Only a Trenza Away - Nadine Fonseca - ★★★★.½

-
AUTHOR: Nadine Fonseca
ILLUSTRATOR: Camila Carrossine
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
RATING: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: Such a sweet story about a father-daughter bond being strengthened by their trenza time. Loved this debut work!


Xiomara is a little girl who eagerly awaits her father’s return from office every evening. After all, that’s their special together time, when Papa braids her hair and tells her amazing stories woven around her braid (trenza.) One evening, when Papa gets stuck until late in office, Xiomara and her hair suffer the consequences of not having the nightly trenza time. But on his return, Papa makes her understand the significance of her trenza, how it is connected to her confidence, and reminds her that he is ‘only a trenza away.’


‘Trenza’ is Spanish for ‘braid.’ Who could imagine that an entire story would be woven around braids! And such a lovely one at that! Father-daughter bonds are the strongest, and hence such picture books celebrating this loving relationship are a treat to me.

I adored how braids form a substantial part of the narrative in this picture book through the textual content, the message, as well as the illustrations. What I liked even more is how her father played the main role during trenza time. It’s not like Xiomara didn’t have a mother – she does. But trenza time is daddy time, and no one can take Papa’s place. I adored this creative choice of depicting a father skilfully handling what is traditionally considered a mother’s job in parenting.

I would have been happy just to see this loving daddy-daughter bond on the page. But the book goes a step beyond and incorporates an amazing life lesson as well, which too comes *tied* to the trenza. Xiomara’s braided hair is interlinked by her dad to being brave, self-confident, and self-sufficient. He also connects the trenza’s interwoven strength with her own family’s steady support.

The final note by the author is worth a read, as she details the history of the trenza and her own Latinx family’s trenza time.

The illustrations are the icing on the cake of this lovely book. The illustrations elevate a great book to an outstanding level. Every page has Xiomara’s trenza playing an important role. The colours are bright and vivid, and the sketches are full of hidden detailing that children would love to pore over.

Definitely recommended. This would serve as a lovely bedtime read as well as a book for provoking cultural discussions in the classroom. The language and content make the book suitable for ages 3-8.

My thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “Only a Trenza Away”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»