The River Is My Ocean

May 20, 2024
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.

June 15, 2024
Connections to ancestors and cultural identity flow when a young Afro-Latine New Yorker bonds with her grandma. The narrator, who's brown-skinned with black hair braided in cornrows, loves spending time with brown-skinned Abuela, who used to live by the sea and misses it dearly. On Saturdays they walk down from Harlem toward Twelfth Avenue to the Hudson River. While the girl has never lived by the sea, she experiences a range of strong emotions when she's near the river: quiet, curious, happy, and, sometimes, a mix of feelings. Abuela explains that they visit the Hudson to express gratitude to Yemaya, a Yoruba goddess of motherhood and the sea. Imagining Yemaya as a brown-skinned mermaid with a blue tail, the child thanks the river. As Abuela and the child walk home, the love between them, and their affection for the river, is palpable. An author's note adds more information about Yemaya, who became associated with the ocean following the Middle Passage, and reminisces about her own Puerto Rican grandmother. Sweet, simple prose brimming with emotion celebrates cultural heritage and the connection between generations, while vivid, childlike illustrations capture the warmth of family moments. Both text and art home in on details of the bustling city, from the piragua cart the child passes to the honking of cars; it's a potent reminder that young urbanites can forge bonds with nature, too. A heartfelt narrative steeped in love and tradition. (Picture book. 4-8)

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July 1, 2024

K-Gr 3-A sweet yet simple story told from a child's perspective in her neighborhood, and an ode to the Hudson River in New York City. This book details a young girl's Saturday walk to visit the river with her grandma. Her abuela tells her all about the ocean that she loves and misses so much. To the young Latinx girl, the river is her ocean. "My abuela says she misses the sea every day. I know the sea must be powerful, because the way abuela talks about it, sometimes I miss it too." On their walk, they pass a piragua (shaved ice) cart and can't pass up a coconut flavored delight. As they continue on their journey down their block, the little girl reflects on how the river makes her feel: quiet, curious, and sometimes many feelings all at once. Then, Abuela brings up Yemaya, the goddess of the oceans and rivers, who looks similar to a mermaid. Back notes offer more information on Yemaya. Created in Photoshop, beautiful pastel colored illustrations fill every page. VERDICT For fans of Last Stop on Market Street, this book is sure to delight younger readers and is nice addition to library shelves that lends itself to further discussion of gods and goddesses in mythology.-Tracy Cronce

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