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The Interpreter
A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.Some kids have one to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish.ÌýIt’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work.ÌýSometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?Olivia Abtahi’s clever text and Monica Arnaldo’s charming illustrations capture a common aspect of life for immigrant and bilingual families while offering a model for teamwork that helps everyone feel understood.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 21, 2025
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March 2, 2025
When I was a kid I remember watching the blue jays in the trees. They're loud birds, ones that call attention to themselves. Seeing me gazing at them, my mom told me that blue jays warn the other birds when predators or danger is around. Then she said something that kind of stunned me. “But we don’t really know that much about them.� Why they do those warning calls. Their lives. And the idea that something so common could be so little known just blew my tiny mind. In very much the same way, it's a feeling I experience when someone writes a picture book on a topic I’ve never really seen discussed before, even though it’s incredibly common. Take, for example, kids that interpret for their parents. That’s the kind of thing I’ve definitely seen in middle grade novels aimed at 9-12 year olds. But picture books? Even though it’s a common reality for a LOT of kids out there, it hadn’t even occurred to me until now to think about the fact that, for whatever reason, we don’t have a lot of picture books on the subject. Which is to say� any? Surely there’s gotta be one or two out there, but until I saw The Interpreter none stuck so firmly in my mind. Smart as a whip, funny, and clever, this little visual metaphor of a picture book is the best possible way to make it crystal clear the responsibilities some kids shoulder.
If you’re a kid you have one job: being a kid. Cecilia? She’s got two. On the one hand she’s a girl with a penchant for soccer. On the other, she’s the official interpreter for her parents. Doctor’s visits? Shopping for mangos? Ordering at restaurants? Sending packages? Call on Cecilia! Trouble is, she’s starting to get exhausted. More and more of her time is spent helping her parents and less and less of her time is spent just having fun. So when a kindly teacher asks how she is doing at a parent-teacher conference, the dam breaks and Cecilia confesses her exhaustion. Fortunately, there can be a solution when you ask for help.
I think a key component to the book is the degree to which it doesn’t blame Cecilia’s parents. Considering the amount of work that their daughter has to shoulder, it would be the easiest thing in the world to tell this book in such a way where the blame falls fully on their shoulders. I've already seen people asking why they don't just learn English. But look at the situations where they need their daughter. Taxes. The DMV. I'm sure they have a grasp on the basics, but when you're dealing with such serious subjects, that's when you want to be crystal clear with your language. Enter your small interpreter. The key to this book is where they fall down. I mean, they are ignorant of how much Cecilia has to do, but as a parent myself I totally get that. Previously they were reliant on her older brother for years and now he’s in college, so it just naturally seems like she would shoulder his responsibilities. It’s something she’s more than happy to do too, but at the same time it seemed clear to me that with three kids, and one of them in college, the amount of work that Cecilia has to handle is exponentially greater than what her brother did on his own around the same age. And that’s the kind of thing that creeps up on you when you’re a parent. I mean, you get a glimpse into all the things that they have to deal with, from a sick baby to work online. So the fact that Abtahi is couching this in the context of everyone being busy in some way (along with the thrill Cecilia gets from being useful), you’re given an opportunity to be sympathetic on all sides. At least, I am as a parent. It’s entirely possible a kid would read this and blame the parents, but Cecilia is a willing participant in this process too. At least for a while.
