Recap: Beyond Borders Launch Event
Last week, we celebrated the launch of our new Beyond Borders bilingual children’s book series with DC’s Latin American Youth Center and Today at Apple Creative Studios. The young authors, representing eight countries around the world, used their own lived experiences to inspire four endearing and authentic stories centering immigrant families as the inaugural titles.
“We’re so happy for Shout Mouse Press and Apple Creative Studios to partner with our community of young people so they can innovate in this creative space,” says Latin American Youth Center President and CEO Lupi Quinteros-Grady. “It’s been fantastic to see our youth grow and build their skills, learning from their peers and guest artists.”
Authors: Mario Serrano, Jamileth Brito
Illustrator: Yurieli Otero-Asmar
In Searching for Sancocho, Jamileth and Mario wanted to write a book that celebrated the deep connection of family recipes and honored their lost loved ones. Aurora misses her abuela, who recently passed away. Neighbors and friends in D.C. keep bringing dishes to the house to help her family mourn, but all Aurora wants is Abuela's famous sancocho. After finding a magic pink bike that flies her all the way to the Dominican Republic, Aurora visits all Abuela’s old favorite places in hopes of finding the recipe. Will Aurora be able to find the secret ingredient and keep Abuela’s famous sancocho alive?
En En busca del sancocho, Jamileth y Mario quisieron escribir un libro que celebrara la conexión íntima de las recetas familiares y honrara a los seres queridos que han perdido. Aurora extraña a su abuela, la cual falleció recientemente. Sus vecinos y amigos en D.C. llevan comida a la casa para ayudar a su familia a pasar el luto, pero lo único que quiere Aurora es el famoso sancocho de Abuela. Después de encontrar una bicicleta rosada mágica que la vuela hasta la República Dominicana, Aurora visita todos los lugares favoritos de Abuela con la esperanza de encontrar la receta. ¿Podrá encontrar Aurora el ingrediente secreto y mantener vivo el famoso sancocho de Abuela?
ISBN: 978-1-950807-38-3
Age: 4-9
Lexile: AD530L
Page Count: 40
Published: Fall 2021
Each of the four incredible books in the Beyond Borders series is an exploration of the immigrant experience from a youth perspective. In Searching for Sancocho/En busca del sancocho (illustrated by Yurieli Otero-Asmar), Jamileth Brito and Mario Serrano wanted to write a book that celebrated the deep connection of family recipes and honored their lost loved ones.
“There are many young people who will be picking up these books and reading these stories, and they will be seeing themselves in these stories. So it is important to have the proper representation. As under-represented groups, a lot of the time you feel invisible.””
Authors: Tseganesh Chala, Joy Ugwu
Illustrator: Joy Ingram
In Joy-Grace and the Dress Dilemma, authors Joy and Tseganesh wanted to write a book about the challenges--and the beauty!--of having a multicultural identity. Joy-Grace is a fashionista, and this week is her school’s culture day. She wants to bring in a garment to reflect her background, but there’s only one problem: her family is from Nigeria, Jamaica, AND Ethiopia! Will Joy-Grace be able to find the perfect dress to celebrate all of who she is in time for culture day?
En Joy-Grace y el dilema del vestido, las autoras Joy y Tseganesh quisieron escribir un libro sobre las dificultades —y la belleza— de tener una identidad multicultural. Joy-Grace es una fashionista, y esta semana es el día de la cultura en su escuela. Quiere llevar un vestido que refleje sus raíces, pero solo hay un problema: su familia es de Nigeria, Jamaica y Etiopía. ¿Podrá Joy-Grace encontrar el vestido perfecto a tiempo para celebrar todas sus culturas?
ISBN: 978-1-950807-39-0
Age: 4-9
Lexile: AD570L
Page Count: 40
Published: Fall 2021
Joy-Grace and the Dress Dilemma/Joy-Grace y el dilema del vestido (illustrated by Joy Ingram), a story by Joy Ugwu and Tseganesh Chala, is about the challenges—and the beauty!—of having a multicultural identity.
“My dream for the young authors is that you never forget the possibilities of what you can do and never ever forget that you have stories to tell, that someone is listening, and that you’re never alone — there’s always someone who will feel seen in your words. Whether you continue to write or not, I hope that you keep telling stories and that you always take pride in them.”
