Together we remember

In Morera and Encarnación's wistful bilingual story, imagination-fueled play helps "chase the blues away" for a father and child. Taking inspiration from previous dreams of adventure ("The ones from before./ When Mami was here"), Papi and young Gisele travel to a pink sand beach via a plane full of stuffies and give a concert on the moon, among other fantastic explorations. With painted textures and scanned elements, artwork centers on the duo's shared affection--particularly captured in a scene of the two curled up on the couch, paging through a photo album ("a book that lets you travel through time"). Traces of Mami, too, appear throughout this loving work about a family's bond. Characters cue as Latinx. An author's note concludes. Ages 4--8. (May)

Giselle and her Papi are still adjusting to life without Mami. They once dreamed of all the adventures they would have together. But now, Papi's smile no longer reaches his eyes, and Giselle wishes she could lift his spirits. She remembers all the things they'd promised to do "one day" and finds inspiration in a quote from Mami: "Why can't one day be today?" Giselle sets out to make their dreams a reality. Through the power of imagination, Giselle and Papi embark on fantastical journeys to a sandy beach, a sparkling waterfall, a "city run by animals," a magical wardrobe, and more--all without ever leaving home. As they play, Papi begins to brighten, and together they create a scrapbook filled with photos and mementos to remember Mami. Richly detailed, color-saturated illustrations bring Giselle and Papi's explorations to life. The narrative is vague about the reason for Mami's absence, allowing a wide variety of readers to see themselves in this tale. The heartfelt story beautifully captures the healing power of play and the bond between father and daughter as they navigate loss together. Giselle and Papi have light brown skin and brown hair and occasionally sprinkle Spanish words and phrases into their conversations. An imaginative journey through grief, love, and the promise of adventures yet to come. (notes from author and Make Me a World founder Christopher Myers)(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.