Now the book specifies that Cecilia has multiple jobs but if you separate the text from the images, there’s nothing in there that specifically states that she’s wearing a tie or anything at any point. Admittedly, the whole book is written in the speak of someone who has an occupation (“She used to have a coworker, but he got promoted�), but it took Monica Arnaldo’s specific sense of humor to take all of this as literally as possible in the art. Plus, kids in suits are fun. That’s just a fact. No one’s going to contest it. Now the most famous (to my mind) picture book of a girl putting on a suit and going to a 9-5 job is, without a doubt, by Amy Schwartz. No one would ever say that this book paralleled that one, but the two would read well together, should someone want to pair them together. After all, Cecilia rocks that suit. And green! Monica Arnaldo decided to dress Cecilia in a dark green suit, light green tie, and yellow/orange tie and socks. Why? Partly, it may have something to do with how her colors play off the colors of her aunt and brother’s suits at the end of the book. If you look at it, Cecilia is green and yellow, her brother is blue and green, and her aunt is yellow and blue, but each one has hints of the other two’s colors. Now look at what Cecilia wears in real life. Not the green metaphorical suit but her own outfit. It’s still green, but a more natural kid outfit (her brother also wears a green sweatshirt as well, by the way).
But that’s not all!! Speaking of colors, can we talk about the speech balloons in this book? I didn’t notice it on a primary read but each speech balloon is a color that matches the language being spoken. Those speech balloon colors? Blue and yellow and when they overlap you get that green. Suddenly Cecilia’s suit makes a lot more sense, right? She can overlap the colors of the two languages because she speaks both of them. There’s even a bit of Persian in the book (represented as pink) and the boy who translates for his mom wears a purple suit (blue for English, pink for Persian, get it?). The most fun comes when someone speaks both languages. For example, when Cecilia’s father says something like, “Que significa ‘at your earliest convenience�?� his speech balloon doesn’t turn green. The top half in Spanish is yellow and the bottom half is blue. This comes in particularly handy later in the book. Arnaldo uses these colors to indicate moments when the parents appear to be speaking in English, but the color of the speech balloon makes it infinitely clear that what they’re actually speaking is Spanish. And when they speak outside of the speech balloons, the text of English that’s actually Spanish is italicized. Remarkable, right? The sheer amount of thought and energy that has gone into every single element of this book is astounding.
And it’s funny. Did I mention that it’s funny? This is the part that slays me. A book with themes this serious shouldn’t actually be funny. This should be, by all definitions, one of those dour, serious, meaningful picture books. The kinds that I always say are important to have in our bookstores and libraries but, and let’s be honest here, nobody really enjoys reading for fun. A meaningful picture book is the kind that a teacher will do with a class, or a parent will read with their child to make a point� once. Point made? Book put away. But a book like The Interpreter? Dude, I could see a kid wanting to read this over and over and over again. It’s vibrant and highly amusing. Monica Arnaldo first blew up the picture book world when her book utterly wrecked children’s librarians everywhere with its hilarity. In this book she manages to squeeze the funny out of everything from a DMV visit (the dad’s frozen smile for his photo is a delight) to the sight of a kid gulping down a coffee. By the way, if anyone wants to explain to me the significance of the license plate, “SBF 2017�, I’d be delighted to hear your answer.
Metaphors exist in picture books. Of course they do. Why do you think is the hit that it is? As such, let’s not wonder whether or not kids are going to get exactly what the metaphor is for this book. Kids are pretty smart. I’d say they’ll completely get what’s going on, and even if they don’t, reading the book straight works just as well. Some will read the book and realize that they are Cecilia. Others will read the book and realize that their friends or classmates are. And still others will realize that there are Cecilias out there in the world and a tiny drop of empathy will build up in their systems. Read by read. Drop by drop. Bright, colorful, and clever, this is one book we’ve been waiting for years to see. We just didn’t know it yet.
If you’re a kid you have one job: being a kid. Cecilia? She’s got two. On the one hand she’s a girl with a penchant for soccer. On the other, she’s the official interpreter for her parents. Doctor’s visits? Shopping for mangos? Ordering at restaurants? Sending packages? Call on Cecilia! Trouble is, she’s starting to get exhausted. More and more of her time is spent helping her parents and less and less of her time is spent just having fun. So when a kindly teacher asks how she is doing at a parent-teacher conference, the dam breaks and Cecilia confesses her exhaustion. Fortunately, there can be a solution when you ask for help.
