El Barrio by Debbi Chocolate, illustrated by David Diaz

Take a trip through Spanish Harlem with a young boy who is very proud of his neighborhood.  Glimpse holiday parades and a quinceanera party.  Slurp ice cold popsicles.  Hear quiet guitar music and blaring trumpets. This book presents a neighborhood using all of the senses, immersing the reader directly into this urban spicy mix.  A lovely celebration of not only this neighborhood but everyone’s.

Diaz’s illustrations, done in mixed media, glow on the page. Evoking stained glass, the colors are so deep you could believe the sun shines through them.  The paintings are framed by photographs taken in David’s own barrio and add interesting textures and patterns to the book.  Chocolate’s verse is just as vibrant and alive as the illustrations, evoking sounds, sights and tastes in a series of impressions.  It all adds up to a true celebration of a culture that we all get to participate in.

Bright illustrations and text that dances make this a great book to share.  Appropriate for ages 4-6.