In this touching, empowering picture book debut, a girl and her beloved abuelita lean on each other as they contend with racism while running errands in the city.

Spending time at home with Abuelita means pancakes, puddle-jumping, and nail-painting. But venturing out into the city is not always as fun. On the bus and at the grocery store, people are impatient and suspicious—sometimes they even yell. Sad, angry, and scared, the story’s young narrator decides not to leave home again . . . until a moment of empowerment helps her see the strength she and Abuelita share when they face the world together. Warm, expressive illustrations by Rafael Mayani highlight the tenderness in Abuelita and the narrator’s relationship.

Leonarda Carranza was born in El Salvador to a family of Indigenous and African ancestry. She holds a PhD in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto. Her children's book, Abuelita and Me, will be published by Annick Press in winter 2022. Her essays have been published in Room, The New Quarterly, Briarpatch, Humber Literary Review, and Best Canadian Essays. She is the winner of Briarpatch Magazine's seventh annual Writing in the Margins contest, was shortlisted for PRISM International's short forms contest, and was the winner of Room's 2018 short forms contest for her piece, "White Spaces Brown Bodies." She lives in Brampton

Leonarda Carranza's profile page

Rafael Mayani is a Mexican artist based in Vancouver, Canada. He draws inspiration from the vibrant colours and shapes of Mexico and the natural beauty of Canadian landscapes.

Rafael Mayani's profile page

• Nominated, Shining Willow Award
• Joint winner, Best Bets List, Ontario Library Association
• Joint winner, International Latino Book Award
• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Books Centre
• Nominated, Blue Spruce Award, OLA
• Joint winner, Kirkus Best Books List

“A bus driver’s prejudice forces a child to grapple with difficult emotions in this affecting story . . . A subtle resolution underlines pride in a personal act in lieu of real equity won, but the incident itself should prompt discussion of systemic racism and its manifold effects.”

Publishers Weekly, 05/26/22

“The book itself is very powerful and deals with many strong emotions that are realistic. Throughout ABUELITA AND ME, the artwork helps to convey when the emotions are light and happy or dark and angry . . . Highly Recommended.”

CM Reviews, 02/25/22

“Carranza poignantly addresses racism and microaggressions in this book about a brave and observant child . . . Mayani’s expressive illustrations use vibrant colors and warm tones to convey the story’s difficult topic in a comforting manner.”

Booklist, *starred review, 03/15/22

“With bright, expressive illustrations, this is an accessible, tender exploration of the ways in which many marginalized people experience the world.”

Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 05/01/22

“A beautiful story with equally resplendent illustrations!”

The Bookshelf Corner, 02/03/22

“An important book that reminds readers about the individual, collective and systemic actions needed to create fair and just communities.”

Toronto Star, 04/25/2022

“A resonant, intergenerational picture book about an important and necessary topic; highly recommended for children’s picture book collections.”

School Library Journal, 06/24/22