I think a key component to the book is the degree to which it doesn’t blame Cecilia’s parents. Considering the amount of work that their daughter has to shoulder, it would be the easiest thing in the world to tell this book in such a way where the blame falls fully on their shoulders. I've already seen people asking why they don't just learn English. But look at the situations where they need their daughter. Taxes. The DMV. I'm sure they have a grasp on the basics, but when you're dealing with such serious subjects, that's when you want to be crystal clear with your language. Enter your small interpreter. The key to this book is where they fall down. I mean, they are ignorant of how much Cecilia has to do, but as a parent myself I totally get that. Previously they were reliant on her older brother for years and now he’s in college, so it just naturally seems like she would shoulder his responsibilities. It’s something she’s more than happy to do too, but at the same time it seemed clear to me that with three kids, and one of them in college, the amount of work that Cecilia has to handle is exponentially greater than what her brother did on his own around the same age. And that’s the kind of thing that creeps up on you when you’re a parent. I mean, you get a glimpse into all the things that they have to deal with, from a sick baby to work online. So the fact that Abtahi is couching this in the context of everyone being busy in some way (along with the thrill Cecilia gets from being useful), you’re given an opportunity to be sympathetic on all sides. At least, I am as a parent. It’s entirely possible a kid would read this and blame the parents, but Cecilia is a willing participant in this process too. At least for a while.
Now the book specifies that Cecilia has multiple jobs but if you separate the text from the images, there’s nothing in there that specifically states that she’s wearing a tie or anything at any point. Admittedly, the whole book is written in the speak of someone who has an occupation (“She used to have a coworker, but he got promoted�), but it took Monica Arnaldo’s specific sense of humor to take all of this as literally as possible in the art. Plus, kids in suits are fun. That’s just a fact. No one’s going to contest it. Now the most famous (to my mind) picture book of a girl putting on a suit and going to a 9-5 job is, without a doubt, by Amy Schwartz. No one would ever say that this book paralleled that one, but the two would read well together, should someone want to pair them together. After all, Cecilia rocks that suit. And green! Monica Arnaldo decided to dress Cecilia in a dark green suit, light green tie, and yellow/orange tie and socks. Why? Partly, it may have something to do with how her colors play off the colors of her aunt and brother’s suits at the end of the book. If you look at it, Cecilia is green and yellow, her brother is blue and green, and her aunt is yellow and blue, but each one has hints of the other two’s colors. Now look at what Cecilia wears in real life. Not the green metaphorical suit but her own outfit. It’s still green, but a more natural kid outfit (her brother also wears a green sweatshirt as well, by the way).
But that’s not all!! Speaking of colors, can we talk about the speech balloons in this book? I didn’t notice it on a primary read but each speech balloon is a color that matches the language being spoken. Those speech balloon colors? Blue and yellow and when they overlap you get that green. Suddenly Cecilia’s suit makes a lot more sense, right? She can overlap the colors of the two languages because she speaks both of them. There’s even a bit of Persian in the book (represented as pink) and the boy who translates for his mom wears a purple suit (blue for English, pink for Persian, get it?). The most fun comes when someone speaks both languages. For example, when Cecilia’s father says something like, “Que significa ‘at your earliest convenience�?� his speech balloon doesn’t turn green. The top half in Spanish is yellow and the bottom half is blue. This comes in particularly handy later in the book. Arnaldo uses these colors to indicate moments when the parents appear to be speaking in English, but the color of the speech balloon makes it infinitely clear that what they’re actually speaking is Spanish. And when they speak outside of the speech balloons, the text of English that’s actually Spanish is italicized. Remarkable, right? The sheer amount of thought and energy that has gone into every single element of this book is astounding.