Authors: Deyssy Mosso, Yenner Rengifo Chaverra
Illustrator: Fatima Seck
In Perla’s Magical Goodbye, Deyssy and Yenner wanted to write a book that reflects the experience of leaving home to move to another country. Perla has been friends with Pablo and Genesis for as long as they can remember. But now that Perla is moving away from her hometown of San Unicornio to the US, she is sad about leaving them. After making a wish at the town’s unicorn fountain, Perla and her friends are visited by a magical creature who helps them spend one last beautiful day together. How can Perla and her friends learn to hold onto these magical memories and say goodbye?
En El adiós mágico de Perla, Deyssy y Yenner quisieron escribir un libro que reflejara la experiencia de dejar su hogar y mudarse a otro país. Perla ha estado con sus amigos Pablo y Génesis desde que tiene memoria. Pero ahora que Perla se va a mudar de su pueblo natal, San Unicornio, hacia los EE. UU., está triste por dejarlos. Después de pedir un deseo en la fuente del unicornio del pueblo, Perla y sus amigos son visitados por una criatura mágica que los ayuda a compartir un último y hermoso día juntos. ¿Cómo aprenderán Perla y sus amigos a preservar estas memorias mágicas y decir adiós?
ISBN: 978-1-950807-40-6
Age: 4-9
Lexile: AD550L
Page Count: 40
Published: Fall 2021
Perla’s Magical Goodbye/El adiós mágico de Perla (illustrated by Fatima Seck), by Deyssy Mosso and Yenner Rengifo Chaverra, reflects the experience of leaving home to move to another country.
“My dream for the readers of Perla’s Magical Goodbye is that they enjoy it and they can see the magic behind the book. They are not going to see the process of writing the book, but they will see how illustrative it is. They will see the garden, the unicorn, the magic, all behind the story of immigration, and what the main character is leaving behind. I want them to see the magic, and feel it.”
Authors: Andy Pina, Antonia Marisol Garcia, Pedro Reyes, Yunior Jose Garcia
Illustrator: Ian L. Springer
In Jasmín Pictures Home, Andy, Marisol, Pedro and Yunior wanted to write a book that explores what it’s like to be different in a new country. In this book, a group of friends are the only kids in their school who are not from the same town. These four best friends are all immigrants --from four different countries!--and they all speak Spanish. Though they bond over their shared language and their shared love of soccer, it’s not always easy being different from everyone else. The newest arrival, Jasmin, is having the hardest time and she spends all her time drawing. Hector, Manolito, and Jorge don’t like seeing Jasmin struggle. Can they work together to help Jasmin see the beauty in being different?
En Jasmín ilustra su hogar, Andy, Marisol, Pedro y Yunior quisieron escribir un libro que explorara cómo es ser diferente en un país nuevo. En este libro, un grupo de amigos son los únicos en la escuela que no son del mismo pueblo. Estos cuatro mejores amigos son inmigrantes —de cuatro diferentes países— y todos hablan español. Aunque forman lazos a través de su idioma compartido y su amor hacia el fútbol, no siempre es fácil ser diferente a los demás. A la recién llegada, Jasmín, es a quien más le cuesta, y pasa todo su tiempo dibujando. A Héctor, Manolito, y Jorge no les gusta ver a Jasmín sufrir tanto. ¿Podrán trabajar juntos para ayudar a Jasmín a ver la belleza de ser diferente?
ISBN: 978-1-950807-41-3
Age: 4-9
Lexile: AD580L
Page Count: 40
Published: Fall 2021
And the four writer team of Andy Pina, Antonia Marisol Garcia, Pedro Reyes, and Yunior Jose Garcia wrote Jasmín Pictures Home/Jasmín ilustra su hogar (illustrated by Ian L. Springer) to explore what it’s like to be different in a new country.
“I would like to tell other young people that they have people around them to encourage them—teachers, family, and friends—people who will help them share their voice with the world. For example, the authors at LAYC worked together to make these books. Some of them were reluctant to share their ideas, but we supported each other. I made sure to encourage and support my teammates. So young people should also surround themselves with good friends and good teammates who will help them speak up.”
The authors are so excited to bring these stories into the world. “Before I started this program,” says author Jamileth Brito, “I didn’t imagine that I could write a book. But now, I wrote one and I feel proud.” They took great care crafting stories filled with important themes and messages. “I hope that readers can enjoy the story and learn. It is from our imagination, but it is also our personal experience,” says author Deyssy Mosso.
And our favorite part: we got to see the authors receive their books for the very first time.
“It’s been an honor to support the authors, illustrators and story coaches behind the scenes,” says Shout Mouse Executive Director Kathy Crutcher. “We’re especially proud of these ten young people for telling stories so close to their hearts.”
We are so pleased to celebrate these books. We hope you join us.