Yenebi's Drive to School

Dreamersmeets School's First Day of Schoolin this vibrant story that puts a whole new spin on one loving family's morning drive to school.Not all school drop-offs are a short bus ride away! In this wonderful book by muralist Sendy Santamaria, the sights and sounds of a frontera town occupy our imaginations as a family goes through their morning commute on the way to school from Mexico to the U.S.A.Ral the Third, Pura Belpr Awardwinning illustrator of the World of Vamos! and Lowriders seriesEvery 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 hacer tarde! Apurarse!For the next two hours, we'll be in the car drivingpast tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (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 winningvoice anda brightpalette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl's commutea 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.INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY:Bycelebrating the daily details of a child's commute to school that reflects the author's experience, thisuniversal and inviting picture book is truly a mirror, a window, and a door.TIMELY TOPIC: An accessible approach to a serious (and seriously underdocumented) part of American life for many young readers. Teachers, librarians, and parents will appreciate the way this book blends the importance of current events in an easily understandable narrative that kids will enjoy following along with.FAMILY-CENTRIC: The journey described in this storya loving family's daily trip to schoolis timeless and relatable, yet wonderfully specific.UNIQUE EXPERIENCES: Like Last Stop on Market Street, this book leans into the narrator (and creator)'s very particular experience and yet makes the individuality of such an experience highly relatable, communicating to readers that even their most personal routines are part of what connects them with all humans. 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 picture books by Latinx creatorsParents looking for bilingual content and bicultural kids' booksKids who want to read about experiences different than their ownFans ofDreamers, Our Class is a Family, and The Name Jar