And it’s funny. Did I mention that it’s funny? This is the part that slays me. A book with themes this serious shouldn’t actually be funny. This should be, by all definitions, one of those dour, serious, meaningful picture books. The kinds that I always say are important to have in our bookstores and libraries but, and let’s be honest here, nobody really enjoys reading for fun. A meaningful picture book is the kind that a teacher will do with a class, or a parent will read with their child to make a point� once. Point made? Book put away. But a book like The Interpreter? Dude, I could see a kid wanting to read this over and over and over again. It’s vibrant and highly amusing. Monica Arnaldo first blew up the picture book world when her book utterly wrecked children’s librarians everywhere with its hilarity. In this book she manages to squeeze the funny out of everything from a DMV visit (the dad’s frozen smile for his photo is a delight) to the sight of a kid gulping down a coffee. By the way, if anyone wants to explain to me the significance of the license plate, “SBF 2017�, I’d be delighted to hear your answer.
Metaphors exist in picture books. Of course they do. Why do you think is the hit that it is? As such, let’s not wonder whether or not kids are going to get exactly what the metaphor is for this book. Kids are pretty smart. I’d say they’ll completely get what’s going on, and even if they don’t, reading the book straight works just as well. Some will read the book and realize that they are Cecilia. Others will read the book and realize that their friends or classmates are. And still others will realize that there are Cecilias out there in the world and a tiny drop of empathy will build up in their systems. Read by read. Drop by drop. Bright, colorful, and clever, this is one book we’ve been waiting for years to see. We just didn’t know it yet.
December 26, 2024
I read the english version
This book might be a bit of a stretch on my #muslimintheillustration tag with a single dupatta clad woman, but the messaging of the book is undoubtedly relatable to numerous immigrants, and there are a fair share of Muslims that would thus see themselves in this picture book about a girl who loves her family, soccer, and the job of being a kid, but who has to balance it with also being the interpreter for her parents at doctor appointments, the dmv, the hair salon and numerous other places. It isn’t that she doesn’t want to help, it’s just a lot, and she is exhausted, when someone finally asks her how SHE is, she finds her voice to speak up and get some help. I love that it doesn’t belittle parents that don’t speak the majority language, it doesn’t show a lack of love and warmth, it simply shines a light on the role many kids step in to, and a family finding a way to strike a balance.
This book might be a bit of a stretch on my #muslimintheillustration tag with a single dupatta clad woman, but the messaging of the book is undoubtedly relatable to numerous immigrants, and there are a fair share of Muslims that would thus see themselves in this picture book about a girl who loves her family, soccer, and the job of being a kid, but who has to balance it with also being the interpreter for her parents at doctor appointments, the dmv, the hair salon and numerous other places. It isn’t that she doesn’t want to help, it’s just a lot, and she is exhausted, when someone finally asks her how SHE is, she finds her voice to speak up and get some help. I love that it doesn’t belittle parents that don’t speak the majority language, it doesn’t show a lack of love and warmth, it simply shines a light on the role many kids step in to, and a family finding a way to strike a balance.
March 12, 2025
This took a few readings to grasp everything in this unique story about a young girl who must frequently interpret for her Spanish speaking parents, which she does with a smile, but finds it’s a difficult balance between being a kid and what feels like a job interpreting for her family. Speech bubbles are the text of the story and pay attention to the colors of the speech bubbles. Blue for English, yellow for Spanish and overlapping speech bubbles with green, the color of Cecilia’s (the interpreter) outfits. When the parents seem to be speaking English, the speech bubbles are yellow, so it’s clear that they are actually speaking Spanish. (Figured this out by reading a review by Betsy Bird!) Same formula happens when Cecilia meets a young boy interpreting for his family. I liked that the parents aren’t shamed for not knowing English. It’s just simply a story about a young girl trying to find a balance between “work� and play.
February 26, 2025
I worked in a family owned Chinese restaurant for six years and I saw how hard the children worked, translating from English to Fujianese and back for their parents in so many matters, going to appointments with them, taking all phone calls, not only for personal matters but business too.
This book is about a daughter in a family who works so hard as translatress that there is not time for her own life and how her family learns to deal with that!
This book is about a daughter in a family who works so hard as translatress that there is not time for her own life and how her family learns to deal with that!
