Starred Review Salvadorian author Carranza poignantly addresses racism and microaggressions in this book about a brave and observant child who sees how her Spanish-speaking, brown grandmother is treated by their community. Told from the girl's perspective, the story contrasts the fun, loving life she and her grandmother share inside their house with the treatment they receive outside of it. She notices how people change seats when her grandmother sits beside them and glare at them on the streets. But it's an interaction with a bus driver that is the focal point of this story. When her grandmother takes a seat before paying (so as not to fall while looking through her purse), the driver assumes she is trying to ride for free and yells at her. The young girl is so jarred she begins to cry and wants to hide inside forever. Abuela tries to sooth her, telling her that they are not the ones who have done something wrong. Eventually, the girl works up the courage to ride the bus again, and this time she's ready to stand up for herself and her abuela. Mayani's expressive illustrations use vibrant colors and warm tones to convey the story's difficult topic in a comforting manner. Young readers will clearly see how even small actions can hurt someone and that you cannot let one bad day take your joy away.

Stepping outside your front door can be scary when you don't know how the world will treat you and those you love.A child and their Abuelita-both brown-skinned and cued as Latinx-love spending the day together. But the world outside is a different story. Not everyone knows how special Abuelita is; sometimes people make faces or get up and walk away when she sits next to them. Abuelita always says, "It's okay, Amorcito"-she knows these people aren't worthy of her time. But one day, when Abuelita sits down on the bus before paying her fare-she's worried about falling-the driver yells at them ("You people are always trying to get away with something"). No one speaks up, and the child feels helpless. Back at home, the protagonist doesn't want to go out again for fear of a similar encounter, but with the help of Abuelita, the child finds the courage to face their fears. What could have easily come across as preachy or heavy-handed instead serves as a gentle but powerful reminder that even the smallest actions-a glance or a comment-can seem larger than life to a child. With bright, expressive illustrations, this is an accessible, tender exploration of the ways in which many marginalized people experience the world. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A soothing balm for children confronting an often angry, frightening world. (Picture book. 5-8)

Stepping outside your front door can be scary when you don't know how the world will treat you and those you love.A child and their Abuelita-both brown-skinned and cued as Latinx-love spending the day together. But the world outside is a different story. Not everyone knows how special Abuelita is; sometimes people make faces or get up and walk away when she sits next to them. Abuelita always says, "It's okay, Amorcito"-she knows these people aren't worthy of her time. But one day, when Abuelita sits down on the bus before paying her fare-she's worried about falling-the driver yells at them ("You people are always trying to get away with something"). No one speaks up, and the child feels helpless. Back at home, the protagonist doesn't want to go out again for fear of a similar encounter, but with the help of Abuelita, the child finds the courage to face their fears. What could have easily come across as preachy or heavy-handed instead serves as a gentle but powerful reminder that even the smallest actions-a glance or a comment-can seem larger than life to a child. With bright, expressive illustrations, this is an accessible, tender exploration of the ways in which many marginalized people experience the world. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A soothing balm for children confronting an often angry, frightening world. (Picture book. 5-8)

A bus driver’s prejudice forces a child to grapple with difficult emotions in this affecting story. Employing first-person narration, a child describes a separation between “inside” as a space where “we can be silly,” and “outside” as a locale where “sometimes, people are not nice to Abuelita.” On a trip to the store for sopa ingredients, the pair, portrayed with tan skin, first face a white-cued grocer’s impatience, and then the cruelty of a pink-skinned bus driver who thinks they are trying to ride for free. After the incident, the child, sad and angry, refuses to go out again, but Abuelita’s patient support (“What happened is not our fault. We are not the ones that need to hide”) helps them return out of doors. 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. In rust and beige hues, Mayani’s dramatic graphics partner readily with the book’s lines. Ages 4–7. (Apr.)

PreS-Gr 2 A young girl loves doing things indoors with her Abuelita, such as eating pancakes, drawing, and painting nails. Going outdoors, however, is a different matter. At the grocery store, on the street, at the bus stoppeople take a look at Abuelita and make faces or pretend they can't understand what she is saying. After an outing that ends in a very upsetting experience with a prejudiced bus driver, the little girl doesn't want to go outside again. Abuelita tries to comfort her and explain that they did nothing wrong, but the young girl becomes sad and then angry when she thinks of Abuelita being upset. Eventually, the young girl and her grandmother go outside and board the bus, giving each other strength, comfort, and love. Warm, luminous illustrations express the love and happiness of the protagonist and her abuelita as they enjoy each other's company, while also showing readers their very feelings of sadness and worry. Clear, concise sentences express the girl's confusion, thoughts, and worries over Abuelita's treatment by others. This moving story will open up important discussions about racism and prejudice against people of marginalized backgrounds, including those who speak a different language. The digital art is composed of mostly oranges and purples, perfect for representing the tender relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. The pair have varying degrees of brown skin. Many of the scenes depict a diverse, bustling city. VERDICT A resonant, intergenerational picture book about an important and necessary topic; highly recommended for children's picture book collections.Selenia Paz