino Book Award 2022 (best fiction picture book in English).

Leonarda Carranza's profile page

ERIKA RODRIGUEZ MEDINA est une illustratrice et une publiciste mexicaine qui vit maintenant au Canada. Ses éléments préférés dans les illustrations sont les personnages expressifs, les lignes griffonnées et les textures granuleuses. Le folklore, les histoires effrayantes, les grandes plantes d’intérieur et les objets que l’on trouve généralement chez sa grand-mère occupent une place particulière dans son cœur.

ERIKA RODRIGUEZ MEDINA is a book illustrator and publicist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her favourite things to illustrate are expressive characters, grumpy children and nature. She is particularly interested in mythology and folklore from her home country of Mexico. Her previous work includes Fighting Words — also by Leonarda Carranza — Margot and the Moon Landing, There Goes Patti McGee! and 48 Grasshopper Estates.

Erika Rodriguez Medina's profile page

Praise for Leonarda Carranza:

“It’s an excellent message to potential anger-prone readers, wrapped in an understanding tone. Medina’s brisk, dynamic artwork whisks the action from page to page, boasting humorous creature letters with mean smiles and gruff frowns.” — (Fighting Words) Kirkus Reviews

“Carranza poignantly addresses racism and microaggressions in this book about a brave and observant child.” ― (Abuelita and Me) Booklist, *STARRED REVIEW

“With bright, expressive illustrations, this is an accessible, tender exploration of the ways in which many marginalized people experience the world.” ― (Abuelita and Me) Kirkus Reviews, *STARRED REVIEW

“A resonant, intergenerational picture book about an important and necessary topic; highly recommended for children’s picture book collections.” ― (Abuelita and Me) School Library Journal

“An important book that reminds readers about the individual, collective and systemic actions needed to create fair and just communities.” ― (Abuelita and Me) Toronto Star