March 14, 2025
So beautifully done. This captures the reality of children who are interpreters for their families.
April 4, 2025
I loved the concept, as I know a number of children who serve as interpreters. I’m surprised to find the word “receipt� misspelled, however.
April 22, 2025
This book was really cool! I loved the mix of languages in it and the way the story was told. The pictures were really good too
March 15, 2025
As a child of immigrant parents, I could relate to this book and thought it was a unique topic for a picture book.
Read
February 19, 2025I love a book that's unique but with real-life situations!
February 20, 2025
4.5 stars--Wonderfully-presented story about a bilingual child who is becoming overwhelmed by her job as the family "interpreter." Great modeling of parents who listen to their child's needs and make amends to their behavior. Great illustrations, too!
February 27, 2025
The art was good. The concept was stellar. Hence the three stars. But I couldn't get over the parents in this story. From the story, we can assume they've lived in the U.S. for quite some time. Call me a bigot if you want, but throughout the book I kept thinking, "instead of burdening their daughter... they could, you know, just learn basic English..." I get it. There's a plethora of reasons they may not have tried to learn, and it can take years to become fluent. But by all appearances, they are NOT trying and just needing help to fill in the gaps with certain things while they work on their language skills (THIS is what I wish had been the premise of the book). If the mom can't even get a haircut without needing her daughter to interpret, then it would seem to be almost weaponized incompetence. (I would hope to be able to get a haircut within at least 6 months of living in a foreign country.) Listen, I have friends whose parents don't speak English well, neighbors too. But they try. They can make small talk at the very least. And the ones whose parents really don't, live in the parts of Miami where everyone speaks Spanish so burdening a child to be their full-time interpreter isn't necessary. The resolution also fell flat for this reason. I really thought the "solution" to the daughter feeling stretched between being a kid and being an interpreter was that they were going to take the parents to English lessons at the library once a week, or even have the daughter teach them. Teach a man to fish, you know? Nope. The solution was to share the burden between the daughter, college age son, and Aunt, further enabling the parent's refusal to learn the language of the country in which they're living. That's their daughter. They might always need help with doctor appointments and such, but the plot was so frustrating to me.
February 4, 2025
In addition to being a kid, Cecilia is the family interpreter, filling in the gaps of understanding at the mechanic, the hospital, the park, the hairdresser, and just about anywhere it is necessary for her parents to speak English instead of Spanish. The job is essential for the family but takes a toll on the character’s well being. In a rare moment of personal attention, Cecilia is forced to interpret her emotions to her family. Soon, help is on the way. An older brother and sister return to help out on the weekend, leaving Cecilia free to play soccer and be a kid sometimes.
Supportive and affirming, The Interpreter is an important new book for children fulfilling adult-sized roles in their family or community. Unacknowledged contributions to family wellbeing can stretch well beyond the demands of communication. This touching story written by Olivia Abtahi belongs in every school and library, but also every hospital. Several years ago, I asked a hospital librarian if there were a book she wished had been written. She said she wished there were more books about sibling carers—children who provide medical care for a sibling or family member. Abtahi has indirectly provided one in the scene in which Cecilia interprets the doctor’s orders to her parents.
The Interpreter was illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. With watercolor and pencil crayons, Arnaldo creates colorful characters and heart-warming family scenes. Cecilia’s emotions were well defined in the illustrations. The reader’s heart crumbles when they all come pouring out.
Supportive and affirming, The Interpreter is an important new book for children fulfilling adult-sized roles in their family or community. Unacknowledged contributions to family wellbeing can stretch well beyond the demands of communication. This touching story written by Olivia Abtahi belongs in every school and library, but also every hospital. Several years ago, I asked a hospital librarian if there were a book she wished had been written. She said she wished there were more books about sibling carers—children who provide medical care for a sibling or family member. Abtahi has indirectly provided one in the scene in which Cecilia interprets the doctor’s orders to her parents.
