The River Is My Ocean
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A grandmother and granddaughter share a magical trip to the Hudson River affirming intergenerational love and the power of water in this heart-song of a picture book.
Every day, Abuela misses the ocean in Puerto Rico. But on Saturdays, when the sun is high, Abuela takes her granddaughter on a walk down the hill in Harlem to Twelfth Avenue, to a place that is just as magical: the Hudson River.
There, they admire the iconic waterway that brought millions of new Americans to its shores, make offerings to Yemaya, the goddess portrayed as a mermaid in ancient religions, and celebrate familial love passed down through the generations, showing the vastness of expansive intergenerational love, memory and the childlike curiosity they each inspire.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
While their abuela longs for the sea, a child narrator expresses love for the Hudson River—"the most beautiful river in the entire world"—in this intergenerational story with diasporic themes. Every Saturday, the Afro-Caribbean-cued duo merrily walk to the river to thank Yamaya, the mother of oceans and rivers, who's portrayed as a mermaid. By the water's edge, the child ruminates via contemplative prose from Cortez (The ABCs of Black History), "When I look at the Hudson, sometimes I feel quiet. Other times, I feel curious about all kinds of things. Or happy." Scribbly digital illustrations in fresh hues by Corrin (Layla's Happiness) convey the joy of the weekly ritual, while block lettering occasionally emphasizes phrases rendered in English and Spanish. En route home, a tender hug between the child and Abuela rounds out this gratitude-focused story. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note concludes. Publishing simultaneously in English and Spanish. Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Wendi Gu, Sanford J. Greenburger Assoc. Illustrator's agent: Nicole Geiger, Full Circle Literary.
