Yenebi's Drive to School

Every morning, I’m up at four o’clock. I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister, Melanie, to the car, where Mami’s waiting for us. ¡Se nos va a hacer tarde! For the next couple of hours, we’ll be in the car, driving—past tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la línea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That’s how we get to school every day. This is our normal. ¡Vamos! In a winning voice, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of a girl’s commute, a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi’s Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own. Young readers who take the bus to school or get driven a few blocks by their parents will see what makes them similar to kids like the author, even if the shape of their routines are different. FRESH APPROACH TO A CLASSIC TOPIC: The author turns the "back to school" trope on its head by making the book all about the trip, rather than focusing on apprehension or excitement about school itself. Perfect for: Teachers and librarians looking for Latinx picture books Parents looking for bilingual content and bicultural kids' books Kids who want to read about experiences different than their own Fans of Dreamers, Our Class is a Family, and The Name Jar