The Interpreter was illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. With watercolor and pencil crayons, Arnaldo creates colorful characters and heart-warming family scenes. Cecilia’s emotions were well defined in the illustrations. The reader’s heart crumbles when they all come pouring out.
March 14, 2025
A young girl knows both English and Spanish while her parents only know Spanish. It’s almost like a part-time job for the girl. She has to go to all their appointments to translate for them so that she has no time to play and be a kid. I wonder why the parents don’t enroll in a English language learning class at night.
Eventually, the girl has a meltdown and her brother comes home to help out with things. The girl then has time to play soccer. I also don’t know why the girl dresses in men’s clothes to go to her job, but she wears a suit. Several strange choices, but it does show the spot kids of immigrants are put in.
I wanted to go to Japan for a few years. I was going to do a year in language school first so I could speak in the nation. I got scared and I think I’m too cowardly to do it. It would be an experience though.
The artwork is watercolor and ink. The artwork is very cute and adorable. It does the play between work and play really well. We can feel the child’s stress.
I think kids with immigrant parents will enjoy this
Eventually, the girl has a meltdown and her brother comes home to help out with things. The girl then has time to play soccer. I also don’t know why the girl dresses in men’s clothes to go to her job, but she wears a suit. Several strange choices, but it does show the spot kids of immigrants are put in.
I wanted to go to Japan for a few years. I was going to do a year in language school first so I could speak in the nation. I got scared and I think I’m too cowardly to do it. It would be an experience though.
The artwork is watercolor and ink. The artwork is very cute and adorable. It does the play between work and play really well. We can feel the child’s stress.
I think kids with immigrant parents will enjoy this
March 5, 2025
Really loved this humorous, yet realistic, take on being an immigrant child who has a second job as an interpreter for parents. Unlike other books dealing with this topic, this book recognizes that while parents may rely on their child for this task, it is a daunting, and at times exhausting job for the child. While this book does not judge the parents who have been put in an impossible situation, it also comes up with a solution involving a whole community to come in and help the main character get a break and focus on being a kid. An author's note at the end talks about how both the author and the illustrator were children of immigrants who translated for their parents in Spanish and Persian. The real-world experience is definitely what gave this book the authenticity that I feel other books on this topic lacked.
I knew Monica Arnaldo primarily from the zany children's book Mr. S, about a teacher who is a sandwich. She brings the same humor and warmth to this picture book.
I knew Monica Arnaldo primarily from the zany children's book Mr. S, about a teacher who is a sandwich. She brings the same humor and warmth to this picture book.
March 7, 2025
An important book that is actually funny, warm, appealing on all levels. I saw kids, when I lived in Carson City NV, just like Cecilia. Fortunately school papers were sent home in both Spanish and English, but clearly translating for teacher is only one small bit of everything a bilingual child might be called upon to do.
I'm surprised that the parents in the book haven't learned even basic things like the first command in phone support, but then again when I call a customer service number the voice does say "Marque el tres" instead of "For Spanish, press three."
I think the thing that I like most is that Cecilia isn't a literalist. For example: The hairdresser complains that mom's hair is overdue for a cut, but Cecilia translates that as "she'll cut your hair the way you like."
Highly recommended to those who know, or are, someone like Cecilia, because Thank You for being so helpful!, and to those who've never imagined a child having this responsibility.
I'm surprised that the parents in the book haven't learned even basic things like the first command in phone support, but then again when I call a customer service number the voice does say "Marque el tres" instead of "For Spanish, press three."
I think the thing that I like most is that Cecilia isn't a literalist. For example: The hairdresser complains that mom's hair is overdue for a cut, but Cecilia translates that as "she'll cut your hair the way you like."
Highly recommended to those who know, or are, someone like Cecilia, because Thank You for being so helpful!, and to those who've never imagined a child having this responsibility.
