Abuelo, the Sea, and Me

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a heartfelt picture book about a loving grandpa and his grandchild that vividly explores intergenerational connection, the immigrant experience, and heritage through its unique combination of memory and storytelling.

When this grandchild visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. In the summer, they kick off their shoes and let the cool waves tickle their toes. In the winter, they stand on the cliff and let the spray of the sea prick their nose and cheeks. No matter the season, hot or cold, their favorite place to spend time together is the beach.

It’s here that Abuelo is able to open up about his youth in Havana, Cuba. As they walk along the sand, he recalls the tastes, sounds, and smells of his childhood. And with his words, Cuba comes alive for his grandchild.

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender, heartwarming picture book that vividly explores intergenerational connections, family history, and the immigrant experience.

Ismée Williams is the author of Water in May and This Train Is Being Held. Ismée also coedited the YA anthology, Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities. Ismée is a cofounder of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, as well as a pediatric cardiologist in New York City

Tatiana Gardel is a Brazilian-born illustrator whose work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators in New York and American Illustration. She is a co -founder of #LatinxPitch and teaches animation to young artists at the Harlem School of the Arts. Tatiana Gardel lives in New York City

"This confidently told story, made up of brief moments between Abuelo and the grandchild, gets deeper as it goes on, with richly textured digital illustrations highlighting the changing light and weather as summer, fall, winter, and spring each take their turn... A deftly told immigrant’s story of bittersweet memories and a grandparent’s love." -Kirkus

"Over the course of four seasons, a child and their abuelo connect during visits in this loving intergenerational book that looks both forward and back... [accompanied by] sensory-rich descriptions... [and] delicate digital art [that] has the feel of watercolors on textured paper." -Publishers Weekly