February 24, 2025
Most kids have one job -- be a kid! Being a kid might include a lot of different things. Play soccer. Do some chores. Get your homework done. But Cecilia has two. She's a kid (who loves to play soccer) but she is also an interpreter for her parents who are not fluent in English. So she goes with them to the DMV. Or to the doctor. Or to fill out tax forms. While sometimes this is fun, it eventually becomes overwhelming and impacts her more important job of just being a kid.
After a major meltdown, Cecilia receives some much needed help from an aunt and her older brother. Her parents did not realize how much they were demanding from her. Fortunately, there were other family members who could help out!
A humorous look at a reality that faces kids of all ages who need to act as interpreters for their family members.
After a major meltdown, Cecilia receives some much needed help from an aunt and her older brother. Her parents did not realize how much they were demanding from her. Fortunately, there were other family members who could help out!
A humorous look at a reality that faces kids of all ages who need to act as interpreters for their family members.
March 15, 2025
Cecilia is one hard working kid. She has two jobs~~ two lives really ~~ because she is bilingual she must help non-English speaking members of her family navigate their lives, all the while she would love to just live the normal life of a soccer-playing kid.
This is such a great topic for a children's picture book and one so many U.S. children can relate to: children who carry the burden of having to learn English (a second language) in school and carry that knowledge home with them to help family members with mail, banking, doctor visits and school visits. Working as the family translator, Cecilia is exhausted which finally leads to an explosion, "I just want to play soccer!"
The light tone does not match the importance of this book's topic to me. I would have loved to have had a story with less comedic tone with cartoon-like illustrations.
This is such a great topic for a children's picture book and one so many U.S. children can relate to: children who carry the burden of having to learn English (a second language) in school and carry that knowledge home with them to help family members with mail, banking, doctor visits and school visits. Working as the family translator, Cecilia is exhausted which finally leads to an explosion, "I just want to play soccer!"
The light tone does not match the importance of this book's topic to me. I would have loved to have had a story with less comedic tone with cartoon-like illustrations.
January 25, 2025
Loved this! What a great subject to have as a picture book. In fact it should have been one along time ago, because so many kids can relate to the story. A girl acts as her parents interpreter at the bank, doctor offices, etc. She also tries to do kid stuff in between. She finally get tired of trying to do both and the parent's work with her to find a better balance. So many kids act as language interpreters for their families and this book does a wonderful job showing the work, and the pride that can bring and also the burden it can make kids feel sometimes. I loved the different colored bubbles to show what language she was speaking in and the bright illustrations.
March 29, 2025
A book about agency and advocacy, Cecilia finally speaks up for herself with her family that it is exhausting and never-ending as her parents' interpreters. She's traveling to doctor's appointments and the DMV in addition to trying to be a kid and do fun things and go to school. It's draining. Until one adult sees her and asks HER how she's doing and she realizes that she's not well because of all of this extra work.
Thus, she devises a schedule to allow her to be the kid she should be while also helping her family when necessary. Heartfelt and a book for educators and those interpreters to be valued for the work but also empowered to find a balance.
Thus, she devises a schedule to allow her to be the kid she should be while also helping her family when necessary. Heartfelt and a book for educators and those interpreters to be valued for the work but also empowered to find a balance.
January 15, 2025
I received this book as an ARC for my honest opinion.
I loved this book! I loved how it discussed the role often taken by children for immigrant parents: the job of the interpreter. Since it is often easier for kids to learn a new language than adults, this role makes sense, but it is also important to remember that they are also a child with needs as well. This book does a wonderful job of making light of the situation through humor while also discussing the downside. A great book for those who are Interpreter kids or have been.
I loved this book! I loved how it discussed the role often taken by children for immigrant parents: the job of the interpreter. Since it is often easier for kids to learn a new language than adults, this role makes sense, but it is also important to remember that they are also a child with needs as well. This book does a wonderful job of making light of the situation through humor while also discussing the downside. A great book for those who are Interpreter kids or have been.
January 27, 2025
This is a good book about a girl who has two jobs: she’s supposed to be a kid, but she also needs to interpret for her parents. In between soccer practice and school, she goes to doctor appointments, helps translate at the hairdresser and does many other things. She is so exhausted. But when someone asks if she maybe needs help with her second job, the whole family comes up with a plan. It’s very sweet and explores a world some kids might not know very well—and some will know like the backs of their hands.
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 323
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 323
February 1, 2025
I see this quite often--children who are interpreters for their parents. Both individuals have just arrived in the states OR been here for a length of time. But think about it, kids are in school. They have more opportunities to learn English.....and then what comes is almost a power shift between them. Children lose their childhood in a way.
This is a gorgeously realistic portrayal of what some might experience. Also, I loved that when worlds collided in speech bubbles, we saw primary colors become secondary! An added layer of teaching
This is a gorgeously realistic portrayal of what some might experience. Also, I loved that when worlds collided in speech bubbles, we saw primary colors become secondary! An added layer of teaching
March 3, 2025
This book follows a girl who is an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents. Her job as a translator for her parents is a difficult and under-looked responsibility for a child. This pressure from her parents to do all these grown-up things that she blows up. She deserves to be a regular kid and do regular kid things but she has to carry the burden of helping her parents. I would have this book in my class as I know the struggle of having to translate and the frustration it carries. Many children have to do that and I want to recognize that through this book.
January 19, 2025
When your English skills outpace those of your immigrant parents, kids are sometimes forced to grow up quick. The line between "I want to help" and "I'm still a kid" is such an important boundary. I've served as a church terp (inTERPreter) in the Deaf community, but that's volitional and as an adult. Thinking simultaneously in several languages is tough! That multilingual layering, with colored speech bubbles showing language differences, was my favorite element of this book.
March 3, 2025
A unique book about children who act as translator for their parents to the point that it becomes a full time job.
The only thing I didn't like was when her parents were talking to her, it was written in English (which I understand for the reader to be able to read, but confusing for the concept, in my opinion)
Too long for preschool, but could be a great book for elementary aged read alouds
The only thing I didn't like was when her parents were talking to her, it was written in English (which I understand for the reader to be able to read, but confusing for the concept, in my opinion)
Too long for preschool, but could be a great book for elementary aged read alouds
March 5, 2025
This picture book made me cry. I have nephews who've translate for their mother (Spanish); it's not an easy job. And I appreciate this book, that gives a face and voice to the hard working interpreters I see in my library every day. It's a lot of work to be a kid and be an interpreter for your parents. To all the young interpreters out there, we see you.
Themes: family, mental health, Spanish/bilingual
Ages: school ages, 2-5th grade
Pub year: 2025
Themes: family, mental health, Spanish/bilingual
Ages: school ages, 2-5th grade
Pub year: 2025
March 5, 2025
Cecilia is a young girl who has two jobs: one to be a kid and the other to help interpret for her non-English speaking family. Eventually it gets to be too much and when asked my her parents and teacher how she is, she has a bit of a meltdown. Finally the family realizes how heavy their expectations for their daughter were and promise to get help.
A much needed book on a rarely discussed topic. Lacking one star due to limited interest in topic.
A much needed book on a rarely discussed topic. Lacking one star due to limited interest in topic.
March 15, 2025
I don't think I've ever seen a book before about kids who serve as interpreters for their parents, yet this is a very common experience. Serving as her parents' interpreter makes Cecilia feel important, and she is happy to do it, but sometimes it makes her feel overwhelmed because she doesn't have time to just be a kid. Not usable in storytime, but would be great in a classroom with kids from all over as a basis for some good discussions.
March 19, 2025
Sensational! A window (or mirror) into the life of a child whose parents rely on them to communicate. Really clever use of colour, with lovely illustrations throughout. I thought they handled the switching between english and spanish well as we 'understand her parents' in the later part of the book. For new immigrant or refugee families there will be much to relate to. We feel the weight of responsibility resting on young shoulders.
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